Suffolk half term is 26 to 30 October 2026: Sutton Hoo torchlit tales, Framlingham Castle's pumpkin party, Jimmy's Farm fireworks at £12, and a rail closure.

October half term for Suffolk’s state schools is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. Around Woodbridge the week has torchlit storytelling at Sutton Hoo, a Halloween week at Easton Farm Park, a matinee panto at the Spa Pavilion in Felixstowe and low-bang fireworks at Jimmy’s Farm on the final weekend. It also has no trains between Ipswich and Halesworth for the whole nine days, so plan journeys around rail replacement buses.

The quick answer

Updated 4 October: Jimmy’s Farm fireworks tickets are on sale at £12 adults, and Framlingham Castle and Landguard have published Halloween events.

  • Half term: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 (Suffolk County Council). Friday 23 October is a recommended PD day, so many children are off from the 23rd.
  • Woodbridge School and Framlingham College break earlier, 16 October to 1 November.
  • East Suffolk line: buses between Halesworth and Ipswich, 24 October to 1 November.

Dates for every school are on our Suffolk school term dates page. Every Halloween event within reach is on our Halloween near Woodbridge page.

What’s on, from the organisers’ own listings

Everything below was checked on the organiser’s own website or booking system on 25 September 2026.

Sutton Hoo: Tales by Torchlight, 23 to 31 October

The National Trust’s evening walk across the Sutton Hoo estate with Anglo-Saxon storytellers telling The Adventures of Rægenhere, son of King Rædwald. Two performances a night, 6pm to 7.30pm and 6.45pm to 8.15pm, with hot and cold drinks and cake at the end. £18 adult, £9 child, booking essential on the Trust’s ticket site. Bring a torch; the Trust says the ground is uneven and hard in the dark with a buggy or wheelchair.

Sutton Hoo in the daytime

The site is open daily through half term, with Tranmer House and the exhibition 10.30am to 3.30pm from 26 October. Two extras from the events listing: Finds Friday object handling on Friday 30 October, 10.45am to 1.15pm, no booking needed, and a Paint and Sip evening for adults on Tuesday 27 October, 7pm, booking essential. Admission and winter hours are on our Sutton Hoo winter opening page.

Easton Farm Park: Halloween week, 25 to 31 October

The farm’s Halloween page lists a pumpkin patch where you pick and decorate a pumpkin, a Creepy Crawly Maze for small children, a Fright Barn “only for the brave”, a Witches Trail with a treat at the end and extra free crafts, on top of the usual animals and rides. £14.95 per person aged 2 and over, under 2s free, family of four £56, family of five £70, season ticket holders free, free parking. The farm opens 10am to 5pm daily, according to its home page.

Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe: Phantom Panto, Friday 30 October

TaleGate Theatre’s Halloween pantomime, 2pm on Friday 30 October. Adults £17, children under 16 £13, family of four £52, and the theatre says those prices include all booking fees. Book through the Spa Pavilion box office or on 01394 284962. The Christmas panto is covered on our Felixstowe panto page.

Woodbridge Tide Mill

The 1793 tide mill on the Woodbridge riverside is open every day from April to November, 11am to 5pm, so half term is one of the last chances this year. Adults £6, accompanied children 5 to 15 £3, family £15, free for visitors with access limitations. Check the wheel-turning times on its plan your visit page, because the wheel turns only when the tide allows. There is no parking at the mill itself; see parking in Woodbridge.

Jimmy’s Farm: low-bang fireworks, 31 October and 1 November

Spooky Low Bang Fireworks on Saturday 31 October and Low-Bang Fireworks on Sunday 1 November, both 4pm to 8pm, at Wherstead near Ipswich, from the farm’s own events listing. Tickets are on sale at £12 adults, £8 children aged 2 to 16, under 2s free, the same on both nights (checked 4 October). For every display within reach, see our fireworks near Woodbridge page.

Framlingham Castle: Great Pumpkin Party, 24 October to 1 November

English Heritage’s Halloween half-term runs 10am to 4pm daily, with storytelling, spooky games, a themed trail and a daily fancy dress competition. It is included in standard admission, booking ahead saves 15 per cent, and members go free (checked 4 October).

Landguard, Felixstowe: Haunted House and trick or treat

Felixstowe Museum’s Haunted House runs 28 October to 1 November, £5 adults and £3 children at the door, and Landguard Fort holds trick or treat evenings on 28 and 29 October, 5pm to 8pm, for children aged 3 to 12 (Landguard events, checked 4 October).

Travel: no trains south of Halesworth all week

Network Rail is renewing the Saxmundham junction, so from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November there are no trains between Ipswich and Halesworth. Woodbridge, Melton, Wickham Market, Saxmundham and Darsham are served by rail replacement buses. The detail is in our East Suffolk line closure report, and road closures are on the roadworks and travel page.

Still to be confirmed

  • RSPB Minsmere had no half term events we could read on 25 September. We will add them if they appear.
  • Greater Anglia’s replacement bus timetable for the rail closure. Check again in mid October.

Checked against each organiser’s own website on 25 September 2026; Jimmy’s Farm, Framlingham Castle and Landguard rechecked on 4 October.