Halloween and October half term at the Essex Country Parks

For a spooktacular experience this half term holiday head to the Essex Country Parks.

Posted on 16th September 2024

Monster Mysteries Trail

Head to the Essex Country Parks this Halloween and October half term and pick up or download a free Monster Mysteries Trail. The perfect spooktastic day out for families.

Count the curious creatures lurking in the park. Find the magic numbers and help the rangers to create a spell to send the monsters home!

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 19 October to and including Sunday 3 November 2024.

Find the individual listings at the bottom of this page.

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

Trails are funded by the Essex Year of Numbers.

Infographic of Monster Mysteries Trail with bright coloured monster illustrations

Autumn Scavenger Hunt

Autumn Scavenger Hunt

Make your own spider web decorations

Have a horrifyingly good time this Halloween crafting these stick spider web decorations.

Stick Spider Web Decorations
Three children around a pumpkin with sticks

Spooky Forest School Sessions

*FULLY BOOKED - keep checking for any cancellations*

Book your children onto our Spooky Forest School sessions at Thorndon and Danbury Country Parks this half term holiday for a fangtastic time.

Enjoy amazing activities such as potion and broomstick making, cook ghoulish marshmallows on the camp fire, take part in a scary Scavenger Hunt and so much more (activities may vary depending on the site and weather!).

Sessions are suitable for three to ten-year-olds and must be booked online in advance.

Sibling discounts are available.

You might also like . . . Family Forest School

Discover Family Forest School and our term time sessions for the under five's and home educated.

There are still spaces at Family Forest School on Saturday 7 December.

And block book your term time spaces at Woodland Play for the under five's or Home Ed sessions. All head at Danbury Country Park near Chelmsford.

Mobile Library Bus

Spooky Books in the Park

Join Essex Library Service for free spooky story time this October half term.

The mobile library will be at Weald Country Park from 10am to approximately 12.30pm* on Monday 28 October and Thorndon Country Park on Thursday 31 October.

Come and meet the team and enjoy free story times with a Spooktacular twist before (or after) you explore the parks and pick up one of our Monster Mysteries and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler themed trails!

Available at:

  1. Thorndon Country Park
  2. Weald Country Park

Monster Mysteries Trail Prize Draw

Complete the Monster Mysteries Trail and encourage your children to add up their answers to find the 'magic number' to help complete the spell to send the monsters back to where they came from.

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

You could win an Explorer Pass (worth £85) and a goody bag or Sky Ropes voucher.

Good luck!

These activities are supported by the Essex Year of Numbers, a countywide campaign that aims to inspire a love of learning, with a focus on numeracy.

Essex Year of Numbers
CLP Marley 20 1 1

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*Sold Out* Extraordinary Essex Film Screening: 'Don’t Fight The Land That Feeds You'

The film follows the journey from soil to kitchen, featuring recipes from around the world made with locally grown ingredients in Essex.

  • Dates: May 2, 2025
  • Venue: High Street
  • Times: 6:00pm - 11:00pm
  • For the whole family
  • Price: Free
Buy tickets for *Sold Out* Extraordinary Essex Film Screening: 'Don’t Fight The Land That Feeds You' Find out more about *Sold Out* Extraordinary Essex Film Screening: 'Don’t Fight The Land That Feeds You'
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    • May 4, 2025
    • May 5, 2025
    • May 10, 2025
    • May 11, 2025
    • May 17, 2025
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  • Venue: Burntmill Lane
  • Times: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
  • 8-16
  • Price: High Ropes Adventure Adult – £15 Young person (aged 8-17) – £12 Under 8 – £12 Climbing Wall Adventure Adult – £12 . Young person (aged 8-17) – £10. Under 8 – £10 All sessions are 90 minutes
Buy tickets for Essex Outdoors: Harlow High Adventure Find out more about Essex Outdoors: Harlow High Adventure
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Temple at War is a two day military and vintage event packed full of everything to create one of the largest interactive and immersive historic re-enactment events in the south east of England whilst being totally family friendly.

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    • May 10 - 11, 2025
  • Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
  • Times: 9:00am - 4:00pm
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  • Price: Saturday and Sunday tickets: £8.00 to £53.00. Weekend ticket: £17.00 to £72.00.
Buy tickets for Temple at War: Keeping History Alive Find out more about Temple at War: Keeping History Alive
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Family Forest School: Danbury Country Park

Don’t let the children have all the fun, connecting with nature is beneficial for everyone. Come and join us at our Family Forest School sessions.

  • Dates:
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    • June 7, 2025
    • July 5, 2025
  • Venue: Danbury Country Park
  • Times: 11:00am - 2:00pm
  • For the whole family
  • Price: £10 for the first child. £6 for siblings. Accompanying adults Free. Under 18 months free.
Buy tickets for Family Forest School: Danbury Country Park Find out more about Family Forest School: Danbury Country Park
Med res ECP Danbury Sept22 0431

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Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park

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  • Dates:
    • May 12, 2025
    • May 19, 2025
    • June 2, 2025
  • Venue: Danbury Country Park
  • Times: 10:00am - 12:00pm
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  • Price: Now booking for 2025. Call to book for March 2025 sessions spaces available.
Buy tickets for Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park Find out more about Woodland Play under five's Forest School: Danbury Country Park

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