Did you know our donkeys love pumpkins? They like eating them and they also love playing with them! This October half term, we’re celebrating the season with some pumpkin themed fun at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary. Our sanctuary is open daily from 10am to 4.30pm with over 100 donkeys, ponies, a mule and a horse to meet, plus free entry and free parking.

🎃18 October to 2 November - Pumpkin Trail

Take part in our free Pumpkin Trail around the sanctuary. Pick up a sheet, find all the pumpkins hidden around the sanctuary and write down the name of our donkey who appears to have a spooky face on her side. 

Pick up a form from the Welcome hub or Adoption hub, or from Monday 27 October our spooky Halloween Hub in the courtyard will be open.
Everyone who takes part will receive a sweet treat!

🎃 Monday 27 to Friday 31 October - Pumpkin carving competition

Enter our competition for the Best Carved Pumpkin and Best Dressed Carrot and give our donkeys their own Halloween treat. Winners in each category will receive a donkey adoption of their favourite donkey, pony or mule.

• Carve your pumpkin or decorate your carrot at home then bring them into the sanctuary and drop them off at our Halloween Hub in the courtyard.
• We’ll put them on display for the day, take a snap of them before giving them to our donkeys to munch. Please remember - our donkeys only like bare pumpkins and carrots - if they have candles inside or paint or things glued to them that we can't remove, they won't be able to eat them. We can still enjoy looking at them though!
• On Friday 31 October, all entries will be judged from the photos with the winners announced on our Facebook page.

🎃18 October to 2 November - Free guided tours

Go behind the scenes at the sanctuary with a free guided tour daily at 11.30am. Advance booking online advised - limited availability on the day. Book via this link.

🎃Café 

Our café will be open daily from 10am to 4.30pm. Last hot food orders 4pm. We'll be serving butternut squash soup and spooky sweet treats! Free Halloween pumpkin colouring sheets available in the café .