Halloween Days out in Essex

Halloween Days Out in Essex 2022

Looking for Halloween Half Term Activities in 2022? From traditional pumpkin picking to Halloween festivals, Alpaca Trekking to Spooky train rides, we have got you covered. Here is a list of some of our favourite spooky and unusual Kids Halloween Days Out in Essex:

Barleylands Halloween Fest and Spooky Nights

Barleylands Farm Park are running Halloween Fest every day from Saturday the 22nd to Sunday 30th of October. This year they have lots of fun activities planned for a hauntingly good half-term,including singing, dancing and a spellbinding story time with Witch and Cat. There will also be pumpkin decorating – your little ones can pick a pumpkin from our paddock to decorate, ready for Halloween! There will be a spooky walk through labyrinth, a ghostly trail, as well as all the usual farm favourites.

Spooky evenings are running 27th, 28th and 29th October, packed with thrills, spills and chills for tots to young teens.  A brilliant Skittleman disco, toddler fairground rides, spooky walks and safe trick or treating around The Village. Tickets must be pre booked online. See our review from a previous visit to Barleylands Spooky Nights. Tickets from £15.50 per person. Under 2’s are £2.50.

Marsh Farm Halloween Festival

Marsh Farm Halloween Festival in South Woodham Ferrer’s are having lots of spooky fun for Halloween at the farm, activities include:

🧟 Spooky Walkaround Entertainment
🎶 Glastokids Spooky Show
🎃 Free Pumpkin to the value of £3 per full paying child.

👻 Children’s Trick or Treat Hunt
🕺 Witches Wiggle Disco
🚂 Ride the Train
⛱️ Sand Pit Fun
🤪 Adventure Play

⛳ Crazy Golf
🐷 Adorable Animals
🎠 Carousel, Tea Cup and Galloper* Rides
🍔 Restaurant & Takeaway Food and Drink

🤪 Outdoor Play
🏰 Bouncy Pillows
😀 Soft Play

Running from 15th & 16th and 22rd to 30th October 2022 and tickets must be prebooked. They are: £17.99-19.99 per person, toddler (6 months to 2 years) – £5.99.

Wyvern Wood

WyvernWood, St. Osyth Road, Alresford, Colchester, CO7 8AP. Wyvernwood is an immersive outdoor adventure park in a beautiful and magical setting on the outskirts of Alresford, near Colchester, that offers a unique experience like no other in the UK. Can you help reverse the curse of the wicked witch this Halloween?

Adventure Park, Spooktacular Activities, Fire Breather, Fairytale Face Painting, Magic Show, Fancy Dress, Scary Snacks, Terrifying Treasure. Tickets are £16.50.

Museum of Power

Halloween at the Museum of Power in Langford, near Maldon, running from Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30th October 2022.

• Bug Hunt – join Essex Wildlife to find the bugs and creepy crawlies in the grounds.
• Autumn Arts and Crafts – have fun painting, hiding and finding rocks around the Museum grounds.
• Exciting engineering – can you build the strongest bridge or tallest newspaper tower? A prize will be given to the bridge that is strongest and the tower that reaches the highest heights.
• Miniature Railway & Astaria Model Village open on Thursday 27th October ONLY.

Note that the Museum is closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. Normal Museum entry prices apply: Adults £7.00, Concessions £6.00, Children (5 to 15) £3.50 and Children under 5 £1.

Wild Forest Obstacle Activity Centre

Nuclear Races at Wild Forest Obstacle Activity Centre, are holding a Halloween Pumpkin Patch Pick and Play 90 minute sessions.

Beat the Nuclear Wall | Climb Walls & Cargo Nets | Swing on the Rings | Hang Out on the Monkey Bars | Take on the mud jump course. Plus a free pumpkin to take home.

Parsonage Farm, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Essex CM15 0LA, its £22 per child, book online.

Old Macdonalds Farm & Fun Park

Old Macdonalds Farm Halloween Festival at Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5AY are running their Halloween Festival from 22nd to 30th October 2022.

