Every year there are more pumpkin patches popping up so you wont have to travel far in Essex to pose with a pumpkin or ghoul. This post is probably the most comprehensive round up of pumpkin patches in Essex and features lots of ideas of where to go with children this Halloween Half Term. There is even a growing number of evening activities if you are looking for something a bit more spooky.
The pumpkin patches are generally field based so wellies are recommended. The Half Term activities are mostly outside so require appropriate clothing, but many venues also encourage fancy dress.
Updated posts for 2024:
To hear about the latest events then follow us on Facebook where we share child friendly events from across Essex.
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| There is so much choice of where to go for pumpkins in Essex this year |
Halloween, Pumpkin Patches and October Half Term Activities for Children in Essex (and beyond) for 2024
This list will be updated regularly as more venues confirm
details of what they have planned. Where 2024 information hasn't yet been shared yet I have kept the 2023 information to give an idea of what is likely to be happening, this is clearly marked.
Events range from free to £££, check the
organisers website or Facebook page to confirm age suitability and latest availability. Last updated 6/09/24
Pumpkin Patches In Essex
2024 event confirmed, but no dates available yet. In 2023 their pick your own pumpkin event ran from Tuesday 24th October until Thursday 26th October, from 10am until 3pm. There was the opportunity to carve your pumpkin and face painting too. No booking required, but wellies recommended when weather has been wet.
The Halloween Experience and Pumpkin Patch at Cammas Hall is available to visit from 5th to 31st October 2024. They claim to have their biggest pumpkin patch to date plus creepy props to pose with and The World's Only Erupting Pump-Cano. Booking is required. Tickets cost £5 to £7 per person depending on the date.
The huge 6 acre dinosaur themed maize maze is a fun experience and is 15% cheaper if booked with the Pumpkin Patch or Resurrected tickets. This year's Halloween show "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." will be running twice a day on weekends and three times daily during day half term (booked separately but get 10% discount if bought with pumpkin patch/ resurrected tickets). Playground and catering facilities will be open.
The huge 6 acre dinosaur themed maize maze is a fun experience and is 15% cheaper if booked with the Pumpkin Patch or Resurrected tickets. This year's Halloween show "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." will be running twice a day on weekends and three times daily during day half term (booked separately but get 10% discount if bought with pumpkin patch/ resurrected tickets). Playground and catering facilities will be open.
Cammas Hall Farm Resurrected - Halloween Nights are running selected nights from Friday 18th October 6pm to 9pm (last entry at 7.30pm) if you are brave enough to visit after dark. Visit the pumpkins and spooky goings on. Live music 6.45 to 8.15pm features some great cover acts including Freddie Mercury, Amy Winehouse and George Michael. Pre-booking required. Tickets cost £10.50 (adults), £8 (children) for nights, plus booking fee.
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| Choosing a pumpkin a Cammas Hall Farm PYO |
Cobbs Farm is a working farm which opens shortly before Halloween for a Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch. Free entry and free parking, no booking required. Open 10am-4pm on Friday 18th - Sunday 20th October and Thursday 24th - Thursday 31st October 2024. Expect no frills, but all pumpkins are grown on site and range in price from £1-£15. Refreshments available from Tasha's Tasty Treats, serving homemade cakes and hot and cold drinks.
This patch opens on Saturday 5th October 2024 and is open every weekend in October as well as half term week. Activities include: straw pyramid and an inflatable bouncy tractor, mini Maze Pumpkin Puzzle and a Halloween Mega Maze. Refreshments and picnic area available. Entry this year costs £5 per child, £7 per adult and includes a free small pumpkin.
Fobbing Farm Shop, Waterworks Lane, Fobbing, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 9HT
This pumpkin ‘palace’ in Stanford-Le-Hope gives you a chance to pick your pumpkin while having photos with ghosts, ghouls and witches. They even have singing pumpkins and a Halloween shop to look around, open 25th October-1st November.
£3 per child, pumpkins cost extra. Accompanying adults go free.
