Looking for a spooky Halloween event in Essex? These events all take place early evening or later. Whether you fancy pumpkin picking by torch light, a family friendly evening event or something truly scary for older children and adults, there is something to choose from. Expect sunset around 6.30pm at the beginning of October moving forwards to around 4.30pm for Half Term and 31st October (although it wont get completely dark until a couple of hours later). Remember the clocks change at the beginning of half term so it will suddenly get dark an hour earlier.
If you would prefer something in the day time you can find the full list of Halloween events in Essex here. For those of you who are a little braver: bring your torches, wrap up warm and have fun.
Evening Halloween Events and Late Night Pumpkin Patches in Essex for 2025
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| Enjoy a Special Halloween Atmosphere at Evening Events |
Check the organisers website or Facebook page
to confirm age suitability and latest availability.
Spooky Nights sessions are back this year on 25th, 26th, 30th and 31st October, running from 5.30pm to 9pm. These include unlimited toddler fairground rides, safe trick or treating around The Village, spooky disco with Skittleman, creepy critter show, a halloween maze, Halloween themed characters, light displays, indoor and outdoor play areas, animals and more. £18.50 per person, £5 for under 2s. Advanced booking required.
Brentwood Connected, Various locations
As part of the events organised by Brentwood Connected this year there are a couple of early evening events: Shenfield Spooktacular is on Friday 31st October between 3pm and 6pm and a Festival of Frights in Brentwood on Saturday 1st November between 2 and 5pm. Details are still tbc so if you live locally it's worth following their Facebook page.
Cammas Hall Farm Resurrected - Halloween Nights are running selected
nights from Friday 10th October 6pm to 9pm (last entry at 7.30pm) if you
are brave enough to visit after dark to explore the pumpkins and spooky goings
on. Live music 6.45 to 8.15pm features cover acts including Elvis, Amy
Winehouse and George Michael. Pre-booking required. Tickets cost £14.95
(adults), £9.95 (children) for nights, plus booking fee. Note that the
play area is not available during the night events.
Chelmsford City Centre, Chelmsford
Chelmsford for You have teamed up with the Essex Witch Museum for a free trail around the city centre and various activities in the day, but as it gets dark they have events for adults including guided walks and film screenings. You can sign up for emails on their website to hear when more details are announced.
Colchester Castle, Castle Park, High Street, Colchester, CO1 1TJ
There are lots of spooky goings on at Colchester Castle over half term, but their evening events are:
Knightzzz At The Museum sleepover, on 25th to 26th October (prebooking essential, from £40 per person), 5 years and up, children must be accompanied by an adult.
If you have older children (15+) there is a Dark Castle Tour in the evening on 24th and 30th October telling dark tails of the castle's history. £12 per person.
The Castle’s Spooktacular Family Fun Night is on 29th October 2025 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and includes: ‘thrilling games, eerie crafts, and a party bag packed with treats and surprises.’ Unsuitable for children under 4. Tickets are £12.50 per child and £5 per adult.
Prebooking for the sleepover is by calling 01206 282939 other special events can be booked online.
The "Trail of Terror", suitable for adults and children over 12 is back for 2025 (under 5s will not be admitted). It's running evenings of 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, 27th, 29th and 31st October. Along a 1.5 mile route plus train ride there will be clowns, zombies and creatures from the swamps of New Orleans. There is also food and entertainment zones. You need to book in advance, prices are £25.50 to £28.50 per person. This event does not include viewing animals.
Down Hall Hotel, Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop's Stortford CM22 7AS
The hotel has a Halloween cinema weekend on 25th to 26th October with Casper and Beetlejuice showing on the different days at 5.30pm and Jaws and Scary Movie showing later in the evenings. The cinema weekend tickets start at £10 (+£1 booking fee) per person.
Ride the Ghost Train during Fright Week on 25th, 26th and 29th to 31st October 2025. This is mostly a daytime event, but you can book the 4.40pm train on the 26th, 29th and 30th October when the twilight will add an extra element. Expect spooky characters on and off the train (a steam hauled train journey from North Weird) and a magician. Start your journey on their vintage bus from Epping station for the best experience.
Tickets are Adult £20; Child £10. Under 3s free.