Activities include:

• Haunted House
• OMD Magic School
• Roller Coaster
• Scary Stories with Miraiker
• Ghost Trail
• Pumpkin Patch with free pumpkin for every child
• Free Halloween Tattoos
• Creepy Crawly Meerkat Feeding and Talks
• Animal Talks with Sunny the Owl

Tickets must be prebooked online. Adult – £19.50, Child (2-15) – £20.00. Under 2 – FREE.

Audley End Miniature Railway

Audley End Miniature Railway in Saffron Walden Essex. Train ride through the woods to visit the witches and their monster friends, a gift for every child, Belinda the Fortune Telling Witch, William the Woodland Wizard, Adventure Play Area. See our full review of Audley End Halloween Train here.

Running from 22 October to 31 October, 2022. Must Book online.

Ticket info: Adults and Children over 92cm – £17.00
Child Under 92cm – £8.50
Child under 1 Year – Free
Carer of disabled – Free

Epping Ongar Railway

Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar Fright Week, 5 spooky ghost train events during 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 October.

Take a ride on the steam hauled ghost train from North Weird. Before boarding, dare you collect an activity pack from our spooky porter? During the journey, watch out for spooky characters on board who will scare and entertain in equal measure. On arrival at Ongar, look out for the ghosts as you follow the ghost hunt, and admire the gruesome graveyard, and why not enjoy a calming hot chocolate or other refreshments from the Buffet Stop cafe? There may be theatrical smoke and other effects too. Tickets are £16 per adult and £10 per child. Tickets must be prebooked. Refreshments available and toilet facilities.

Southend Halloween Parade

Its the 2nd annual Southend Halloween Parade on Saturday 29th October 2022. A frightfully fun (and free) evening of music, dancing, amazing costumes and huge light up puppets at this spooktacular parade… and don’t miss the fireworks finale! 

At Southend Seafront, 6 -7:30pm.

Players Lounge

Players Lounge in Billericay are offering a Bottomless Pancake Brunch Film Club. Choose from 3 spooky films, £6 per person, 09:30am til 12pm. Monday 24th to Thursday 27th October. Book online.

Chelmsford Museum

Chelmsford Museum are hosting a Hocus Pocus event for half term. Dust down your costumes, grab your broomstick and head over to Chelmsford Museum to explore the myths about witches. Separate fact from fiction and discover if there were really witches in Chelmsford in the return of this popular exhibition. Including real artefacts from the museum’s collection plus a few surprises, explore how witches became associated with Halloween and how so-called witches were identified, as well as the origins of Halloween itself.

Chelmsford Museum’s Hocus Pocus will open from Saturday 22 October to Sunday 30 October, giving you plenty of time over the half term to visit the museum. The exhibition will be open all day in the Wells Suite on the first floor (opposite the bees!) from 10am to 5pm. Dressing-up is welcome!

Wat Tyler Country Park

Wat Tyler Country Park in Basildon have a wonderful schedule of activities for October Half Term:

Pond dips can be surprisingly spooky! With see-through phantom-midges and leeches in the ponds, you might even catch a ‘ghost’ or a vampire: for real! Mon 24th and Tuesday 25th October 2022 11.30am Price: £5.25 per child. Age suitability: 3+.

Spiders ‘n’ Bats: Get crafty and make a model spider and bat to take away. Mon 24th and Tuesday 25th October 2022 2:30pm. Price £7.25 Age suitability: 2+.

Soft Archery – Mon 24th and Tues 25th October, 1pm. Thurs 27th and Fri 28th October at 11am. Price: £5.25 per child. Age suitability: 5+ though catapults are available for young children.

Animal Experiences

Eden Oasis Animal Experiences

Eden Oasis Animal Discovery Halloween Special

🎃 90 minutes of Halloween fun
🦨 8 spooky animals to meet
🐍Themed arts and crafts
🪳 Fear challenge
👶🏽 Toddler specials
🧟‍♂️ Teens only specials

It is just £12.50! Only 18 spaces per session. Everyone in attendance will require a ticket.