Foxes Farm Produce. Basildon: Watch House Farm, Wash Road, SS15 4ER. Colchester: Green Lane, Aldham, CO6 3PR
Foxes run two pumpkin patches, one in Basildon the other in Colchester. They are open every weekend in October from Saturday 5th October and from 12th October to 1st November 2024. Although the website also warns they might run out of pumpkins so wont definitely be open up to Halloween.
Prebooked ticket required for entry. Tickets cost £5.50 to £6.50 per person with discounted group ticket for 4.
Both sites have pumpkin picking and some games, but the Colchester location also has a maze, sandpit and licensed bar.
Twilight sessions run on select dates in October and start from 18:00, tickets cost £8 per person. Pumpkins and some activities cost extra.
The Green Barn Farm Shop North Benfleet Hall Fishery, Benfleet SS12 9JR
For £5 entry per person there are 5 acres of pumpkins to choose from. Entry cost includes a pumpkin of your choice and a ride on the pumpkin express ( a vintage tractor ride to the pumpkin field and back). Try not to get lost in the maize maze and there is a trick or treat mini maze too (additional cost). Open 10:00-15:00 every weekend from 28th September and every day in half term week.
This pumpkin patch is open weekends in October and every day from 23rd to 31st October. Pumpkin Nights are running from 17:00 – 20:30 on the 19th, 20th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th and 31st of October.
They have large pumpkin fields to choose your traditional pumpkins from and tables full of a variety or squash and gourds. Activities include a pumpkin cannon (£), maize maze (£), hay mountain and maze, Hatter's haunted mad house and roaming actors. The Maize maze costs £3 per person and cannon £2.50 a shot or 3 for £7. Pumpkins ranged from £1 to £12. There are refreshments available at peak times. Read our review here.
They have large pumpkin fields to choose your traditional pumpkins from and tables full of a variety or squash and gourds. Activities include a pumpkin cannon (£), maize maze (£), hay mountain and maze, Hatter's haunted mad house and roaming actors. The Maize maze costs £3 per person and cannon £2.50 a shot or 3 for £7. Pumpkins ranged from £1 to £12. There are refreshments available at peak times. Read our review here.
Prebooking required and entry costs £3 to £5 per person (depending on date) plus booking fee and evening sessions are £7 per person plus booking fee. There is an undercover area for wet days.
Hurleys Pumpkin Forest, Christmas Tree Farm, Woodham Road (Old Road), Battlesbridge, Wickford, SS11 7QL
Open weekends in October plus everyday from 25th to 31st October. Twilight sessions are 4pm to 7pm on 25th to 30th October. Activities (subject to availability) include: Precious ring swing, witches maze, pumpkin bowling and welly wangling. Early bird peak tickets cost £3-£4 per person with a discount for families of 4.
No information available as yet about whether it will be back for 2024. In 2023 it was a Halloween pop up event running from 21st to 29th October. It was open 10am to 10pm, but maybe stick to day times if your children are easily spooked. There were lots of pumpkins to choose from, photo opps, a circus, fun fair and more. Advanced prices started at £7.50 entry for just pumpkin picking, £15.99 for a ticket including the rides or £25.99 for the circus too. Tickets cost more on the gate and after 26th October.
Open 12th to 2nd November. Lathcoats have PYO Pumpkins, outdoor games, photo ops and a Halloween Hunt. They also have their annual Apple Day on 19th October in which the pumpkin patch is included within the Apple Day tickets.
Tickets for the pumpkin patch can be booked online for £2 per person plus £1.00 booking fee, under 1’s are free. The Halloween hunt is charged separately at £4.50 per person when booked online and includes an activity booklet, pencil and spooky treat.
For craft enthusiasts, they have a Halloween mobile making workshop for children aged 7+ on Monday 28th October- Tickets are £20.00 and include all the materials you need to make a spooky, woven spider web decoration. You can read more about visiting Lathcoats Farm here.The courtyard is filled with a display of pumpkins and gourds of all size. Great for photo opportunities and buying beautiful and interesting autumn products. Open from late September 2024. If visiting from mid October onwards the Christmas barn is also open with a beautiful range of Christmas decorations.
