Halloween Events in Essex for Children

There are many fun activities for children of all ages this Halloween. This year Halloween falls on Monday 31st October and most events for children start during the October half term break.

If you are organising an event for Halloween be sure to tell us about it so that we can add it to the list.

Note – some events listed here are for older children.

Pick Your Own – Pumpkin Patch and Maize Maze, Aldham and Laindon
Every weekend until Halloween, from 10.00am-4.00pm
The long awaited pumpkin patch and maize maze have arrived! This year is bigger and better than ever with pick your own pumpkins, sweetcorn, a maize trail and game zone!

Spooky Spellbook Trail, Belhus Woods Country Park
Until 30th October 2016, 10.00am-4.00pm
Buy your trail guide from the Visitor Centre and then set off hunting for sticky, icky potion ingredients around the park. For ages 5 and over.

Spook Night at Barleylands, Billericay
28th and 29th October 2016
A spookily fun-filled evening for all ages from tots to young teens.

PumpkinFest at Barleylands, Billericay
24th to 28th October 2016, 10.00am-5.00pm
Pumpkintastic! Pick up your free pumpkin (one for every child whilst stocks last). Join in pumpkin carving. Get close to snakes and creepy crawlies with Snakes Alive. Get creative with Halloween biscuit decorating. Try your hand at a gruesome game. Follow the pumpkin trail.

Halloween & Pumpkin Hunt at Blake House Craft Centre, Braintree
29th October 2016, 10.00am-5.00pm
Halloween comes to Blake House Craft Centre, complete with its own Pumpkin Hunt. Children are invited to join in for two special days of spooktacular fun over half term for the fourth year running.

Halloween at Hyde Hall, Chelmsford
22nd to 30th October 2016
Hyde Hall will be celebrating Halloween with a Spooky Woodlands theme.

Nasty Nature Halloween Trail at Marks Hall Gardens, Coggeshall
22nd to 30th Oct 2016, 4.00pm-9.00pm
Have you ever stopped to think how nasty nature can sometimes be? The Halloween Trail at Marks Hall is alive with beastly facts and gruesome details. Collect your trail leaflet from the Kiosk and use it to help you find the fact boards in the Arboretum.

Halloween Self-Guided Trail at Highwoods Country Park, Colchester
29th and 30th October 2016, varying start times between 11.00am and 3.00pm
Follow the map around the park and try to solve our Halloween puzzle. If you are in fancy dress you will get a sweet treat at the end! £1 per child.

Shriek Week at Colchester Zoo, Colchester
22nd to 31st October 2016
The darkness of ‘Shriek Week’ is set to return to Colchester Zoo…are you brave enough?!

Spooky Fun, Cressing Temple
27th and 28th October 2016
Dig out your witches hat, wizard wand and other spooky getup, ready to enjoy some spooky family fun at Cressing Temple Barns.

Halloween Events at Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, Downham
23rd to 30th October 2016
Can you solve the spooky clues and track down the creepy creatures of Hanningfield Nature Reserve? Join Hanningfields for a range of day and nighttime Halloween-themed activities.

Halloween at Colne Valley Railway, Halstead
25th to 27th October 2016, 10.30am-5.00pm (last admission 3.30pm)
There’s spooky things happening this Halloween week. The witches and friends have taken over, Have a diesel ride with a skeleton crew and take part in spooky games and activities. Aimed at younger children.

Halloween Spooky Night at Parndon Woods, Harlow
29th October 2016, 3.00pm-7.00pm
Are you brave enough to walk our spooky trail through the woods? Join us for a ghoulish night of terrifying trails and ghoulish games as we celebrate Halloween. £3 per person. Booking essential.

Halloween – Spooky Science & Magic at the Museum of Power, Langford
30th October 2016, 10am – 4pm
Childrens Hands On activities with Halloween fun, Story Teller and Wacky Demonstations.

Halloween Special Event at Audley End Miniature Railway, Saffron Walden
22nd to 31st Oct 2016, 10.00am-7.00pm
Experience a spooooooky Halloween train ride through the woods to visit the witches at their Haunted House at the Audley End Miniature Railway. Watch out for the mysterious characters along your journey, and make sure you behave yourself so the witches don’t cast a spell on you! Each paying child will receive a gift. Suitable for all ages.

Spooky Stories at Audley End, Saffron Waldon
24th to 30th October 2016
Grab your cloaks and steady your nerves as you come face to face with the dark side of childrens tales.

Wizards & Witches at Marsh Farm, South Woodham Ferrers
24th to 31st October 2016
This family fun event Wizards & Witches at Marsh Farm will have your little monsters entertained all day!

Halloween Pumpkin Trail at Mountfitchet Castle, Stanstead
22nd to 30th October 2016
Come and join the hunt! Lots of gun in store this half term for no extra charge.

The Great Ghost Hunt Self Guide Trail, Thorndon Country Park
22nd to 31st October 2016, 9.00am-3.00pm
Buy your trail guide from the Pavilion Café and then set off hunting for ghosts and Ghouls around the park and playing games. For ages 5 years and over.

Spooky Day Out With Thomas, East Anglian Railway Museum, Wake Colne

29th & 30th October 2016
Things get a little spooky with Thomas and his friends this Halloween, so come and join in with some ghoulish fun!

Halloween at Lee Valley Park Farms, Waltham Abbey
22nd to 31st October 2016, 10.00am-5.00pm
Your favourite farmyard friends will be creating mischief and mayhem at Lee Valley Park Farms this October half term, make sure you join them for some spooky fun.

Spooky Day Out with Thomas at East Anglian Railway Museum, Wakes Colne
Sat 29 Oct 2016 – Sun 30 Oct 2016, 10.00am-4.30pm
Chappel and Wakes Colne Station, Wakes Colne, Essex, CO6 2DS
Things get a little spooky with Thomas and his friends this Halloween, so come and join in with some ghoulish fun! A variety of activities will be taking place all day.