Book online.
🧟‍♀️ Teens special – 5-6.30pm, Friday 28th
👶🏽 Parent and toddler special – Monday 31st

📖 Pre booking is essential

📍 Location – Howe Green, Chelmsford, CM2 7TB
Wheelchair accessible

🚗 Free on site car park and toilets on site

🧙 Enjoy fancy dress as much as we do? Why not join your hosts in wearing a costume this Halloween.

All Things Alpaca

All Things Alpaca in Chelmsford are offering lots of Spook-tastic activities with all of of their farmyard friends this October half term including: Alpaca Trekking, Mini Beasts, Animal Meet and Greets and Junior Farmer experiences. Prices start from £5 and you need to book in advance.

The Ramblers Riding Club

The Ramblers Riding Club in Leigh on Sea is hosting a Halloween Petting Party on 22nd October as 12-2pm. Party Food and Drinks, fancy dress costumes contest, games and animal petting. Booking is required, £15 per person.

White Elm Petting Farm

White Elm Petting Farm in Bicknacre, Chelmsford is having some Halloween fun on the Farm. Play their spooky Halloween games to win a sweet treat! Your farm entrance also includes entry to the indoor play barn and outdoor play area. There is also a tea room on site, garden centre shop and shopping village. Open every day in half term except Tuesday 25th October.

The Petting Farm is online booking only, with 2 sessions each day either 9am to 12.30pm or 12.30pm to 4pm.

Call of the Wild Zoo

Call of the Wild Zoo in South Woodham Ferrers are having a week of Halloween fun! From the 22nd – 30th October. The fun includes: Children’s shows by @mojientertainers, Reptile & Bug encounters and Animal Shows. Tickets can be booked online via their website.

Pumpkin Patches

We are spoilt for choice with some fabulous pumpkin picking patches in Essex, check out our list of some of the best places in Essex to pick you own pumpkins and get that perfect pumpkin photo:

Scotts of Southend Pumpkin Picking Barn

Scotts of Southend Pumpkin Picking Barn is Inside Scott’s of Southend Garden Centre SS4 1LQ.

This Halloween season you can enjoy picking your pumpkins in style and away from the cold and mud!

Free entry and plenty of free parking. Open 1st-31st October Mon-Sat 9am to 5pm & Sundays 10am to 4pm.  Indoors, weather proof & flat floor surface.  Pick your own pumpkins and gift area. Access to toilets and restaurant.  They also offer Halloween Afternoon Tea packages for you to choose from! 

Cammas Hall Farm

Cammas Hall Farm at Hatfield Broad Oak, you can pick your own pumpkin, enjoy a tractor and trailor ride, get lost in their Maize Maze, face painting or maybe make your own Halloween mask. Don’t forget to stop off for a Halloween treat in their Tea Barn. Their Wicked Walkways are great fun! You can read a review of our previous visit to Halloween at Cammas Hall Farm here.

Pumpkin Patch & Halloween Experience runs from Tuesday to Sunday 1st to 30th October & Monday 24th October. First entry 9am and last entry 4pm and booking required.

Ticket price is for admission only and includes the following:
🎃 Entrance to the pumpkin patch yet with over 40 varieties of pumpkin and squash to choose from.
🧙 Interaction with our fabulous Halloween characters.
😈 Wicked Walkway with haunting props and surprises (slightly spooky and super scary options to cater for all ages and sensibilities!).
📷 Lots of photo opportunities! We have some amazing backdrops and scenes set.
🌾 20% discount on entry to the Halloween themed Maize Maze open 10am with last entry at 3pm (7pm when the pumpkin nights are running). Tickets to be purchased on arrival – no pre-booking available. At this time of year the maze is not suitable for buggies so please bring a baby carrier. Please note that it may be necessary to close the maze if the weather has been bad and conditions are unfavourable.

Tickets need to be prebooked in advance. Free car parking, catering and toilet facilities available. Sen sessions and Pumpkin Nights also available.

