October Half term is slightly earlier this year in Essex, meaning Halloween doesn’t fall within the week off.
There are some fantastic Halloween events in Essex this year, so read on to find your perfect Halloween day out in Essex.
Halloween Events Essex For You To Explore
Adventure Island Fright Fantastic
Location : Western Esplanade, Southend-On-Sea SS1 1EE
Join us for a spook-tastic week full of frightening fun! This week is packed with your favourite Halloween characters coming down to Adventure Island and Sealife Adventures.
With themed treasure hunts, face painting tattoos and themed entertainment, it’ll knock your socks off..in a good way?
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Audley End Miniature Railway Halloween
Location : Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4JB
Taking place 25th October – 2nd November 2025
Join them for a magical, family-friendly day out in the beautiful North Essex countryside.
Climb aboard the Halloween train for a magical journey deep into the forest. The tracks are lined with charming, not-too-spooky scenes for all ages.
As the train winds through the golden autumnal trees, passengers will spot bears dressed up like mummies, a vampire, skeleton mermaids and scarecrows!
You will stop in the woods to meet the ever-entertaining William the Wizard and find out what his magic-wacky-wand is up to! There will be some singing and dancing and each child will receive a gift before they head back to the woodland station.
Once you’re off the train, little witches and wizards in training can create their very own potions at the hands-on potion-making experience. For an extra sprinkle of magic, visit the stage area where a friendly witch will put on a lively potion show, full of fizz, fun, and a little bit of harmless hocus pocus.
For the first time ever, they will have their very own Pumpkin Market! You will be able to buy your own, and pose for pictures. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin to take home and carve, or the perfect backdrop for your Halloween photos.
They can’t wait for you to try out the brand-new straw maze! Enjoy exploring, and see what you can find!
Take a tour around the short Fairy & Elf walk, some have stayed for Halloween! Take a look at their spooky houses! Families can then enjoy time in the playground, sip hot chocolate from the café, and take in the crisp autumn air surrounded by the changing colours of the forest.
The perfect addition to your autumnal day out, will be the Marshmallow toasting station. For a small additional cost, stand by the fire, and warm up with a delicious gooey treat!
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Barleylands Halloween Festival
Location : Barleylands Road, Billericay CM11 2UD
A Spooktacular Day Out for the Whole Family!
Get ready for frightfully good fun this October! The Daytime Halloween Festival runs from 10am to 4pm, Saturday 25th October – Sunday 2nd November 2025.
What’s New for 2025?
The pumpkin patch is getting a fang-tastic glow-up! Every child can pick their very own pumpkin and head to the Pumpkin Decorating Barn to get creative.
Spooky Fun Awaits in the Events Barn
- Explore the child-friendly Halloween Maze – spooky, but not too scary!
- Enjoy spooktastic magic shows with the amazing Skittleman the Entertainer
- Join the Halloween Dance Parties with Skittleman, Barley & the Pumpkin
Plus so much more!
With a huge timetable of activities included in your ticket, there’s something for every little ghoul and goblin.
Check out all of the latest info on their facebook page
Opening Dates/Times/Prices : For further information CLICK HERE
Barleylands Halloween Spooky Nights
Location : Barleylands Road, Billericay CM11 2UD
The family favourite Spooky Nights is back!
From 5.30pm on 25th, 26th, 30th & 31st October.
Your ticket will include:
- Unlimited family-friendly fairground rides
- Safe trick-or-treating around The Village shops
- Spooky Halloween disco with Skittleman
- Halloween spooky maze
- Creepy Crawly Critter shows
- Indoor play barn
- Visit our animals
- Halloween-themed characters
- Large outdoor screen TV playing spooky music
- Halloween light displays
Check out all of the latest info on their facebook page
Opening Dates/Times/Prices : For further information CLICK HERE
Call of The Wild Zoo Freaky Fusion Factory
Location : Wickford Rd, South Woodham Ferrers CM3 5QZ
⚡🧪 Step Inside the Freaky Fusion Factory! 🧪⚡
This October half-term, (27th October to the 2nd November) enter the gloomy laboratory of the eccentric Doctor Fuse… if you dare!
Deep inside, he’s been tinkering with his latest invention: The Creature Creator – a wild machine that fuses animals together in the strangest of ways.
