Watch out, watch out, there’s some spookiness about. And venues have gone absolutely bat crazy this year with a number of immersive events to make even the most steadfast person jump out of their skin. Here are just a few.

1 EVIL on Sea, Fear the Pier, Clacton Pier. Friday and Saturdays, until November 2. £19,99. clactonpier.co.uk

Cranking up the scares, the owners of the pier have brought in the genius that is Johnny Buffalo, aka Blackwater Fair, along with members of the Clacton Amateur Dramatic Society to provide a spine-chilling walk-through experience.

2 ESCAPE at the Castle: The Serpent’s Curse, Colchester Castle, from October 31. Launch offer £10 per person. 01206 282941.

Colchester Museums are running their first ever escape experience, starting this Halloween. Set in Europe’s largest Norman keep, explore the mysterious goings on that have caused several members of staff to go missing. Solve the puzzles and crack the clues to break The Serpent’s Curse.

3 THE Dark - The Ultimate Scare Experience, Rollerworld, East Gates, Colchester, October 18 to October 31, from 7pm until late. Early Bird £22.50. rollerworld.co.uk/the-dark.

Come face to face with some of the most infamous and terrifying activities that have been documented across Colchester through its extensive and grisly history in this immersive experience.

4 SHRIEK Week at Colchester Zoo, October 24 to November 3, until 9.30pm (Fright Nights). Fright Night Wristband £5.50 after normal admission to the Zoo. colchester-zoo.com/event/ shriek-week

The original Halloween event returns with plenty of ghoulish fun during the day and of course, on some evenings, late into the night.

5 TERRIFICALLY Terrifying Tales, Headgate Theatre, Colchester, November 2. £12, £10. 01206 366000.

Round off half term Halloween week with Colchester’s Packing Shed Theatre as they retell two ghost stories based on East Anglian legends, As Shuck Would Have It and The King’s Head.