Hallo’welly’ween at Wellington Country Park is one of the highlights of the year. From spooky shows and stories, to a Halloween train, there’s plenty to keep your little ones entertained.

The attraction is suitable for children aged up to eight and you can easily spend a day here. There’s plenty of places for picnics (including marquees if the weather isn’t great), plus a café serving hot food.

So if you’re looking for a Halloween-themed half-term event in Berkshire, then read on…

Hallo’welly’ween 2022

Happy Hallo’welly’ween! I don’t know when it happened, but suddenly Halloween is huge isn’t it? Like, one minute we didn’t celebrate it and now people are actually asking me “so, have you got any plans for Halloween?” 

If you’re looking for a fun Halloween event to fit into your half-term, Hallo’welly’ween 2022 is a fun one to go to.

Wellington Country Park is a 20 minute drive from Reading and is one of our favourite places to visit. It’s especially pretty in autumn, when all of the leaves on the trees are changing colour and there’s a crispness in the air.

Hallo’welly’ween is always a busy week at the park, but you’ve got to hand it to the staff at Wellington, it’s very well organised.

The attention to detail for example, is spot on. The entire site from the animal farm to the restaurant is decorated with spooky spiders webs, ghastly ghouls and silly skeletons.

Even the ever-popular train has been given a haunted makeover. So passengers may find themselves sharing a ride with a skeleton or two!

What’s On at Hallo’welly’ween 2022

Hallo’welly’ween always includes lots of additional entertainment, from funny Halloween shows and story times, to spooky craft sessions. Most activities are included in the ticket price (although pumpkin carving is £3 extra). Season tickets give you free entry to the park, as always.

Hallo’welly’ween 2022 sees the return of the Wooky Willow Show Tent, where friendly witches will be telling stories and putting on shows. Plus Big Foot and PeteZa will be back in the Not So Spooky Show Tent with their silly family shows. 

Also, something I was very happy to see, as its my little adventurers’ favourite, is the return of the ZooLab UK team with their creepy crawlies. It’s a great chance for little ones to get up close with creatures from giant centipedes to tarantulas.  Last year the snakes were definitely a highlight!

The Pop Up Play Village will also be there with a chance to visit the Witches Supermarket and Halloween Play Cafe, as well as make slime and fizzy pumpkins.

New for Hallo’welly’ween 2022 is Junk Jodie, where you can make recycled Halloween crafts to take home.

By the way, if you do want to carve a pumpkin, you can buy one on the way in for £3. There are a limited amount available each day and it’s first come, first served.

One of the things I always like about Wellington is that it gives you a full day out. You can arrive at opening at 9.30am and have plenty to do until it closes at 4.30pm. It advertises itself as suitable for children up to the age of 8, but there are often older kids there having a great time.

The other positive thing is that the site is so big that even though Hallo’welly’ween is busy, you don’t feel totally on top of one another.

Planning your visit

If you’re planning a visit for Hallo’Welly’ween 2022, something to bear in mind is that it is pretty much all outdoors. So go prepared with wet weather clothes and plenty of layers. 

Ticket prices are the same for adults and children aged 2+ – £16.95. Children aged one and under are free. There is also free parking on site. 

So if you want something fun to do this half-term, I can definitely vouch for Hallo’welly’ween being a spook-tacular day out. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

If the half-term madness leaves you in need of a bit of grown up pampering, check out my post about the Thames Lido.