There’s a terrifying total of 50+ family-friendly October Half Term and Halloween events happening across Kent and East Sussex this month! We’ve searched the local haunts to bring you a run-down of spook-tacular Halloween happenings and plenty of other ways to keep the little monsters entertained – from pumpkin picking and magical trails to steam trains, animal encounters, theatre trips and seriously spooky goings-on.

Half Term dates vary slightly between Kent and East Sussex, so always double-check event details and timings on organisers’ websites before visiting.

So here they are – the terrifyingly good October Half Term & Halloween events in Kent & East Sussex 2026!

→ PYO Pumpkin Season
Throughout Oct

It wouldn’t be October without a pumpkin patch. From Lower Ladysden Farm to other brilliant local PYO spots, there are plenty of opportunities to get your wellies on and pick your own pumpkin this month. Check out our full guide to pumpkin picking in Kent for all the best local patches.

→ Autumn Magic at Birchden Vineyards, Groombridge
Selected dates from Sat 3 to Sat 31 Oct

Birchden Vineyards is embracing autumn in seriously lovely style this month. Its Children’s Immersive Mystery Trail takes little explorers through the vineyard in search of the missing pieces of the Harvest Moon, with a pumpkin to choose and decorate, marshmallow toasting and a Harvest Key craft included. The experience is designed primarily for ages 3–10 and must be booked in advance. Even if you don’t fancy the trail, the Autumn Magic Barn is open to everyone on Autumn Magic days, with pumpkins, marshmallow toasting, seasonal food and a Bavarian BBQ, plus the gorgeous Blackbird Café for coffee and cake.

→ Spookiful at Standen, East Grinstead
Sat 3 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10am – 3:30pm

A spooky but not scary Halloween trail around Standen’s gardens, with creepy crows, bats, magical meetings and plenty of activities along the way. Peek inside the Spookiful Bothy and get creative in the Witchard den. £3 per trail, including a small free gift; normal admission applies and no booking is needed.

→ Pumpkin Rainbow & Halloween Trail, Priory Fam, South Nutfield
Now til Sun 1 Nov

Step into Brother Hay’s brand-new School of Trickery this Halloween, with interactive challenges, playful pranks and spooky surprises around Discovery Land. Little tricksters can complete their training, explore Tricksterville, discover hidden sound effects and tackle plenty of Halloween-themed play along the trail. Tickets from £9, with under-2s going free.

→ We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt, Chartwell, Westerham
Sat 3 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | 10am – 4pm

Take the little ones on a spooky ghost hunt through Chartwell’s parkland, with eight stops packed with games, activities and cheeky ghosts to spot along the way. Complete the trail and head to the shop to collect a special sticker reward. Free with normal admission; aimed at under-8s and no booking needed.

→ Autumn Festival, Emmetts Garden, Sevenoaks
Fri 9 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Emmetts Garden is getting into the autumn spirit with a Fun-Gus family trail, children’s fairground and Halloween crafts throughout half term. Little ones can enjoy carousel, swing boat and teacup rides, while Halloween activities include spooky woodcraft and spiderweb weaving workshops. There are also plenty of autumnal woodland walks to enjoy, with fiery foliage and views across the Weald.

→ Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle, near Robertsbridge
Sat 10 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10am – 4pm

Young sorcerers can choose their magical path, make potions and cast spells as they explore Bodiam Castle on this immersive family trail. Come dressed in your spookiest costume for magical photo opportunities and the best-dressed competition at 1pm.

→ Halloween at Paws Café, Tonbridge
Throughout Oct & Sat 31 Oct

Get into the spooky spirit at Paws Cat Café with a Halloween Afternoon Tea available throughout October, complete with sandwiches, cakes, sweet treats, warm scones and drinks, all enjoyed alongside the café’s feline residents. Then on Sat 31 Oct, there’s a Pumpkin Carving session from 2 – 4pm, where you can create your own spooky masterpiece and enter to win a free café entry.

→ We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt™, Nymans, Handcross
Sat 10 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10am – 4:30pm

Join the Bunnies of Hoppity Hill on a Halloween adventure around Nymans, hunting for hidden ghosts and completing spooky activities along the way. Pick your bunny name, play Halloween hoopla, race a broomstick and watch out for warty toads before joining the celebration party and collecting your sticker. Free with normal admission.

→ Pumpkins by Torchlight, Spadework, Offham
16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29 & 30 Oct | Evenings

Pick your perfect pumpkin under the stars at Spadework’s magical PYO Pumpkin Garden, illuminated by torchlight for a special evening of autumn fun. There’ll be food and drink available, dogs are welcome and every visit helps support Spadework.