Foxes Farm – The Pumpkin Patch

Foxes Farm The Pumpkin Patch at Basildon, SS15 4ER or Colchester, CO6 3PR. At The Pumpkin Patch in Essex you can expect over 15 different pumpkins and squash varieties. Activities include:

• Pick your own pumpkin patch.
• Ready cut pumpkin picking from the field
• Straw bales sofa
• Bale mountain
• Obstacles
• Scavanger Hunt game
• Lots of photo opportunities
• Wheelbarrows

There is also catering and toilet facilities, hand sanitiser stations and car parking available on site. Event village with food stalls, face painting, and more photo opportunities including Fergie tractor and swing. Lots of traditional games including tug of war, drainpipes, giant twister, welly swinging and mini tractors in the field of fun!

PUMPKIN PATCH DATES:

• 24th and 25th September
• 1st & 2nd October
• 8th & 9th October
• 15th & 16th October
• 17th – 31st October

Tickets range from £3.75 to £5.00 per person. Visit their website to book your slot.

Hurleys Pumpkin Forest

Hurley’s Pumpkin Forest is a pumpkin farm and patch. It is based at Battlesbridge, Essex and is located just off the Rettendon Turnpike on Woodham Road (the old Woodham to Wickford road).

Entry to the pumpkin farm and pumpkin patch needs to be pre-booked. Bookings can be made on their website, entry is £10 per car at peak times and £5 off peak. At the farm you only pay for the pumpkins that you want to buy and any special additional activities you may want to purchase on the day. Pumpkin Crafts & Maize Maze additional costs. Opening every weekend in October and open two weeks over October Half term. They also offer twilight tickets.

Pumpkin Village at Marsh Farm

The Pumpkin Village & Halloween shopping experience is next door to Marsh Farm in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex.

With a pick your own pumpkin experience and plenty of photo opportunities. There is a Halloween shop for spooky treats, along with catering and toilet facilities available. Entry is £3.99 per person and tickets must be prebooked. Free parking and timed entry slots to the Pumpkin Village, customers can enjoy a visit to the Pumpkin Village 6th to 31st October. Pumpkin Village Nights are available.

Hatter’s Farm Pick your Own Pumpkin

Hatter’s Farm is based in Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6NPP. With over 25 varieties of pumpkin available. As well as pick your own pumpkin, they have plenty of other activities from the Pumpkin Cannon to the Maize Maze.

They are open on the 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 20th and 22nd to 30th of October, giving you plenty of time to explore our fields and other activities.

Pumpkin Nights event will be open on the 22nd to 24th and 27th to 30th of October. If you want to get the best pumpkin picking photos then we recommend visiting sooner rather than later! Tickets are £1 per person.

In addition to the pumpkin picking, there will also be:

 – Pumpkin Cannons
 – Maize Maze
 – Spooky Marquee
 – Pumpkin House
 – Nature Trail
 – Food and drinks
 – Loads of photo opportunities
 – Toilet facilities
 – Free parking

Skylark at Prettyfields Vineyard

Sky Lark at Prettyfields Vineyard in Ardleigh, Essex. They have a Pumpkin Patch & Spooky Vineyard Trail running from Saturday 15th to Monday 31st October.

Prebook your ticket online. They have pumpkins of all shapes, sizes & colours to carve, cook or decorate! Take part in the spooky trail, then enjoy food & refreshments on the terrace, including spider cookies, scary cupcakes & Halloween hot chocolate.

They are also hosting kids pottery classes and giving away a whole years’ supply of cake* for the winner of our Instagram pumpkin carving competition!

Cobbs Farm

Pick your own Pumpkins at Cobbs Farm in Goldhanger, Maldon CM9 8BQ. No booking required. Open from 23rd October to Sunday 31st October Oct, 10-4pm.

Family friendly event to pick you own pumpkin this half term. A real working farm that open’s its gates for a few days every year for a fun chance to search the vast pumpkin patch to pick perfect pumpkins. They have a large range of edible squashes to try.

