Top Halloween events

From Halloween Festivals and pumpkin hunts to scary sleepovers… what will you be doing this All Hallow’s Eve?

*Old Macdonald’s Farm, Weald Road, South Weald, Brentwood.

Spooky Halloween Festival

Saturday, October 21 – Tuesday October 31. Free entry.

Old Macdonald's farm is hosting a spectacular Halloween half term spooky festival. There will be spooky appearances, a ghost train, a spooky fun house, creep crawly petting, pumpkin carving, storytelling, arts and crafts and more. The farm has fully accessible pathways allowing those with mobility problems and families with push chairs to reach all parts of the farm.

For more information, call 01277 375177 or go to www.omdfarm.co.uk

*Beth Chatto Gardens, Elmstead Market, Colchester.

The Great Pumpkin Hunt.

Saturday, October 21-Sunday October 29. 10am-5pm. Adults £6.95; children £1.50 (or free if you book your tickets in advance online)

Join the ever-popular annual pumpkin hunt at Beth Chatto Gardens. Challenge your children to find the hidden pumpkins around the gardens, complete the hunt and collect a reward. Plus there is a guess the weight of the pumpkin contest and see a fabulous gourd and pumpkin display too! It’s everything you need to get you into the spirit of halloween.

For more information, call 01206 822007 or go to www.bethchatto.co.uk

* The Royals Shopping Centre, High Street, Southend

Mini Monster Mayhem

Saturday, October 28. 11am.

Your little pests can come face-to-scary-face with a range of not so cuddly, critters, including a Royal Python, Chilean Rose Tarantula and Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches. Plus a cute Tree Frog, gorgeous Leopard Gecko and a Bearded Dragon. Youngsters will be able to touch, stroke and hold some of these brilliant beasties during the four-hour free session.

For more information, go to www.royalsshoppingcentre.co.uk

*Victoria Shopping Centre, 362 Chartwell Square, Southend

Hide and Shriek

Now until Tuesday, October 31. From £25.

Featuring the Seance and the Seance – Brave it Alone, the UK’s First Panic Room Experience. This is a one-of-a-kind scare attraction where you are challenged to last the full duration without hitting the panic button. Not suitable for expectant mothers, children under 13, photosensitive epilepsy sufferers and those of a nervous disposition. Maximum group size eight.

For more information or to book, go to www.hideandshriek.co.uk

*Layer Marney Tower, Layer Marney, Colchester

The big sleep over at the tower.

Thursday, October 26 - Friday, October 27.8pm. £28 per person.

Not since Tudor times have people slept the night in the Long Gallery at Layer Marney Tower. But, now you can. Enjoy burgers and sausages in the courtyard before a trip to the top of the Tower to listen to some stories. Play some Halloween games, do a bit of pumpkin carving and take a night walk. Half way round the night walk, stop off for a bonfire and toast a few marshmallows before making your way back to the Long Gallery for a midnight feast of hot chocolate and flapjacks… before sleeping if you can. Awake to the aroma of bacon butties…

For more information, call 01206 330784 or go to www.layermarneytower.co.uk/

*Colchester Castle, Castle Park, Colchester

Halloween ghost hunt

Friday, October 28. 9.30pm. £59.

Join the Haunted Happenings team as they spend the night investigating the hauntings of Colchester Castle. Having recently undergone a major refurbishment, the castle is full of history relating to the Saxons, the Romans and a more barbaric medieval past. Take part in a vigil in the vaults beneath the Roman Temple.

For more information, call 0115 9720570 or visit www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk

*Belfairs Wodland Centre, Eastwood Road North, Leigh

Horrid Halloween

Thursday, October 31. 6pm-8pm. £6 donation per child.

Enjoy a special spooky evening session with Halloween themed crafts, suitable for children aged five to 13. Make your own tea-light lantern before braving the pumpkin trail into the woods in search of witches. Youngsters are encouraged to come in fancy dress and hope for treats rather than tricks. Booking is essential.

PLUS Fun Thursday – Spooky Spiders

Thursday, October 26. 2pm-4pm (arrive 10 minutes early for registration) £6 donation per child.