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| For decorative pumpkins, squashes, gourds and even Christmas decorations (!) head to Norpar Flower Barns |
This pumpkin patch is on a working family farm in Braintree. Booking required: adults £5, children £3, Under 2’s are free. There is a decorated faraway forest with an interactive quiz, games area, giant art board, loads of photo opportunities and hot and cold refreshments. Open 29th September, weekends in October and everyday from 25th to 31st October 9:30am – 5:00pm.
The Pumpkin Picking Village is back for 2024. If you plan to visit the Halloween Festival at Marsh Farm (12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th October - 1st November) you get free entry to the Pumpkin Picking Village, but you can also visit the Pumpkins without paying the extra money for Marsh Farm entry. The Village is open from 27th September to 31st October with the main aim to be a brilliant backdrop to photographs, and maybe tempt you to buy a pumpkin or two while you are there. There are a number of "Pumpkin Nights" evenings (12th, 19th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th and 31st October) which include access to fairground rides (these are not normally included), dog friendly sessions (limited times on 29th September, 5th, 11th, 14th, 17th, 22nd& 23rd October and the following night sessions (13th and 20th October) and SEN sessions (limited times on 28th September and 6th October).
The pumpkins are not grown on site and the village is entirely set up each year for the purpose of entertainment. Standard entry £2.9 to £5.99 per person (depending on date), nights are charged at £9.99 (plus booking fee) per person if you prebook online. If you choose to buy a pumpkin to take home they are priced between £3- £100. As well as the pumpkin posing there is a Halloween shop to buy decorations and refreshments.
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| There are more twilight sessions than ever before at pumpkin patches in Essex this year |
No booking, free entry and free parking- they only charge for the pumpkins (between £1-£10) and refreshments. This pumpkin patch on a working farm is open Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October and Friday 18th to Thursday 31st October
Open daily 10am to 4pm. All pumpkins grown on site. Expect: Straw Bale Mountain & Slides, photo ops, refreshments and over 20 varieties of pumpkins and squash.
Scott's Halloween Pumpkin Picking Barn, Scott’s of Southend Garden Centre, Sutton Road. Rochford, Essex, SS4 1LQ
Open 1st-31st October 9am – 5pm daily. SEN Sessions: Every Monday and Wednesday, 3pm – 5pm.
Admission is £5 for adults and kids aged 2+, kids under 2 are free. Admission fee includes access to the Indoor pumpkin barn, NEW outdoor pumpkin patch plus a pumpkin of your choice, any size or colour!
You can also book a Halloween themed afternoon tea package between 14th- 31st Oct (Adults are £30 per person, kids are £17 per person) or their Haunted VR Ride which is open during weekends and half term in October and costs £5 per person, suitable for 2yrs+.
Twilight Sessions run on 25th, 26th, 30th & 31st October from 6pm – 9pm cost £25 per person and are suitable for 8 yrs and up. These feature a Halloween disco, games, spooky characters and cirque performers.
October Half Term and Halloween Activities In Essex
There are lots more events to be added to this section when 2024 details have been announced, so check back closer to half term if you are still looking for ideas.
Audley End House and Gardens, Audley End Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 4JF
At Audley End this half term there are two Halloween events:
Between Saturday 26th October - Sunday 3rd November 2024, 10:00-16:00 there is a fun family quest around the gardens. There will be costumed performers sharing strange, supernatural and the downright silly tales. Entry included in normal entry price (free for members). £12.70 children, £20.90 for adults if bought online (15% more if purchased on arrival).
If you fancy something a little spookier they have a creepy woodland walk running early evenings on Saturday 26th- Sunday 27th October & Thursday 31 October 2024. This 45 minute walk is targeted at families with children aged 5 to 10 with ghost hunting story tellers. You need to book tickets separately online, but these aren't currently available. Last year you could book tickets online for the 5.30pm, 6.30pm or 7.30pm sessions which cost £14 Adults, £8.50 children, reduced price for members.
Audley End Miniature Railway, Audley End Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4JB
The Halloween special event at Audley End runs from Saturday 26th October - Sunday 3rd November 2024. Head into the woodland on the train and travel to the witches house where you can catch them singing, dancing and making spells (maybe even conjuring up sweets). Next little ones will be able to make their very own potion pouch to take home before it's on to meet the woodland magician, William, who needs help performing his spook-tacular spells.
