Powys venues to host Halloween-themed activities for Welsh Museums Festival

Families are being invited to enjoy a week of free Halloween-themed activities as Powys venues take part in the Welsh Museums Festival during October half term.

Running from Saturday, October 24 to November 1, the festival celebrates museums and galleries across Wales and encourages people to explore local heritage, creativity and culture.

At y Gaer in Brecon, visitors can follow a free, self-guided trail to find Halloween creatures from the natural world, including bats, spiders, snakes and owls, hidden throughout the galleries.

Participants will discover facts about each species, biodiversity and the important role these often-misunderstood animals play in nature.

The trail will also offer tips for a more sustainable Halloween by reducing waste and reusing or recycling materials. Everyone who completes it will receive a chocolate treat and ghost-shaped wildflower seed paper to plant at home.

A dedicated craft area will also give children and families the opportunity to create Halloween-themed decorations and crafts.

These activities will be available free of charge during opening hours from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, with no booking required.

Visitors will also have the chance to explore another side of y Gaer's history through a series of guided Spooky Story Tours in the museum's historic basement cells.

Using the building's past as a courthouse and holding cells, storytellers will bring local history to life for adults and children. The sessions will also preview a future project to open the cells to visitors more regularly.

Adult tours (aged 16+) will take place on Tuesday 27 October at 11am and 2pm, while children's tours (aged 5+) will be held on Thursday 29 October at 11am and 1pm.

Places must be booked in advance via Eventbrite:

• 27 October 11am
• 27 October 2pm
• 29 October 11am
• 29 October 1pm

Councillor Raiff Devlin, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital and Community Services, said: "Welsh Museums Festival is a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything that makes our museums such valuable community spaces.

"These activities at y Gaer combine fun, learning and creativity with messages about protecting our environment and celebrating our local heritage. Whether you're following the Halloween trail, getting creative with sustainable crafts or discovering the fascinating stories hidden beneath the building, there's something for everyone to enjoy this half term."

Other venues in Powys are also taking part in the festival.

Rhayader Dragon Festival will be held at CARAD Timescape from October 24 until 31.

The programme of events includes a Lego and Duplo Play session on Saturday, October 24 from 2pm until 3.30pm, traditional Crankie storytelling and the chance to make a moving story box on Tuesday, October 27 from 1.30pm until 3.30pm, and then at 7.30pm there will be Elan Time Traveller interactive storytelling. Journey back to Victorian Elan with museum facilitator Katherine Hart. Refreshments provided.

Make a Printer’s Hat by block printing on Wednesday, October 28 from 1.30pm until 3.30pm, on Thursday, October 29 from 2pm until 3.30pm there will be potion making, dragon making and racing with So Silly Crew, in Carad Theatre, there will be spindle spinning and natural dyes on Friday, October 30 from 1.30pm until 3.30pm and to end the week on Saturday, October 31 from 1.30pm until 3.30pm there will be a Welsh Museums Festival Activity Day – Crafts and Trails. Crafting bees and bugs with beads and other materials.

At Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture in Berriew near Welshpool there will be a Halloween half term drawing competition on Tuesday, October 27 from 1pm until 4pm.

Draw your favourite character from a book all dressed up for Halloween and include an item from the Museum in your design.

The entries will be judged at a later date by Andrew Logan, himself and the winner will receive a prize and will have their drawing featured in our gallery.

All materials provided. Children enter for free and it’s £5 for accompanying adults.

No need to book, just turn up.

There will be Open House at Gregynog Hall near Newtown on Wednesday, October 28 from 11am until 3pm.

Go along for a friendly, relaxed drop-in day to celebrate and discover the extraordinary heritage of Gregynog Hall.

Inspired by the legendary Davies sisters – visionary art collectors and philanthropists who created a vibrant home for Welsh art, music and social reform – they are opening their doors for visitors to go inside and explore.

The event will include guided tours, creative workshops and activities for children.

Entry is free – just drop in at any time between 11am and 3pm – but car parking charges apply.

This event is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of Gregynog’s Raise the Roof! Appeal.

Organised by Museums Federation Cymru and supported with Welsh Government funding, the festival offers many low cost or free special events and activities to families, making it the perfect time to discover your local museum or gallery.

As part of the funding provided to support this year's festival, Museums Federation Cymru has awarded grants over £12,000 to 18 museums to help them take part in the festival for 2026.

Carly Davies, of the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, said: "Discovering your local museum or gallery is a lovely way to spend time with loved ones over the October half term – especially if we get our traditional rainy half term! This year's Festival is about reminding everyone that museums are for everyone, while celebrating sustainable ways to have a little more hwyl."

To discover what's happening at museums and galleries across Wales during the festival, visit: https://www.museumsfestival.wales/