Children up to age seven can take part in a spider themed wildlife afternoon for Halloween half term. Little ones will be looking for spiders, webs and things in 8sin Belfairs Woods, plus there’ll be Halloween crafts and games. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking is essential. The session is outside so dress appropriately.

To book, call 07840 462894.

*Barleylands, Barleyland Road, Billericay.

Pumpkinfest

Monday, October 23-Friday, October 27. Family of four ticket, £40.

PumpkinFest is back and every child visiting the farm park will get a free pumpkin. This year there’s a brand new laser ghostbusting, which the whole family can enjoy, spooky pumpkin biscuit decorating and a chance to step inside the giant pumpkin globe. Plus you can get up close and personal with spine-chilling snakes, terrifying tarantulas and a whole host of creepy critters in the Snakes Alive Reptile House.

PLUS Spooky Nights

Friday, October 27-Saturday, October 28. £9.80 per person.

Held after dark, the two evenings will be packed full of thrills, spills and chills for tots to young teens. Spooktactular family friendly activities include a huge fairground ghost train, haunted fairground house, boo barn, witches walk, haze maze, spooky toddler story time, creepy reptile cave, Halloween disco and spooky games.

To book, go to www.barleylands.co.uk

*Essex Police HQ, Kingston Crescent, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex

Halloween crafts at Essex Police Museum.

Saturday, October 21, Wednesday, October 25 and Saturday, October 28. 10am-4pm. Free entry to the museum. £2 per craft event per child.

Make your own spooky masks and trick or treat bags. Suitable for all ages. Fancy dress is welcome! The museum has more 25,000 items in the collection, plus visitors can step inside the Victorian cell.

To book, email museum@essex.pnn.police.uk or call 01245 457150.

*Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Mucking Wharf Road,Mucking, Stanford le Hope

Halloween crafts.

Saturday, October 28. 1.30pm-3.30pm. £5 donation per child.

No need to book, just drop in and have a go at some Halloween craft activities. Suitable for all ages.

For more information, call 01375 643342

*Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Mount, Pitsea, Basildon

Spooky Fest

Monday, October 23 – Saturday, October 29. 11am until 3pm. £5 for children over four. 11am-3pm. £3 for children under three. Babes in arms and parents go free.

Youngsters can enjoy the haunted house, toy shop and carnevil where there will be live actors, special effects and confusing routes. All children will receive a treat bag at the end. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book.

For more information, go to www.wattylercountrypark.org.uk/

*The Clubhouse at Canvey Island Football Club, Park Lane, Canvey

Family Halloween Party

Saturday, October 29. 7.30pm.

The club is again holding its annual Family Halloween Party in the clubhouse. Fancy dress is optional, but encouraged, and there will be games for the children to enjoy throughout the evening. The bar and food bar will also be open.

For more information, go to canveyislandfc.com

*Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Rd, South Woodham Ferrers

Wizards and Witches

Saturday, October 21 to Tuesday, October 31. 10am-5pm. £12.50 (under twos free or £2 if they want a pumpkin)

Visit the Pumpkin Patch to pick your free pumpkin and then create your pumpkin masterpiece in the Carving Cavern. Explore the Witches’ Maize Maze and help Winifred the mischievous witch find the missing ingredients for her potion. Then join Cello the wizard in his wondrous wizardry shows with marvellous magic and boo-tiful animals!

To book, go to www.marshfarm.co.uk

*The Point. Canvey

Canvey Halloween Ghost Walk

Monday, October 31. 9pm-12am. £12 per person.

Take a walk around some of Canvey's most haunted locations. The tour will start at the point end of the island with tales of the phantom Viking and his lost long ship. Will you see the ghosts of the B-17 bomber crew that crashed over Chapman Sands? Or the strange lights that can sometimes been seen from this area? The tour will also go to the closed King Canute pub, the haunted Lobstersmack near the old coastguard cottages and the northern end of Northwick Road where a phantom nun is said to haunt. Over 16s only.

