Organize your perfect spooky season in Colchester with our Halloween planner guide. Whether you're rediscovering Colchester's graveyards or experiencing them for the first time, our guide is your Halloween companion.
Popular Events: Dive into the eerie atmosphere at Shriek Week, where spine-chilling activities await at the heart of Colchester. Enjoy festive rides and attractions, including the family-friendly delights of Barleylands Halloween Fest, known for its engaging activities and pumpkin picking. And the Audley End Miniature Railway Halloween Express is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a charming ride through a world of seasonal stories. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Colchester
- Barleylands Halloween Fest (Billericay)
- Shriek Week
- Marsh Farm Halloween Festival (South Woodham Ferrers)
- Audley End Miniature Railway Halloween Express (Saffron Walden)
- Colchester Halloween Craft Activities and Ghost Walk
- Hatter's Farm Pick Your Own
- Stansted Mountfitchet Pumpkin Hunt (Stansted Mountfitchet)
- Dark Spirits Castle Tour
- Colchester Ghosts and Witches Tour
- Little Monsters House of Fun Halloween Party (Great Dunmow)
See these and even more events listed below!
Colchester Area Haunted Experiences
Dark Spirits Castle Tour
What to Expect:
A spooky exploration of Colchester Castle's haunted history.
Description:
This Halloween, immerse yourself in the chilling side of history with the Dark Spirits Castle Tour at Colchester Castle. Drawing inspiration from the spine-tingling Wicked Spirits exhibition, this unique tour delves into the castle's gloomy nooks and reveals somber stories hidden within its venerable walls. Filled with eerie facts and myths, it offers an ideal escapade for thrill-seekers.
Where: Colchester | More Info: Dark Spirits Castle Tour
Colchester Ghosts and Witches Tour
What to Expect:
Explore Colchester's haunted streets with an interactive and educational ghostly adventure.
Description:
Join Colchester History Tours for a ghostly and witchy adventure through the historic streets of Colchester. This 1 hour and 30 minutes tour starts at Colchester War Memorial and explores the haunted streets of the city. No need to pre-book; simply turn up and payment can be made with cash, debit, or credit cards on the night of the tour. Discover the city's past through interactive, humorous, and educational tours.
Where: Colchester | More Info: Colchester Ghosts and Witches Tour
Haunted History Family Tour
What to Expect:
A guided tour that includes climbing uneven stairs and passing through low archways, offering an immersive experience.
Description:
Step into the shadows of the past with Colchester Museums' Haunted History Family Tour. This spine-chilling journey combines eerie tales with fascinating historical realities, perfect for families seeking both thrills and a few gross-out moments. As you wander through the historic building, you'll uncover stories and historical secrets that have surrounded the castle for centuries.
Where: Colchester | More Info: Haunted History Family Tour
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Colchester
Shriek Week
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration in a zoo setting with various spooky activities.
Description:
This October half term, Colchester Zoo is hosting Shriek Week, a week filled with SPOOK-TACULAR daytime activities suitable for children of all ages. Enjoy creating crafts at the Witches Coven, practicing scaring skills at St Anways Scare School, and embarking on the Halloween Trail for a chance to win a prize. Other activities include a Fancy Dress Party, Picnic area with gruesome games, and a Spook-tacular Barn Adventure.
Where: Colchester | More Info: Shriek Week
Barleylands Halloween Fest
What to Expect:
A variety of Halloween-themed activities and attractions suitable for all ages.
Description:
Barleylands Farm Park is hosting a family-friendly Halloween event with activities including a spooky maze, trick-or-treating, and a Halloween disco. The event features unlimited fairground rides, a freaky friends critter show, and various play areas. Each child gets a free pumpkin to take home, and there are numerous other activities like bird of prey talks and tractor rides.
Where: Billericay | More Info: Barleylands Halloween Fest
Audley End Miniature Railway Halloween Express
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with interactive shows and activities.
Description:
Experience a spooky yet family-friendly Halloween adventure at Audley End Miniature Railway. Climb aboard the Halloween Express for a journey through enchanted woods, where you'll meet witches, familiar Halloween characters, and enjoy interactive shows. The event includes a craft lodge, potion-making, and a magical walk with fairies and elves. Don't miss the interactive stage show and delicious food at the Woodland Cafe.
Where: Saffron Walden | More Info: Audley End Miniature Railway Halloween Express
Marsh Farm Halloween Festival
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration featuring dramatic dinosaurs and jaw-dropping Jurassic beasts in a fun and educational Dinosaur Adventure park.
Description:
Marsh Farm's Halloween Festival is a spooktacular family day out featuring witches, wizards, vampires, and even Frankenstein. Enjoy funfair rides, pumpkin picking, adventure play, bouncy pillows, and a dinosaur adventure park. The event includes a Trick and Treat Halloween Hunt, a Pumpkin Picking Village, and various entertainment activities like Bella's Haunted Hoedown and a Spooky Walkaround. It's a fantastic day filled with Halloween fun for all ages.
Where: South Woodham Ferrers | More Info: Marsh Farm Halloween Festival
Colchester Halloween Craft Activities and Ghost Walk
What to Expect:
Enjoy a spooky yet family-friendly Halloween celebration with craft activities and a ghost walk, followed by hot chocolate and marshmallows around the fire.
Description:
Join in the spooky Halloween craft activities and ghoulish ghost walk at High Woods Country Park. Create wizards' broomsticks, magic whittled wands, and scary spider webs. After all those hair-raising activities, enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows around the fire. This event is perfect for families looking to celebrate Halloween with fun and festive activities.
Where: Colchester | More Info: Colchester Halloween Craft Activities and Ghost Walk
Stansted Mountfitchet Pumpkin Hunt
What to Expect:
Participate in a unique medieval catapult firing event where pumpkins are launched daily amidst witches and skeletons.
Description:
Experience a spooky Halloween at Mountfitchet Castle with the Pumpkin Trail and Catapult Firing event. Explore the castle grounds to find hidden pumpkins and enjoy the medieval atmosphere. Children will win a prize for completing the trail, and you can also participate in unique medieval catapult firing where pumpkins will be launched at 2 PM daily amidst witches and skeletons. For the brave, there's an option to enter the Haunted Manor.
Where: Stansted Mountfitchet | More Info: Stansted Mountfitchet Pumpkin Hunt
Hatter's Farm Pick Your Own
What to Expect:
Enjoy a variety of pumpkin picking activities under the moonlit sky with stunning flower fields and fun-filled activities for the whole family.
Description:
Hatter's Farm offers a family-friendly pumpkin picking experience with over 30 varieties of pumpkins and squash. Visitors can enjoy activities like firing a pumpkin cannon, exploring the Maize Maze, and walking the Nature Trail. The farm also features stunning flower fields perfect for capturing amazing photos under the moonlit sky.
Where: Colchester | More Info: Hatter's Farm Pick Your Own
Little Monsters House of Fun Halloween Party
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with themed activities and trick-or-treating.
Description:
Join Little Monsters House of Fun for a spook-tacular Halloween party filled with trick-or-treating, themed activities, and fun for all ages. The event promises a festive atmosphere with plenty of Halloween-themed games and entertainment.