Fobbing Farm Shop, Waterworks Lane, Fobbing, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 9HT
While it's not a special event on Friday 17th and 24th this Halloween experience is open 4pm to 7pm. 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. There is
also a 'Ghostbusters' magic show (at 20 mins past the hour, need to TBC that this is running on the evenings.
£4.95 per child, pumpkins cost extra. Accompanying adults go free.
Pumpkin Patch Nights run at the Colchester location on 18th (live music), 24th, 25th (Adult only),
30th and 31st October select dates in October and start from 6pm to 9pm,
tickets cost £10-£12 per person. Pick your own pumpkins and squash by torchlight, walk the corn trail and enjoy the licensed bar, catering and music.
Pumpkin Nights are running from 5pm to 8.30pm on
the 18th/ 19th, 25th/ 26th and 28th to 31st October.
They have large pumpkin fields to choose your traditional pumpkins by torch light or explore the tables full of a variety or squash and gourds in the beautifully lit courtyard while listening to local artists.
They have large pumpkin fields to choose your traditional pumpkins by torch light or explore the tables full of a variety or squash and gourds in the beautifully lit courtyard while listening to local artists.
There will be hot food available, a bar and fire pits you can toast marshmallows on (or just warm up). Activities include a pumpkin cannon (£), maize maze (£), hay
mountain and maze. At night you might find a real clown or two in the Hatter's haunted madhouse and
roaming actors.
Evening sessions are £9 per person plus booking
fee. There is an undercover area for wet days.
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| There are spooky goings on at Hatter's Farm this Halloween |
Hurleys Pumpkin Forest,
Christmas Tree Farm, Woodham Road (Old Road), Battlesbridge,
Wickford, SS11 7QL
Twilight sessions are on 24th to 30th October from 4pm to 7pm. Activities
(subject to availability) include: Precious ring swing, witches maze,
pumpkin bowling and welly wangling. Tickets cost £5 a person.
King George's Play Fields, 1-3 Hartswood Pavilion, Brentwood, Essex CM13 2FD
There is a special Haunted Ninja Tag session on Thursday 30th October at 6pm. It costs £7.50 pp. Ninja Tag is ideal for children 8 to 15. It's a bit like a soft play where you have to get around and hit targets as quickly as possible. This special session can be booked by calling 01277 598886, but normally you can book via the Everyone Active app/ website.
Monkey Puzzle at Madison Heights, Maldon, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ
An After Dark Fright Night Follow The Maze event is running in the soft play 24th, 25th and 30th October. time slots from 6.45pm, £8 per person. Contains actors, flashing lights and tight gaps. Suitable for age 10 to adults. Book on 01621850222
North Weald & District Miniature Railway, Harlow Garden Centre, Canes Lane, Harlow CM17 9LD
Located in the garden centre grounds (on the far side of the car park) and run by volunteers the miniature railway is running Spooky Specials on 18th, 19th, 24th October and Saturday 1st November 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. Includes sweet bag for each child and special effects.
This years night time offering are short "Pumpkin Dog Nights" sessions running from 5.15pm to 6.30pm on 4th, 12th, 18th, 25th, 26th and 29th October.
Entrance is £5.99 to £6.99 (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 (they are cashless). As well as the
pumpkin posing there is a Halloween shop to buy decorations and
refreshments.
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| Enjoy a more spooky atmosphere at these Halloween evening events in Essex |
Scott's Halloween Pumpkin Picking Barn,
Scott’s of Southend Garden Centre, Sutton Road. Rochford, Essex, SS4
1LQ
Twilight Sessions run on 25th, 26th, 30th & 31st October from
6pm to 9pm cost £12 per person and are suitable for 8 yrs and up. These
feature a Halloween disco, games, spooky characters and a free
pumpkin.
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford Le Hope SS17 0RN
On Wednesday 29th October a Halloween in the Woods event is from 4pm to 6pm. It has a haunted trail, lantern making and stories round the campfire (weather dependant), this is £8.80 per person (adults and children) and needs to be booked in advance.
The Village of the Cursed Essex, BCM Productions Ltd, Crouch Valley Showground, A1245
6 themed horror mazes and 2 additional experiences, with scary actors and immersive scenery. There are food and drinks also available to purchase. The Village of the Cursed is running from 15th October to 1st November 2025 from 7pm to 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 £28.50 and £35 + booking fee per person dependent on the date.
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 in case there are last minute changes.
Thank you
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