To book, go to www.tridentparanormal.com

Southchurch Hall, Southchurch Hall Gardens, Park Lane, Southchurch

Autumn Traditions: Hallowe'en

Saturday October 28. 10am - 3pm.

Come into the old Hall and learn about the ancient British roots of our modern Halloween. What is a soul cake? Where did trick or treat come from? What vegetables were used for carving faces into before the pumpkin? Discover the haunted rooms of the old Manor! Hear traditional spooky stories from Master Robert as he prepares for Hallowe’en and carves his pumpkins.

Suitable for ages six and upwards.

Entry: £2 (includes trail sheet and crafts). Accompanying adults go free with each child's ticket.

Book your ticket in advance via southendlam.eventbrite.com or pay on the door.

Fishermen's Chapel, New Road, Leigh

Music Adventures presents Spooky Sounds

Monday October 30, 2pm - 2.45pm.

Music Adventures is a series of fun themed music classes for children aged around two-four years old. Run by local musician and DJ Emma Reed (Lost Harbours, Culture as a Dare) each session features real instruments with lots of time for jamming, singing and dancing as well as an introduction to ideas such as timing, volume, pitch, turn taking, performance, playing skills and style. For October the theme is Spooky Sounds, and children will get the chance to try playing the theremin and play with microphone voice effects as well as exploring pitch with the help of spiders, bats and ghosts! A way to get in the spirit of the season without any sugar or gore! Sessions last 45 minutes and are £6 payable in advance, there is no need to commit for a term. The following two sessions will be Rainforest Rhythms and Bollywood Christmas. The classes currently run once a month on a Monday afternoon.

For more details email crayonrockrecords@gmail.com

Southend Pier, Western Esplanade, Southend

Zombie Walk

Sunday October 29 at 3pm

Join the annual Zombie Walk, in which assorted Ghoulies and Ghosties will stagger down the world’s longest pleasure pier!

The Walk begins at 3pm from the far end of the pier. The Royal Pavilion where the zombie's will assemble, will be open from 1pm.

There’s no charge to enter, and zombies get a free train ride so all you ghouls and zombies get on your 'Sunday worst' and join the horror!

The Walk will end at the Park Inn Palace Hotel where the event continues with a horror themed hot and cold buffet. Horror themed cocktails and mocktails will also be available and singer Nicola Collis will add to the atmosphere.

Hot and Cold buffet £10 per person from 4pm to 7pm at The Park Inn Palace, Church Road, Southend.

STRICTLY FOR THE GROWN UPS:

* Strictly Smartz, Elm Road, Leigh

Middle Age Spread present Stranger Spread

Friday October 27. 8.30pm - 12.30pm. £10 tickets from Fives and Book Inn (Leigh)

Grown up disco for people unafraid to dance. Dress code is 'outrageously scary'. Face painting available.

Visit the-middle-age-spread.co.uk

* Saks Underground, Clifftown Road, Southend.

Cult 13's Nightmare Before Halloween

Friday October 27, 9pm-2pm

With live music, DJ's, fancy dress (with prizes), horror movie screenings, trick or treat sweets, shot deals at the bar, and more! Featuring: Dead Happy - an eclectic fusion of electronic metal madness from the midlands! Dead Happy are like nothing you've heard before! With pounding guitar riffs, hooky electronic breakdowns, anarchic vocals, and an obsession with killer bananas.

(deadhappyband.com) and local mask wearing Halloween veterans Platypus, a band who include some of the area's most established musicians, using elements of punk, ska, reggae, jazz, rockabilly, and metal, to create their uniquely twisted sound. (facebook.com/platypuspresents)

DJ's are DJ Skullf**k, Kev Daintree (Cheeky Bitch), and Gaffyn Voorzta, who'll be mixing alternative, goth, punk, metal, psychobilly, industrial, electro, and a generous helping of Halloween classics.

Tickets: £5 from ticketsource.co.uk/cult-13

* Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, Southend.

Halloween Down the Big Black Boozer

Saturday October 28, 8pm until late. Admission free.

Halloween and pscyh night featuring the Dials, a Brighton based psych/surf band (facebook.com/TheDials) with support from the Tuppenny Bunters.