The Halloween special event at Audley End runs from Saturday 26th October - Sunday 3rd November 2024. Head into the woodland on the train and travel to the witches house where you can catch them singing, dancing and making spells (maybe even conjuring up sweets). Next little ones will be able to make their very own potion pouch to take home before it's on to meet the woodland magician, William, who needs help performing his spook-tacular spells.
Don't forget to explore the Halloween decorations in the Fairy & Elf
Walk and finish off with a run around in the adventure play area. Tickets
will sell out so must be booked in advance, adults and children over 92cm
– either £19.50 or £20.50 (date dependent), children under 92cm –
£9.75-£10.25. There are SEN Halloween sessions on 27th, 30th October and
2nd November.
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| Get the train to the witches house for an exciting Halloween event at Audley End Miniature Railway |
Halloween Festival for half term runs between 26th October – 3rd
November 2024 and has plenty of spooky activities. There will be Witch
and Cat dance parties as well as the chance to pick a pumpkin from the
paddock to decorate. Enjoy a spooky walk through labyrinth, a ghostly
trail, as well as all the usual farm favourites. £14.45 for adults and
children over 2 years old. Under 2's are £2.55.
Spooky nights are running at the farm park on 26th, 27th, 30th &
31st October 2024 from 17:30 to 21:00. Enjoy unlimited toddler
fairground rides, safe trick or treating around The Village, spooky
disco with Skittleman, creepy critter show, indoor and outdoor play
areas, animals and more. £17 for adults and children over 2 years old,
£13.60 for members, £3 for under 2. Prebooking required.
Brentwood Halloween Mega Fun Day Brentwood Centre, CM15 9NN
Save Monday 28th October in your diaries for the Spook-tacular Mega Fun Day at the Brentwood Centre including a magic show, inflatables, games and a disco. This is an indoor event and it's aimed at 2 to 11 year olds. The are 3 timeslots: 10.30am to 12pm // 1pm to 2.30pm // 3-4pm SEN. Tickets are very limited now but there are a few left, £9.99 per child plus £1.00 booking fee and adults are £1.50 plus £0.75 booking fee.
Join in the Halloween activities at Capel Manor from Saturday 26
October - Thursday 31 October 2024, 10am to 4pm. There is a trail through
the Gardens, interactive experiences, disco, crafts and you can also visit
their mini zoo. Additional fee for pumpkins and carvings, face painting
and bouncy castle. Tickets are yet to be released but keep an eye on their
website/socials for updates. Prebooking recommended. You can read our
review of visiting Capel Manor with children here.
Cherry Lane Pumpkin Carving, Coggeshall Road, Stisted, Braintree, Essex CM77 8AE
Visit Cherry Lane Garden Centre in Braintree this Halloween for a pumpkin carving event. Children are invited to arrive in fancy dress for a zombie dance off and will be treated to a cookie and witches brew while carving their pumpkins.
Children’s places cost £6.99 and up to two adults can accompany each child free of charge.
Colchester Castle,
Castle Park, High Street, Colchester, CO1 1TJ
There are lots of spooky goings on at Colchester Castle over half
term:
There is a workshop for young writers aged between 8 and 14 on 12th October run by author Lisa Wakely. It will help children bring their creepiest characters and spookiest settings to life. Tickets are £10 and adults who accompany are charged at normal Castle admission rates.
Colchester Castle’s Medieval Trail is running from 26th October to 3rd November, a creepy trail in the eerie setting of Colchester Castle. Tickets are £5 each (in addition to castle entry) and include a prize at the end. Suitable for children aged 6+.
The Castle’s Spooktacular Family Fun Night is on 29th October 2024 and includes: ‘thrilling games, eerie crafts, and a party bag packed with treats and surprises.’ Suitable for children aged 4+. Tickets are £10 per child and £5 per adult.
They also have their sleepover
event, Knightzzz At The Museum, on 26th October (prebooking
essential, from £40 per person), 5 years and up, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Prebooking for events can be done by calling 01206 282939. Castle admission
prices also apply for daytime events (£12.75 for adults, £7.50 for first child, £3.75 for additional children, under 4s are free).
