What can children do in Dartington this October half term?
Devon's October half term runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. At Designs Café, at the Cider Press Centre in Dartington near Totnes, children can paint their own pottery any day we are open, and there are three booked sessions for families that week: two Ceramic Bubble Painting Masterclasses and a Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Painting class. It is all indoors, so it works whatever the weather does.
Half term at a glance
Monday 26 October: closed (we are closed every Monday).
Tuesday 27 October, 9:00am–4:00pm: pottery painting, walk-ins welcome when there is space.
Wednesday 28 October, 10:00am–12:00pm: Ceramic Bubble Painting Masterclass (£5 ticket).
Wednesday 28 October, 4:00–5:30pm: Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Painting for Children (£15, aged 4+).
Thursday 29 October, 9:00am–4:00pm: pottery painting.
Friday 30 October, 10:00am–12:00pm: Ceramic Bubble Painting Masterclass (£5 ticket).
Saturday 31 October, 4:00–5:30pm: Halloween Pumpkin Painting (£10, with a hot drink, aged 4+).
For grown-ups: on Friday 30 October our Walk-In Evening Pottery Painting runs in two sessions, 5:00–7:00pm and 6:00–8:00pm. It is walk-in only, with a £5 studio charge plus your piece (£7 to £50+), and you are welcome to bring your own bottle.
What is the Ceramic Bubble Painting Masterclass?
A two-hour guided session for children, families and adults. We show you a bubble painting technique for up to 45 minutes, then you have the rest of the two hours to finish your piece. The £5 ticket is your glazing and firing deposit; you choose and pay for your pottery piece on the day, and most pieces cost £7 to £50+. Children up to 8 years old need a parent or guardian with them throughout. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, so please book once you are sure of the date.
What happens at Trick or Treat Bag Painting?
Children aged 4 and over paint their own tote bag with fabric paint, ready to carry on Halloween night, and have a children's hot chocolate while they paint. It costs £15 per child, which covers the bag, the fabric paint, the studio charge and the hot chocolate. It is part of After School Creativity, our programme of children's workshops that runs until 23 December.
Can we just turn up and paint pottery?
Yes. Walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space, Tuesday to Sunday. Choose a piece from the shelves (£7 to £50+), add the £5 studio fee, which covers paints, brushes, glazing and firing, and take about two hours over it. Children are welcome with an adult. Your piece is glazed and fired for you and is ready to collect within two weeks. If you are coming as a group of more than six, please email info@designscafe.uk first.
Is it a good rainy-day activity?
Everything happens inside the café, so the weather does not matter. While you paint you get 10% off café food and drink: speciality coffee from Voyager Coffee, cakes from Exploding Bakery, gluten-free and vegan cakes, oat milk and decaf.
What about the Christmas holidays?
The last children's session of the year is Night Before Christmas Story & Bookmark Painting on Wednesday 23 December, 4:00–5:30pm (£15, aged 4+): a Christmas story, a hot chocolate and a bookmark to paint. Every After School Creativity date to Christmas is in our After School Creativity post.
Where are you?
Designs Café, Unit 3A, Cider Press Centre, Shinner's Bridge, Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6TQ. The Cider Press Centre car park is free for the first two hours. There is a step-free route in, and the café is wheelchair accessible. Open Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday 9am–4pm, Friday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm; closed on Mondays.