→ Halloween Trail at Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone
Sat 17 – Sat 31 Oct

Head to gorgeous Chiddingstone for some spooky seasonal fun at the castle. The Halloween trail is a lovely way to explore the grounds while getting little ones into the Halloween spirit. Included with your admission tickets.

→ Halloween at Godstone Farm, Surrey
Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Godstone Farm is going all-out for Halloween this half term, with pumpkin carving, marshmallow toasting, spooky crafts, creepy crawlies, a Halloween mystery trail and plenty of farmyard fun. Your ticket also includes the usual animals, soft play, adventure playground and Dinosaur Roar! trail. Tickets from £9.95, with pumpkins and marshmallows available for an additional cost.

→ Halloween at Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst
Open now

If your children are brave enough, Chislehurst Caves makes a seriously atmospheric Halloween outing. Venture underground into the historic cave network and check the latest event details for seasonal tours and Halloween activities.

→ Trick or Treat Trail at Quex, Adventure Farm Park, Birchington
Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Follow the spooky trail through Spooky Woods, meet Halloween characters and collect treats before picking your own pumpkin from the Bewitched Pumpkin Patch. Tickets also include a trip on the Slime Blaster Express and access to the farm park, making this a full day of Halloween fun.

→ Amazon Adventure Soft Play, Tunbridge Wells
Open now

Need somewhere indoors when the October weather inevitably does its thing? Amazon Adventure in Tunbridge Wells is a family favourite, with multi-level soft play, climbing, slides and plenty for children aged 0–12. Perfect for burning off some half-term energy while grown-ups grab a coffee.

→ Horrible Histories Halloween, Leeds Castle, Maidstone
Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Horrible Histories is back at Leeds Castle with a Silly Ghosts & Ghastly History trail packed with royal spirits, witch trials, spooky superstitions and plenty of gruesome historical tales. Follow the trail with live performers along the way, included with admission, with trail booklets available for a small additional cost and a gold coin prize.

→ Monsters Around the Moat, Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst
Sat 17 – Sat 31 Oct | 10am – 4pm

The monsters of Scotney have lost their invitation to tonight’s party – can you help them find it? Follow the trail around the moat, spot hidden creatures, solve clues and complete challenges to uncover the secret party message. There’s a Spotter Trail for younger children and a trickier Main Trail for older ones.

→ Wilderness Wood, Hadlow Down
Open now

Sometimes you don’t need a spooky attraction at all. Head to Wilderness Wood for a proper autumn day outdoors, with woodland trails, muddy paths and plenty of space for little explorers to run wild. Pack wellies and make a day of it.

→ Halloween Half Term, Hever Castle, Edenbridge
Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10:30am – 4:30pm

It’s Spooktacular Science at Hever Castle this half term, with a Mad Scientists Trail packed with wild experiments, hidden letters and a puzzle to crack. Little scientists can also make their own mad scientist goggles, enjoy a timed science show and get stuck into themed face painting on selected dates. Included with admission.

→ Tunbridge Wells Halloween Trail
Mon 20 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Get ready for a spooky scavenger hunt around town! Follow the Tunbridge Wells Halloween Trail, spotting 10 golden skeletons hidden in participating businesses and solving the mystery of the missing Tom Bones. Visit eight or more locations and check in via the RTW #LoveLocal App to enter the prize draw, with extra Halloween fun at The Amelia and Royal Victoria Place along the way.

→ Frights & Delights Halloween Afternoon Tea, The Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells
Wed 21 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | Wed- Sun, 1:30- 4pm

Treat yourself to a spooktacular afternoon tea this Halloween, with themed cakes, spooky sweet treats and freshly prepared sandwiches. Available for both adults and children throughout half term, making it a fun excuse to get dressed up and indulge.

→ The Ghost Train, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park
Thu 22 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | From 4:30pm

The Ghost Train is back, with an all-new story and even more ghosts! Board at Sheffield Park before travelling to Horsted Keynes, where an eerie, immersive theatrical experience unfolds around the station before the Ghost Train returns. It’s spooky rather than terrifying, making it suitable for families with older children and adults.

→ Farmyard Frights & Trick or Treat Delights, Rare Breeds Centre, Ashford
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10:30am, 11:30am & 12:30pm

Effel Fartwaffer is back for a spooktacular farmyard Halloween, with a trick-or-treat trail, UV disco, pumpkin painting, spooky straw bale maze, tractor rides, face painting and plenty of creepy-crawly fun. Book in advance.

→ Model Bricks Galore, Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells
Sat 24 – Sun 25 Oct

All aboard for a brick-tastic weekend as Model Bricks Galore returns to Tunbridge Wells West! Explore impressive LEGO® displays, from railway scenes and locomotives to cityscapes, vehicles and more, all housed in the historic Engine Shed. The exhibition is included with a standard railway travel ticket, so you can combine your visit with a heritage train journey through the High Weald. There’s also a LEGO® Minifigure Hunt for little visitors to enjoy.