Join Shriek Week at the zoo from 26th October – 3rd November 2024 which
features face painting, creating wands and potions with the good witches
and wizards at the Craft Coven (extra charges apply) or go to Scare
School! Zoo entry online and in advance is £19.95 for children and
£27.08 for adults (plus booking fee).
They also have an evening event "Trail of Terror" for adults and recommended for children 12yrs+ (under 5s will not be admitted) on 18th, 19th, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 28th and 30th October 2024 . This must be prebooked, prices start at £24. This event does not include viewing animals.
Cursed Essex, BCM Productions Ltd, Crouch Valley Showground, A1245
5 themed horror mazes, with scary actors or ‘Cursed roaming rotters’ to interact with, plus immersive scenery. There are food and drinks also available to purchase including loaded fries, a bar and hot chocolate. The Cursed Village Fright Nights are running from 17th October- 2nd November 2024 from 7pm-11pm, this event is for over 16’s only due to the content and under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets range between £20.00 and £30.00 + booking fee per person dependent on the date. They run Cursed Twilight which is intended for under 16’s and those who will find the full event too frightening (age 8 plus) on Tuesday 29th October 5pm – 9pm, tickets are £20 per person.
Down Hall Hotel, Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop's Stortford CM22 7AS
This hotel in Hatfield Heath was famously used to film the Great British Bake Off during the pandemic. They are hosting a number of Halloween events this year including Afternoon Tea with a specially themed menu on 25th October-1st November. They also have a Halloween cinema weekend on 26th-27th October with family favourites showing on the different days at 5.30pm and more spooky films for the adults showing later in the evenings. The hotel is just over a ten minute drive from Cammas Hall Farm so why not combine it with their popular pumpkin patch for a Halloween day out?
They even have staycations on offer with pumpkin patch tickets and Halloween activity included or on 28th October with piñata making and a treasure hunt, which includes childcare - the hotel has a spa so get booking that one!
Afternoon tea for adults is £40 mid week, £42.50 at weekends with kids going for half price. The cinema weekend tickets start at £10 (+£1 booking fee) per person. Staycations start at £249.
On 26th and 27th October 2024 Day Out With Thomas is back at the
railway museum. Not a Halloween event, but great fun for fans of
trains or Thomas the Tank Engine. The sessions now last all day so you
can spend as long as you want there (for the last few years it has
been divided into morning and afternoons)/ You can take
unlimited train rides behind Thomas, Percy and Daisy. Meet Toby,
Henrietta, Rusty, Dusty and Sir Topham Hatt. Also enjoy the miniature
railway and train themed playground. Tickets cost £15.40 for children
(2 to 17) and £19.80 for adults. Prebooking required. Read my
review of our visit to Day Out With Thomas here.
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| As an alternative to Halloween Half Term activities why not see Thomas and Friends in Essex? |
Eastgate Shopping Centre, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Southernhay, Basildon SS14 1AG
Party Monsters are hosting a FREE event at Eastgate Shopping Centre
on Saturday 21st September 2024 between 10:00- 14:30. Lots of fun to
be had including, a kids magic show, puppet show, games and prizes
plus snow and bubbles. Main show times, 10:45-11:30, 13:00-13:45.
Ride the Ghost Train at Fright Week on 26, 27, 29, 30, 31 October
2024. Details to be announced, but expect spooky characters on and
off the train and a magician. Prize for best costumes.
Last year tickets were Adult £18; Child £10; Family (up to 2
adults and 3 children) £47. Under 3s free.
On Monday 28 October 2024 they have Spooktacular fun including pumpkin carving, potion making and a trail. Event running between 10.30 and 3pm (except for a lunchbreak between 12 and 1pm). You need to prebook tickets (£12.99 per child inclusive of booking fee), but can arrive at any time and ticket price includes the pumpkin.
George Yard Pumpkin Patch, George Yard Shopping Centre, Braintree, CM7 1RB
George Yard in Braintree are running a free pumpkin patch event on 31st October. In addition to picking a pumpkin (while stocks last) they have face painting, a selfie spot and more.
Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor Centre, Hawkswood Road, Downham, Billericay CM11 1WT
Halloween activities include: a Spooky Spells and Pongy Potions session on Wednesday 30th October, £7.73 per child and parents must accompany. If you are not out trick or treating they also run an evening session for over 5s on Thursday 31st October 5 to 7pm, £10.88 per person where children can search for creepy crawlies, make potions and enjoy the woodland scenery. Prebooking required.
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| Pick up a free pumpkin and take a selfie at The Harvey Centre shopping centre, Harlow |
As well as the traditional farm animals and lots of play activities
there is a Halloween event running from Wednesday 23rd October - Sunday
3rd November 2024. With child-friendly Halloween mini games, The Happy
Ghost trail and themed selfie areas to enjoy. You can add on the option
to take a pumpkin home or upgrade to the VIP package also includes help
from staff to carve your pumpkin, a sweet treat and a goody bag.
Prices start at £5.95 toddlers and £9.95 everyone else plus booking fee.
The pumpkin upgrade is £2.50 and VIP upgrade an extra £9.50 (on
children's tickets only).
Haunted Circus, Colchester Business & Seedbed Centre, Wyncolls Road, Highwoods, CO4 9HT
Join the team at Together AAT for a Haunted Circus every weekend from 19th October-2nd November. Complete challenges alongside the ringmaster to enter the circus then meet the therapy animals, such as bunnies and snakes and even join in with the show. Refreshments of hot chocolate, biscuits and cake are included.
Tickets for children and adults over 2 are £15 each and under 2 are £7.50.
Hedingham Castle, Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham, Essex, CO9 3DJ
Visit Brightworth's School of Magic for young witches and wizards this
October half term. The 2+ hour sessions are aimed at children aged 3 to
14. Tickets include: castle entry, a magic wand, entry to the enchanted
animal enclosure, potion and magic classes, 2024 diary and a magic
school certificate. From Sunday 27th October to Saturday 2nd November
2024, the classes will run in two sessions- 10.30am to 1pm and in the
afternoon at 1.30pm to 4pm . £13.95 adults, £21.95 children. You can
even add a personal acceptance letter for £9.95 per person which will be
sent in a wax sealed envelope to the door inviting your child to the
school. Magical!
Hobbycraft (Various locations including Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow and Loughton-Epping Forest)
Most Hobbycraft stores are running craft sessions in store during the
October half term including: maché pumpkin and haunted house decorating
and clay bats and ghosts workshop. Sessions are £5-£10 each and are
bookable via
ClassBento. If you want to try some Halloween crafts at home then check out this
Halloween bunting
which is great to make with pre-schoolers.
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, Sawyers Hall Farm, Sawyers Hall Lane, CM15 9BZ
Halloween Half Term sees Hopefield Animal Sanctuary open 10am to 3pm between Saturday 26th to Sunday 3rd November. Entry includes a Haunted Barn, trick or treat trail, arts and crafts, meet the creepy crawlies, general admission to the sanctuary as well as a pumpkin to take home. Adults £8, children £12, under 2’s are free.
Read about what to expect from visiting Hopefield here.
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| There is lots of choice for a Halloween themed day out in Essex in October Half Term |
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, CM3 8ET
Hyde Hall promises Spooktacular fun from 26th October to 3rd November, 10am to 5pm. Story telling (29th only) and an wicked plants trail are included in the entrance price, additional charge and prebooking required for crafts (28th and 30th) and face painting (28th and 30th). Garden entry £7.95 for children over 5 and £15.85 for adults.
Read more about what to expect from a visit to Hyde Hall here.
A spooky special on Friday 1st November includes: wand whittling and potion making. Suitable for children aged 3-10, £7.73 per child, prebooking required.
Kids Play Bouncy Castles Stay and Play, Debden Park High School, Willingale Road, Loughton IG10 2BQ
Taking over a large hall in the Debden Park High School Kids Play Bouncy Castles set up a main area of inflatables for 4 to 11 year olds and a smaller area with inflatables and soft play for children age 6 months to 3 years. Running from Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November there are 3 bookable timeslots lasting 2 hours (9.30am, Midday and 2.30pm) . £13 per child, prebook online.