👻 Get ready for fun-filled interactive shows where our younger guests become brilliant scientists!🔎 Spot the strange fused creatures…🧩 Reverse the fusion to set them free…🎉 Celebrate success as you outsmart the wacky inventions of Doctor Fuse!
Join us for a Halloween experience full of laughter, mystery, and monstrously good fun!
Dare to step inside – and discover what’s lurking in the lab…
The Freaky Fusion Factory is included in your annual membership or daily admission ticket.
Also, step into Dr Fuse’s Slime Lab next door! Face Painting also available, at an additional cost.
Check out all of the latest info on their facebook page
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Colchester Zoo Halloween Shriek Week
Location : Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0SL
Join in with our FANG-TASTIC themed activities taking place from 25th October – 2nd November 2025
Enjoy spook-tacular daytime activities!
This October half term, enjoy a week filled with SPOOK-TACULAR daytime activities suitable for children of all ages.
Dance and sing with the Wild Vibe Crew, create magical crafts at the Witches Coven, and take part in scaring lessons at St Anway’s.
Check out all of the latest info on their facebook page
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Colchester Zoo Trail of Terror
Location : Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0SL
Taking Place 24th, 25th, 27th, 29th & 31st October 2025
This event is not for scaredy-cats!
Face your fears along a 1.5 mile route plus a train ride you won’t want to remember!
Look out for clowns, zombies and creatures from the swamps of New Orleans, all put together by our CZS in-house team – Zoo team by day and scarers by night!
Check out all of the latest info on their facebook page
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Eden Oasis Halloween Experience
Location : Howe Green, Chelmsford, CM2 7TB
� Join us for a spook-tacular animal encounter, where you’ll meet some of our fascinating “Spooky” family members—including snakes, lizards, rats, and the star of the show… our incredible armadillo, Dolly! �
� Once you’ve met the animals, test your courage in our Buckets of Fear Challenge. How brave are you? Choose your level and see if you can conquer your fear —fun for both children and adults!
� Children can immerse themselves in our free-flow, child-led play zones, packed with spooky fun and endless adventures! From squishy goo play and whipping up frightful feasts in the monster kitchen, to digging for ancient bones in the sandpit and creating spook-tacular Halloween crafts—there’s something for every little explorer. And don’t miss the thrilling ghost hunt… complete it to claim a special prize!” �
�Parents are welcome to join in the fun or take a moment to relax with a tea or coffee from the Jungle Shack.
� Incredible animals, exciting challenges, play, exploration, and learning—all waiting for you at Eden Oasis! �
Taking place on 30th October 2025
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Epping Ongar Railway Fright Week
Location : Ongar Station, Station Approach, Ongar CM5 9BN
Dare you ride the Ghost Train from North Weird? Dress up in your scariest outfit and join our full size ghost train as we promise some Hallowe’en fun with the living dead!
Take a steam hauled train journey from North Weird – but beware the living dead aren’t just lurking outside the windows!
Find the ghosts haunting the eerie gruesome graveyard; meet the manic magician and watch his mysterious show. Scare us with your spookiest costumes to win prizes
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Hollow Trees Farm Holloween Farm Trail
Location : Semer, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 6HX
🎃👻 IT’S BACK… Holloween at Hollow Trees Farm! 👻🎃
Get ready for a fang-tastic half term adventure from Friday 24th October – Sunday 2nd November 2025 as we introduce you to the Monster Bugs! 🐛🕷️
Step into a world of creepy crawlies, super-sized bugs, horrible habitats and spooky surprises around every corner.
Plus, enjoy all your Farm Trail favourites with a spooky twist, alongside extra activities including:
✨ Explore the Crazy Haunted Village
✨ Ride the Bug Barrel Train
✨ Scale the Spiders Straw Stack
✨ Race the Caterpillars Sledges
✨ …and discover plenty more Monster Bug surprises!
Check out all of the latest info on their facebook page
Opening Dates/Times/Prices : For further information CLICK HERE
Lee Valley Park Farms Halloween Festival
Location : Stubbins Hall Ln, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2EF
Who will you spot around the farm this Halloween? Witches, wizards, vampires… Maybe even some spooky film characters?!
Put on your spookiest costume and explore our devilishly decorated farm.
There’s so much to see and do at Lee Valley:
🎤 Enjoy thrilling LIVE shows
🧟♂️ Meet your favourite afterlife guide and the OG goth girl!