→ AirHop Tunbridge Wells
Throughout Oct

Need to burn off some half-term energy? AirHop Tunbridge Wells has plenty of jumping sessions throughout October, including family sessions, toddler takeovers and open jump. A handy one to have up your sleeve when the weather inevitably turns.

→ Yuck Yard: Barnaby Bilge’s Big Mess, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 8 Nov | 10am – 4pm

Something seriously yucky is going on at The Historic Dockyard Chatham! Follow the Incident Trail, investigate slimy handprints and mysterious grime scenes, and help uncover whether ghostly Dockyard Matey Barnaby Bilge is behind the chaos. There’s also a live ‘Night Shift’ show. Included with Dockyard admission.

→ Halloween Spooktacular, Kent Life, Maidstone
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Get ready for a spooky day out at Kent Life, with trick or treating, pumpkin carving and painting, a creepy corner, farm rides and daily fancy dress competitions. The spooky house will also be open for trick or treating throughout the October half term, if you’re brave enough to venture inside!

→ Arty Farty Autumn Half Term Workshops, Tunbridge Wells
Sat 24 – Sat 31 Oct

Get creative this half term with a brilliant line-up of art and craft workshops for budding artists, from printmaking and cat art to spooky creations, acrylic painting and portraiture. There are also family-friendly Crafternoons on 24 and 31 Oct, with three different craft activities to enjoy together.

→ Halloween Half Term, Dover Castle
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10am – 4pm

Gather your little monsters for the Great Pumpkin Party at Dover Castle, with interactive storytelling, spooky games, a Halloween trail and seasonal selfie spots. Fancy dress is encouraged, with a daily costume competition and the chance to win a prize. Included with standard admission; English Heritage members go free.

→ Halloween at Penshurst Place, Tonbridge
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | 10am – 5pm

Beware the Bad Apple this Halloween as Fergus Fang sets out to create a rather suspicious poison apple potion! Follow the trail around the grounds, search for unusual ingredients and discover their strange side effects. There’ll also be Halloween crafts to make and take home, plus lively, not-too-scary Halloween storytelling.

→ Quex Halloween Fest, Birchington
Sat 24, Fri 30 & Sat 31 Oct

Quex Halloween Fest is back for 2026 with three brand-new scare mazes, packed with live actors, special effects, jump scares and twisted storylines. Alongside the scares, there’ll be live music, pumpkin picking, a Halloween party, marshmallow toasting and food.

→ Halloween Crafts at Grosvenor & Hilbert Park, Tunbridge Wells
Sun 25 Oct | 2 – 3:30pm

Get crafty this Halloween with the Friends of Grosvenor & Hilbert Park, with a family-friendly afternoon of spooky-themed crafts at The Hub. Free to attend, with donations welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

→ Shadow Puppet Workshop, Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
Mon 26 Oct | 10am – 12pm

Get creative this half term with artist Hannah Whittaker, making silhouettes, moving shadow puppets and miniature scenery while exploring light, shadow and storytelling.

→ Halloween Half Term, The Bluebell Café & Animal Farm, Aspens, Pembury
Mon 26 – Fri 30 Oct | 10am- 4pm

Head to The Bluebell Café for a free Halloween trail, with a spooky treat to collect when you crack the clues, plus a £1 lucky dip. Little ones can also decorate an autumnal owl on Wednesday 28 October (£2.50), while the whole family can meet the alpacas, emus, pigs and donkeys, explore the woodland and tuck into homemade cake and pumpkin-spiced lattes. Entry is free; donations welcome.

→ Trick or Treater’s Halloween Afternoon Tea, The Earl Grey Tea Rooms, Southborough
Mon 26 – Sat 31 Oct | 9am – 4pm

Little trick-or-treaters can tuck into a frightfully fun afternoon tea at The Earl Grey Tea Rooms, with spooky sandwiches, creepy cupcakes and spiderweb hot chocolate. The perfect excuse for a Halloween-themed afternoon treat.

→ Professor Bubble Burp, Royal Victoria Place
Mon 26 – Sat 31 Oct | Sessions from 10:30am – 4pm

Something for the little ones: Professor Bubble Burp is bringing some wonderfully silly bubble-based entertainment to the area this month. Expect giant bubbles, plenty of laughs and a show designed to keep younger audiences entertained.

