It's not long to go until Halloween is here!

If you can't wait for the big day to get all spooky, here are some fantastic events taking place across Essex.

1. Halloween fun at Eastgate, Basildon

October 24, 11am to 3pm

Create potions, fancy dress competitions, meet and greet characters, comedy and more.

Free

eastgateshoppingcentre.com/

2. Drive in film showings of Transylvania 2 and It Follows at Hyde Hall, Chelmsford

October 25

Come to Hylands Park to the Halloween Drive where Hotel Transylvania 2 will be screened at 5.30pm and IT Follows at 8pm.

Watching a Halloween movie, from the safety of your car, in a deserted car park, at night what’s the worst that can happen?

Food and drink is available to purchase before and during the screening, if you wait for during the film, we will deliver it to your car.

£25 per ticket

spectrumscreenevents.co.uk/event/hylands-house-halloween-drive/

3. The Cursed at Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea

Selected dates between October 19 to 31

It's The Cursed tenth birthday this year so expect a bigger and better evening than ever before.

Can you find your way out of the spooky scare mazes?

Suitable for those over 12 only.

Tickets from £19.

thecursed.co.uk/

4. Shriek Week! at Colchester Zoo

October 20 to October 28

Themed activities, attractions and displays will be taking place throughout the week. Fancy dress welcome!

Various

colchester-zoo.com

5. SpookyFest, Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea

October 23 to October 25

Take part in two freaky mazes, watch amazing circus entertainment and sideshows. If you are brave enough, you can enter the witch's grotto for a treat.

This is suitable for younger children.

From £4, adults free

spookyfest.co.uk

6. Scaresville at Kentwell Hall, Long Melford

October 3 to November 3

Entering in groups, expect an hour of thrills and spills, scares and dares as you cross to the Other side and traverse the woods, buildings, and parkland of the Haunted Village

Suitable for over 14s.

Tickets from £17.95.

scaresville.co.uk

7. HalloweenFest at Barleylands, Billericay

October 20 to October 26

There will be lots of fun to enjoy including pumpkins, Halloween crafts and story time with Wendy the Witch.

barleylands.co.uk

8. Halloween at Mountfitchet Castle, Stansted

October 20 to November 4

A pumpkin trail, Medieval catapult and much more. Plus, do you dare to enter the Witches' Hovel

9. Celebrating Room on the Broom at Hyde Hall, near Chelmsford

October 20 to October 28

Lots of different animals want a ride on the witch’s broomstick – can you help her find them hiding around the garden on the special Room on the Broom Adventure Trail?

There are lots of other fun activities taking place throughout the week.

From £11.50 for an adult and £5.75 for a child

rhs.org.uk

10. Halloweenies at Kentwell Hall, Long Melford

October 20 to October 28

Kentwell’s School of Sorcery and Magic will again be welcoming new students for the Halloween intake. Bring your family for a morning or afternoon of fun-filled magical learning!

Various

kentwell.co.uk

11. Fright Night at Colchester Zoo

Selected dates between October 20 and October 27

Stay after the zoo normally closes for some frightfully good attractions, including after dark feeds

Various

colchester-zoo.com

12. Spooky Nights, Barleylands, Billericay

October 26 to October 27 from 6.30pm to 9pm

The two evenings will be packed with thrills, spills and chills for tots to young teens. As always, there will be plenty of spooktactular family friendly activities.

£10

barleylands.co.uk/farm-park/spooky-nights/

13. Halloween Half Term Fun at East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel, near Colchester

October 22 to October 25

Lots of fun Halloween activities over the half-term at the museum

Adults £7, children £5

earm.co.uk/halloween_half_term_fun/

14. Spooky Fun at Cressing Temple Barns, near Braintree

October 22 to October 26

Follow a spooky trail, pick your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to carve and take home, watch a sword swallower and fire eater, create some crafts and potions and lots more for a fun packed day.

£14

visitparks.co.uk/events/spooky-fun/

15. Gruesome Goings On at Audley End House and Gardens, Saffron Walden

October 22 to October 28

Travel back in time and discover the painful punishments your history teacher’s too timid to tell you at our pop-up activities

Adult: £18.10, child: £10.90

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/audley-gruesome-goings-on-22-09-18/

16. Steam and Scream – Halloween Ghost Trains at Epping Ongar Railway

October 26 to October 28

It will feature a silent disco, facepainting, magic shows, buses and trains and much more

Adults £15, children £12

eorailway.co.uk/events/steam-and-scream---halloween-ghost-trains/

17. Canvey Island Fright Nights, at Leisure Island Fun Park, Canvey

Selected dates between October 26 to October 31

Castle Point Ghost Tours is back at a new venue bringing its haunted attraction and scare maze of extreme horror, a bigger scarier 4D attraction with live actors.

£15

leisureisland.ticketco.events/uk/en/events/51369

18. Spooky Day Out with Thomas at East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel, near Colchester

October 27 and 28

Thomas the Tank Engine with a spooky twist

earm.co.uk/spooky-day-out-with-thomas/

19. Film screening of Witchfinder General at Essex Record Office, Chelmsford

October 26 to 6.30pm to 9pm

Set in 1645, during the English Civil War, Witchfinder General follows Essex lawyer turned witchfinder Matthew Hopkins, and his servant John Stearne, as they tour the country instigating witch hunts and extracting confessions through torture.

£10

essexrecordoffice.co.uk/events/film-screening-witchfinder-general/