Top 10 things to do this Halloween and October half term

Have an enchanting time at the Essex Country Parks this Halloween and October half term and pick up or download a FREE Spooky Magic Trail. A totally spellbinding day out for all the family!

Witches, werewolves and magical creatures are lurking in the park! Count them as you go, uncover the hidden magic letters, and help the rangers create a spell to send them on their way.

Available at:

1. Belhus Woods Country Park
2. Cressing Temple Barns
3. Cudmore Grove Country Park
4. Danbury Country Park
5. Great Notley Country Park
6. Thorndon Country Park (North)
7. Weald Country Park

Running from Saturday 17 October to and including Sunday 1 November 2026.

• Download the Spooky Magic Trail to print at home (coming soon)

Find the individual listings at the bottom of this page.

Discover how to enter the prize draw to win an Explorer Pass below.

Fan of 'Practical Magic'? Discover the incredible Essex attractions starring in 'Practical Magic 2' in the latest edition of Essex Explorer magazine. And tons more inspiration on what to do and where to go this season.

Remember to sign up to our Explore Essex newsletter for monthly what's on delivered direct to your inbox.

We’ve created an Autumn and Winter Spotters Guide to encourage you to get exploring. Can you find five or more of these seasonal items on your next visit to one of our country parks?

Collect leaves in an array of colours, find pine cones for crafts, keep your eyes peeled for a squirrel, see if you can spot a duck on the lake and look out for brightly coloured berries on the bushes or mushrooms on the ground.

(Please be careful not to touch the mushrooms and berries or trample anything underfoot.)

You can also read our spotter's guide blog for older members of the family and discover more about mushroom and fungi.

Step into a magical tale from centuries past and uncover the secrets of Cressing Temple Barns with its new interactive heritage trails. Meet characters from different eras and discover how this historic site has changed through the ages, from the Peasants' Revolt to modern farming life.

Perfect for curious little witches and wizards, the accessible trails bring history to life through audio stories, interactive displays and QR codes, making it a charm-filled half-term adventure for the whole family.

Let the past work its magic, then settle in for a spot of lunch at the Tiptree Tea Rooms.

Learn more.

Conjure up some frightfully fun decorations this half term with these easy stick spider webs. Start your adventure with a visit to an Essex Country Park to gather your crafting supplies, then follow the instructions in Essex Explorer Magazine to create your very own spooky masterpiece.

Made with just a few simple materials, this potion-free craft is perfect for keeping little hands busy on autumn afternoons. Add battery-powered fairy lights for an extra touch of Halloween magic once darkness falls.

You'll need:

• Scissors
• Three sticks
• Wool or twine
• Battery-powered fairy lights (optional)

Discover some woodland magic with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book fans will love exploring the deep dark wood at Thorndon Country Park in Brentwood. Find The Gruffalo, Snake, Owl and more characters on this magical self-led wooden sculpture trail.

Plus, during half term, find a Gruffalo Winning Ticket OR take a picture with the selfie board for your chance to WIN special prizes! Find out more.

Travel just ten to fifteen minutes by car to nearby Weald Country Park and you can also meet Stick Man in his Family Tree. Walk along the pathways, past the resident deer and by the lake to meet more familiar characters from the much-loved book.

Pick up a trail map from the café, let the little ones lead the adventure and look out for special half-term activities celebrating the new book Gruffalo Granny, with more details to be announced soon.

Autumn is a great time to explore the great outdoors, enjoy beautiful golden scenes, crisp air, fiery foliage, and rustling leaves.

We’ve pulled together a selection for you to choose from - get active and enjoy the many wonders of nature.

Read our NEW autumn walks blog. 

Don't get too cosy this Autumn, head to Sky Ropes at Great Notley Country Park instead for a fun half term family adventure.

Swing, swoop and soar on our specially designed two level Sky Ropes course. Test your balance, speed and agility whilst navigating a wide array of obstacles in the sky.

Bring your friends and create your very own exciting adventure!

The course is open on weekends in September and October and throughout the half term break.

Book your tickets here.

Gather your budding witches and wizards and bake a delicious autumn treat together. This easy pumpkin pie recipe is sure to cast a spell over your October half term while filling your kitchen with pumpkin spice and seasonal magic.

This special recipe is courtesy of Mayor Bobby Dyer of Virginia USA, who recently visited our great county.

Read the recipe in the latest edition of Essex Explorer.

Ingredients you'll need:

1 (425g tin) pumpkin puree

1 (425g tin) sweetened condensed milk

2 large eggs

1 scoop cream cheese

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

Schools out, again... but you're in luck!

Make this half-term memorable by booking the kids onto an Essex Outdoors school holiday activity day.

In small groups of around 10, children (aged 8-16) will enjoy four exciting activities each day with enthusiastic and highly qualified instructors.

Sessions range from high ropes, climbing and zip wire, to water sports including canoeing and stand-up-paddleboarding, to archery, mountain biking and bushcraft.

Childcare doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Days start from only £40, at either Danbury, Mersea, Bradwell or Harlow.

Discover special Halloween themed days at Mersea and Harlow too!

Find out more on their website. 

Complete the Spooky Magic Trail and encourage your children to add up their answers to find the 'magic word' to help cast a spell to send the creepy creatures back to where they came from.

Email in your magic word to: Explore-Essex@essex.gov.uk to enter our prize draw.

You could win an Explorer Pass (worth £85).

Good luck!