• There are still places on the two-hour Halloween Mexican Piñata Workshop at The IronWorks on Wednesday October 26, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm. Admission is a £25, 10 per cent sibling discount. Email pinatasmexicouk@gmail.com and visit www.facebook.com/PinatasMexicoUK.

• The Haunted Pumpkin Patch event at Belchamps Scout Centre in Hockley is on October 22-28. Visitors can follow a map to find the lost haunted woods in search of the perfect pumpkin. See www.belchamps.org.uk.

• Get prepared for the Southend Halloween Parade with costume and prop making session at The Ironworks Kids Club on Wednesday, 26 October from 11 am to 3pm. There will be free face painting, Halloween crafting.

• There is a toddler and pre-schooler Halloween phonics and arts and crafts party at Runwell Sports Football Club in Wickford on October 27. For children aged two to six.

• Halloween on the Pier at Southend Pier and Railway on Saturday, 22 October from 10.30am to 4pm. Tickets include crafting, pumpkin trail, fancy dress competition, return pier train ride for child and one accompanying adult.

• Saturday October 29, 12.45pm to 9.30pm at Laindon Community Centre, there will be inflatables, softplay and 25 stalls. Free entry. Visit laindon.club.

• For the first time since 1993, the Ensign Bus Company is running closed top Routemaster Bus on the Southend Pier to Leigh route 68 every 60mins on Saturday 22 to Friday 28 October.

• On October 28 at the Civic Hall in Grays there will be a Halloween party from 7pm. Tickets for adults are £10, children’s are £5 and under twos go free.

• Caribbean Mask Making at The Forum, Southend on Saturday, 22 October from 10am to 12pm.

• Pumpkin Design Competition at the The IronWorks Southend on until Monday 31 October from 9am to 5pm, £3 or two entries for £5. Paints and pumpkins provided.