Langdon Nature Discovery Park, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, SS16 6EJ
There are a few events running at half term at the home of the Peter Rabbit Trail including: The Spooky Secrets of Langdon Halloween event on Monday 28th October at 5pm, 6pm or 7pm time slots. This involves a guided walk around the reserve after dark whilst you learn about the park plus spooky stories and some wildlife. Suitable for 5 years and above. £12 per person.
Wednesday 30th October from 10:00-12:00 is the Halloween Special Nature Tots session where young children between 18 months and 5 years can participate in bug hunting and some spooky crafting. Tickets are £7.73 per child
From Monday 28 October 2024 to Friday 1 November 2024 there is an
Adventure Academy for children over 8. Prices yet to be released as
booking opens on 2nd September 2024 . On Tuesday and Friday there is
a farm session in the morning and and all age session in the
afternoon which are suitable for all ages, but under 5s must be
accompanied by an adult.
The Halloween Festival is running from Saturday 26th October to Friday
1st November 2024. Enjoy Halloween themed shows, Hocus Pocus Spell
Classes and Day of The Dead Disco as well as the normal animals and
play areas. Free small pumpkin with each child ticket. Tickets £14.49
per person, 6 months to 2 years £5.50. Tickets are more expensive if
purchased on the door.
Loughton The Royal British Legion,
118 Church Hill, Loughton IG10 1LH
The
Fairy Tale Face Painter is having 3 Halloween Parties on Saturday 26th October 2024 The 10 to
12pm session is aimed at children 5 and under and includes face
painting, a disco, crafts, soft play and a children's entertainer.
Later there is a Hocus Pocus Disco at 1pm to 3pm aimed at age 6 plus
which features DJ and disco, bubbles, foam, crafts and sweets.
Finally 4-6pm is Pre Teen Scream (9-12year olds must be accompanied by
an adult) which has a DJ and festival face glitter. Tickets £5
adults, under 12 months £5, 1 and 2 year olds £15, children 3+ £18.
Marks Hall Estate are hosting Witches & Wizards – Halloween
Percy’s Adventures from Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November
2024, 10:00 - 16:00, whilst full details are yet to be
announced they promise a 'Halloween-themed celebration brimming with
enchantments and eerie delights!'
Marsh Farm,
South Woodham Ferrers CM3 5WP
The Marsh Farm Halloween Festival is running 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th,
26th October- 1st November. Entry includes fair rides, pumpkin picking
patch, adventure play, bouncy pillows, Trick or Treat Hunt and
shows. You can even warm up in the soft play. Tickets online in
advance cost £15.99 for everyone over 2, £5.00 for 6 months, tickets are
more expensive on the door.
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| Posing with Pumpkins at Marsh Farm when visiting the Halloween Festival |
The Halloween event runs from Saturday 26th October to Friday 1st
November 2024 and includes a Pumpkin Trail and Catapult Firing!
Children can try and find the hidden pumpkins around the castle and
House on the Hill museum and win a prize for completing the
trail.
There is also the opportunity to use a medieval catapult to fire
pumpkins at witches and skeletons! (2pm daily) You can also enter the
Haunted Manor, if you dare!
Full details to be announced.
Museum of Power, Hatfield Road, Langford, Maldon CM9 6QA
This museum in Maldon is running half term activities from Wednesday 30th October-3rd November with Halloween arts, crafts and more. On 31st October they have ‘Professor Dean the Steampunk Scientist and Magician’ with Spooky Science fun. The miniature railway (extra charge) and Astaria Model Village are also open on 31st October and 3rd November.
Tickets for children under five are £1, over five are £5 and adults are £8.
The Crafty Cabin: The Museum of Power is also home to The Crafty Cabin, which is running a separate Wizarding School on 26th, 30th and 31st October. These craft sessions involve wand making, slime potions and Day of the Dead tea lights. £15 per child.