→ Pumpkin Trail at Merriments Gardens, Hurst Green
Mon 26 Oct – Sun 1 Nov

Get outdoors this half term with a Pumpkin Trail around Merriments’ four-acre RHS Partner Garden. Hunt for pumpkins as you explore the autumn colour, koi pond and Monet-style bridge, then warm up in the café with a pumpkin spiced latte or Halloween-themed white hot chocolate. Dogs are welcome in the gardens and café.

→ Halloween Mask-Making Workshop, Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
Tue 27 Oct | 11am – 2pm

Get spooky at this creative Halloween workshop, where kids can design and make their own mask using different techniques to create texture and effects. There’ll even be a spooky photoshoot before they take their creation home!

→ Halloween Ghost Tours, Herstmonceux Castle, Hailsham,
Weds 28 – Fri 30 Oct

Fancy something a little scarier? Herstmonceux Castle’s Halloween Ghost Tours are aimed at ages 12+, taking visitors around the atmospheric castle after dark for spooky stories and ghostly goings-on. Definitely one for older kids, teens and brave grown-ups!

→ Nick Sharratt’s Once Upon a Drawalong, Trinity Theatre
Wed 28 Oct | 2pm

Bring your sketchpads and join much-loved children’s illustrator Nick Sharratt for a fun, family-friendly drawalong. He’ll share favourite books, introduce new characters and show children how to draw their own creations, with games and drawing tips along the way.

→ Spellbound Express, Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden
Wed 28 – Fri 30 Oct

All aboard for a magical Halloween adventure with no scares, just spells and smiles! Little witches and wizards can mix potions with Wendy the Wicked Witch, watch Merlin the Magician in action and meet a friendly baby dragon. Every child gets a magical activity pack, plus a Junior Spellcaster certificate at the end of the journey. Fancy dress encouraged.

→ Halloween Fun at Dragonfly Farm, Speldhurst
Fri 30 – Sat 31 Oct

There’s more happening at Dragonfly Farm as Halloween approaches. On Friday 30 October, Smodge will be in the café running a Halloween-themed art workshop for children, with a trick-or-treat tote bag to decorate. Tickets are required. Then on Saturday 31 October, the farm is hosting a Halloween Party all day in the café, with free crafts for kids, Halloween cakes and bakes and plenty of dressing-up encouraged. No ticket needed.

→ Lamberhurst Halloween Trail
Fri 30 Oct | From 4:30pm

Get spooky in Lamberhurst village this Halloween, with a family-friendly trail around the village to solve the hidden word and win a secret prize. The Halloween Haunt will also be open for those brave enough to enter, plus a treat stall serving homemade cakes and goodies. £3 per child, with proceeds going to Hospice in the Weald.

→ Halloween Magic at Lullingstone Castle & World Garden, Eynsford
Sat 31 Oct | 11am – 6pm

Celebrate Halloween at Lullingstone with pumpkin carving, a spooky pumpkin trail, eerie garden tours and creepy critters. There’ll be a 1pm garden tour and special dusk tour at 5pm, plus a visit from Zoolab’s Wizard Ranger with giant African snails, insects, spiders and corn snakes. Fancy dress encouraged! £13.50 adults, under-16s free; pumpkin carving is an additional £5 donation.

→ Breakfast with the Witches, Sussex Country Gardener, Mark Cross
Sat 31 Oct | 9:30 – 11:30am

Start Halloween with a spooktacular breakfast surrounded by friendly witches, with a Sussex Breakfast for adults and a Gardeners Breakfast for kids. Fancy dress is encouraged, so come along in your best Halloween get-up!

→ Gruffalo Granny at Bedgebury, Goudhurst
Sun 1 Nov | 10am- 4pm

Meet the Gruffalo at Bedgebury this half term and hear the brand-new Gruffalo Granny story with storytelling sessions throughout the day. There’ll also be Gruffalo meet-and-greets, colouring and crafts, with plenty of chances for a family selfie. Free to attend.

→ Taylor Swift-Inspired Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, London
October

Okay, so this one is technically over the border, but we couldn’t resist adding it for the Swifties! Hop aboard a Taylor Swift-inspired afternoon tea bus tour around London, with sweet and savoury treats, Taylor-themed music and sightseeing along the way. A fun one to pair with a day in the capital.

→ Fireworks & Bonfire Night Events, Kent
Late October onwards

If you’re already thinking beyond Halloween, there are plenty of local fireworks and bonfire events to look forward to too. From Penshurst Bonfire Night to Rusthall Bonfire & Fireworks and events at Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club, check our full guide for dates and details.

There are so many brilliant things happening across Kent and East Sussex this October, so don’t forget to check back as more events are announced and details are confirmed. Half Term dates can vary between schools, so always double-check timings, prices and booking requirements directly with organisers before travelling.

And if you’re looking for more autumn inspiration, make sure you also check out our guide to the best places to pick your own pumpkins in Kent.