Otto’s Pumpkin Patch

Otto’s Pumpkin Patch in Braintree has Pick Your Own Perfect Pumpkin. Choose from a variety of pumpkins and squashes of all shapes and sizes. Booking is a must!

• Trailer rides*
• Decorated faraway forest with an interactive quiz
• Games area
• Giant art board
• Hot and cold refreshments available, picnics are also welcome
• and lots and lots of stunning photo opportunities.

Opening Times: Saturday 8th to Monday 31st October 9:30am – 5:00pm.
Closed: Monday 10th October, Tuesday 11th October, Monday 17th October, Tuesday 18th October. Located at Otto’s Pumpkin Patch, Long Green, Cressing, Braintree, Essex, CM77 8DL.

Lathcoats Farm

Lathcoats Farm Beehive Lane, Galleywood, CM2 8LX. Their pumpkin patch has lots of sizes and varieties for you to choose from but please bear in mind as it comes to the end of the Pumpkin Festival the choice in size and variety will become limited. They also have a number of outdoor games for the whole family to enjoy! Leave the mess with them and carve your pumpkins on site (undercover). The Halloween Hunt is a real hit with the little ones, recommended age is 8 and under, but not limited to! They also have a farm shop and and The Bee Shed Cafe on site.

Tickets £1 and you can book online.

Calcott Hall

Calcott Hall in Brentwood have Spooky Halloween Pumpkin Picking and Carving from Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th October. There will be Face-painting and creepy cupcakes. You can also go Sweetcorn picking in the Spooky Corn patch.

No need to book Just turn up. Small extra charge for Carving £3.00 but saves you all the mess!

Fobbing Farm Shop

Fobbing Farm Shop in Fobbing, Stanford-le-Hope have a pumpking patch and halloween activities to enjoy. This is a FREE event running from Mid October to Early November and they are hosting a BIG HALLOWEEN WEEKEND on 29th & 30th October from 11am-3pm. There’s so much to do at their first-ever Big Halloween Weekend at Fobbing Farm Shop & Shopping village! Pumpkin Patch, Rides, Face Painting, Sand Art and much more fun to be had by the whole family!

The Outlet Farm Shop

The Outlet Farm Shop in Little Burstead, Billericay. A free event (rides at additional cost), pumpkin patch, fun fair rides, spooky walk through, photo ops and refreshments, with some spooky music played all day! Indoor and outdoor and also dog friendly.

Address: Tye Common Road, Billericay,CM12 9SD. Open every day except for Mondays. Free Parking, Refreshments, Toilets and Farm shop onsite.

Forest, Parks & Outdoors

Essex Wildlife Trust

Hanningfield Reservoir are running Spooky Morning Drop in session, Campfire cooking and an evening in Nature Spooky Special.

Belfairs Woodland Centre are running Wicked Woodland, Spooky Science and Halloween Craft sessions.

Langdon Nature Discovery Park are running Pongy Potions and Smelly Spells sessions.

Thameside Nature Discovery Park in Stanford-Le-Hope are running Spooky Story Time, Woodland Magic, Spooky Science and Campfire Cooking activities.

Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park in Colchester have a Halloween Trail, Spooktacular Fun sessions, Wicked Woodland Crafts and Campfire Cooking activities. Enjoy Pumpkin carving, Wand whittling, Potion making and Pumpkin soup cooking.

Naze Nature Discovery Park in Walton on the Naze are running Creepy Nature Trail, Messy Magic sessions.

Halloween Parties & Shows

Joe Banana and Bam Bam’s Big Halloween Party

Joe Banana’s Big Halloween Party at Leigh Community Centre, SS9 1SP on Wed 26 Oct 2022, 10 – 12:30 and 1:30pm – 4pm. A fun packed party full of games, prizes and halloween fun!  

Tickets are £10 per child , £3 per adult.

Bam Bam’s Halloween Party at Players Lounge, Billericay on Wed 26th October 2022.

They offer a joint big Halloween Party at Civic Hall, in Grays on Friday 28th October, 2 sessions.

Looking for ideas free and cheap family days out in Essex?

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