The Naze Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, CO14 8LE
Visit the Naze Centre on Sunday 6 October 2024 14:30 - 15:30 for their Wands and Potions session where children can make their own smelly potion to take home. £6.64 per child, is best suited for children aged between 4 and 12 years and tickets can be booked online.
Visit the Naze Centre on Sunday 6 October 2024 14:30 - 15:30 for their Wands and Potions session where children can make their own smelly potion to take home. £6.64 per child, is best suited for children aged between 4 and 12 years and tickets can be booked online.
North Weald & District Miniature Railway, Harlow Garden Centre, Canes Lane, Harlow CM17 9LD
Located in the garden centre (on the far side of the car park) and run by volunteers the miniature railway is running Spooky Specials on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October between 4pm and 7pm. Pre booking required. It's £4 per person for this short train ride, but a fun Halloween activity for children that love trains.
The Halloween Festival is running from Saturday 26th October to Sunday
3rd November 2024. Activities include: magic school, haunted house, meet
a dragon, go on a ghost trail, stories, pumpkin patch (free pumpkin per
child), arts and crafts, Halloween tattoos and more. Entry to the park
includes unlimited rides and prices are cheaper if buying online and in
advance. Adults tickets range from £17.00- £20.00, between £17.40 and
£20.50 for children over 2 (under 2s free).
The small farm in Harlow Town park is running some activities from
Monday 28th October to Saturday 2nd November 2024. The farm entry is
free, but there is a small charge for activities. Full details to be
announced. Check out the post on their
Facebook page
for more details. Nearest car park is School Lane.
On Monday 28th October 2024 12:00-14:00 The Runwell Social Club in
Wickford are hosting a Halloween themed event with a kids entertainer,
games, costume contest and prizes. Tickets £5.00 for adults,
£9.50 for children and £4.50 for under twos. Tickets available at the
bar.
Nicky Trix presents Halloween Howls on Monday 28 October 2024
at14:00. A Halloween themed family comedy magic show. Adults £14.50,
Under 16 £12.50, Family of 4 £45.50.
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford Le Hope SS17 0RN
There are several activities happening over October Half Term, but the more Halloween themed ones are: Thameside Halloween in the wood, (Wednesday 30th October 2024 5-7pm) for a night time walk around the reserve, creepy crawly hunt and scary stories around a camp fire- this is aimed at 5yrs+ and is £10.88 per child. Thameside Witches and Wizards is taking place on 31st October 2024 from 10:00-12:00 where little ones can ‘craft their very own magical wands, design fairy houses using nature-inspired materials, and enjoy mixing up potions and a story.’ £7.73 per child.
Wild Forest Obstacle Activity Centre, Parsonage Farm, Ongar Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA
90 minute, muddy, obstacle course (but with a trick or treat twist?!), these sessions are taking place on the 26th, 29th and 31st October 2024. Children aged 6+. Saturday 26th October is a family event where adults can get involved too however the other two dates are kids only. £20 pp plus booking fee.
90 minute, muddy, obstacle course (but with a trick or treat twist?!), these sessions are taking place on the 26th, 29th and 31st October 2024. Children aged 6+. Saturday 26th October is a family event where adults can get involved too however the other two dates are kids only. £20 pp plus booking fee.
Halloween adventures will be taking place at this magical lost kingdom
(aimed at children 2 to 12) from the 26th October to 3rd November 2024
between 10am and 5pm. Gate tickets £22 per person, but great early bird
discounts are available if you book earlier. At the time of writing,
code EARLYBIRD gives 15% off.
Includes meeting the wicked witch, storytelling, warrior workshop,
spellcasting, heroes and villains and much more.
All information correct at time of publishing. I am not affiliated with
any of the venues and I can't provide any information about the quality
of the events. If you spot any errors or know of any other events please
email me or add to the comments below. I always recommend checking the social media and websites before visiting incase there have been changes. Thank you
You may also be interested in these related posts:
Things to do with children in Essex and Over 150 places to go on rainy days in Essex
Things to do with children in Essex and Over 150 places to go on rainy days in Essex
Check out these
great Halloween finds on Etsy
from UK small businesses.
Great recommendations! Thanks for sharing these Halloween activities in Essex!
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