👻 Don’t miss our haunted walk-throughs
🎃 Pumpkin picking patch
🛝 Adventure play area
🎨 Arts & Crafts
🦘 Farm yard fun
🙌🏼 Giant bouncy pillow, and so much more spooky fun!
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Maldon Promenade Zoo – Boo At The Zoo
Location : Promenade Park Maldon CM9 5JQ
🎃👻 Boo At The Zoo 2025! 👻🎃
Step into a world of spooky surprises and magical moments at Maldon Promenade Zoo this Halloween! 🌙✨
🐾 Begin your adventure with a meet & greet with the cheeky mob of meerkats, then tiptoe into some spooky interactive talks, where you’ll come face-to-face with the amazing reptiles and meet the fluffier side of the zoo too! 🐍🦉🐇
🕷️🕸️ New for 2025… explore the family-friendly scare zones – filled with just the right amount of spook to delight all ages!
🧙♀️ Help the mischievous witch stir her bubbling cauldron, mix up magical potions, and join the hunt for the missing pumpkins hidden around the zoo. 🎃🔮
Before you leave, don’t forget to collect your Halloween gift and certificate to remember your enchanting day! 🎁📜
Are you brave enough to face the fun of Boo At The Zoo? 🦇
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Marsh Farm Halloween
Location : New Street, Chelmsford CM3 5WP
Something SPOOKY lurks at your favourite family fun park this Halloween! 👻
Come in fancy dress and creep through the DEVILISHLY decorated farm. Enjoy the FABULOUS funfair rides, go pumpkin picking on the hugely popular patch*, tackle the adventure play area, bounce on the GIANT inflatable pillows and 𝘴𝘖𝘰𝘖𝘰𝘰 much more.
PLUS you can come face-to-face with the DRAMATIC dinos at Dinosaur Adventure! Walk among JAW-DROPPING Jurassic beasts at the fun and educational attraction – FREE with your Halloween ticket.
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Mountfitchet Castle Halloween
Location : Grove Hill, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8SP
🎃 Halloween Fun at Mountfitchet Castle! 👻
Join them for a spooktacular adventure this Halloween!
Children can explore the castle grounds, hunt for spooky clues, solve the ghostly puzzle, and win a special prize! 🕵️♂️💀
It’s a hauntingly good day out for the whole family — costumes welcome!
No need to book, just come along and join the fun at Mountfitchet Castle!
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Museum of Power Halloween
Location : Hatfield Road, Langford, Maldon CM9 6QA
Friday 31st October from 9.30pm – 3.00pm for Arts, Crafts and other Spooky Activities
The Miniature Railway will be running a night train (charge of £2 per adult and £1 per child) and the Steam Pump Tea Room open for food and refreshments.
As well as free entry to the Model Village, there is free entry to the Museum and free car parking.
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Old MacDonald’s Farm Halloween Festival
Location : Wrightsbridge Road, Brentwood CM14 5AY
There’s some spooky goings on down at the Farm this Halloween!
They love Halloween at Old MacDonald’s Farm, when they say it is a Halloween Festival….they really mean it!
Visit between 25th October and 2nd November 2025, find your perfect pumpkin at the patch, magic shows every day, roaming dragons, the howdy Halloween show, the haunted house, old mac’s ghost trail, plus all the rides included.
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
RHS Garden Hyde Hall Halloween
Location : Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8ET
Join the spooky fun this October half term at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, with activities for all the family to enjoy.
From fabulous face painting to creepy crafts; spooky storytelling to close encounters with exciting animals, there’s plenty for all ages to enjoy.
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Wyvernwood Halloween
Location : St. Osyth Road, Alresford CO7 8AP
The Wicked Witch is returning to the Kingdom, and the characters of Wyvernwood need your help to defeat her!
This October half term, Merlin needs you to find 3 special ingredients hidden around the Kingdom to create a spell to reverse the Wicked Witch’s curse…
At the end of the day, come face-to-face with the Wicked Witch as we attempt to defeat and capture her!
New for 2025 – Trick or Treat Avenue, from 10:00 to 10:30, will your entrance to the Kingdom be spooky or special?
Can you help defeat the Wicked Witch?
For further details including dates/times/prices please CLICK HERE
Which Halloween events have you booked for this year ?