PumpkinFest (Porthkerry Park)

What is it?

A fun free festive weekend for all the family at Porthkerry Country Park, Barry during October Half Term (29th and 30th October). Take on our 9-hole crazy pumpkin golf course, carve a pumpkin in our workshops and enter your pumpkin lantern into our competition helping to build a magical glowing pumpkin garden at the Forest Lodge. Also enjoy facepainting and pumpkin games. Brought to you by Beach Academy in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Crazy Pumpkin Golf

How do we take part?

Our free 9-hole Crazy Pumpkin Golf Course is a non-ticketed activity. Simply turn-up-and-play anytime between 10am and 4pm on both Saturday 29th October and Sunday 30th October. To play a round, pop to the Beach Academy welcome desk located near the cafe, lodge and playground area of Porthkerry Park. You may need to wait your turn as spaces on the course are strictly limited. All balls and putters will be provided for you. Fancy dress highly encouraged!

Pumpkin Lantern Making Competition

How do we take part?

The aim is to create a magical glowing pumpkin garden at the Forest Lodge. In order to do this we need you to make pumpkin lanterns! There are 2 ways you can take part. 1. Make a pumpkin lantern at home.

2. Join a lantern making workshop at the park.

1. Making a pumpkin lantern at home.

You can carve and make as many pumpkin lanterns as you like to enter into our competition. More the better! Simply bring your completed lanterns (with light if possible) to the Forest Lodge at Porthkerry Country Park to be added to our glowing garden.

You can drop off your lanterns to Beach Academy staff at the Forest lodge on the following days and times:

Saturday 29th October: between 11am and 7pm

Sunday 30th October: between 11am and 4pm

All the lanterns will be lit up and displayed on both evenings between 5pm and 7pm and the winners announced at 7:30pm on Sunday 30th October at the Forest Lodge. 2. Join a lantern making pumpkin at the park.

The Forest lodge at Porthkerry Country Park will be opened as a workshop for you to bring along your own fresh pumpkins to carve into pumpkin lanterns using our tool stations. The workshop will be staffed by Beach Academy to help you. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Spaces are strictly limited at the Forest Lodge so please be patient and we will not have pumpkins there for you to use, please bring your own. The Forest Lodge workshops will be open from 10:30am to 4:30pm on both Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October.

Once you have completed your pumpkin lantern you can add it to our outdoor glowing garden. All the lanterns will be lit up and displayed on both evenings between 5pm and 7pm and the winners announced at 7:30pm on Sunday 30th October at the Forest Lodge. How will the pumpkin lanterns be judged?

If you wish to enter the lantern making competition, you will be given a number. The lanterns will be judged between 5 and 7pm on Sunday 30th October by a panel made up of staff from Beach Academy, Porthkerry Country Park Ranger Service, Mrs Marcos Cafe and the Vale Council Events Team.

Winners will be announced at 7:30pm on Sunday 30th October at the Forest Lodge and the prize winner awarded our Golden Pumpkin Trophy.

Can I bring, or make, a lantern to add to the Forest Lodge Gallery but not enter the competition?

Yes of course - Only lanterns with numbers will be judged. If you change your mind on the day, pop to the Beach Academy welcome desk and we can give you a competition number.

Is anything else happening?

Yes. There will be pumpkin games and face painting available to take part in and the cafe will be open serving tasty halloween treats. Why not also bring a torch to explore the shadowy woodland trails at night if you dare!!!

And don't forget, all the lanterns will be lit up and displayed on both evenings between 5pm and 7pm and the winners announced at 7:30pm on Sunday 30th October at the Forest Lodge.

Fancy dress highly encouraged to add to the atmosphere.

Is it all free?

Activities yes. (except cafe food and drinks)

Covid Considerations

If you feel unwell with any of the classic 3 Covid symptoms (new persistent cough, loss of taste or smell or fever), we ask you consider not attending the event.