Best Halloween Events in Sussex 2026

Family-Friendly Halloween Events

These not-so-scary events are perfect for kids, offering fun and October half-term events in Sussex that the whole family can enjoy:

Halloween Shriek Week at Drusillas Park

24 October to 1 November 2026

Drusillas Park gets a spooky makeover for its annual Shriek Week, with Halloween decorations, creepy creatures and plenty of family-friendly frights. Look out for the Sugar Skull Witch making appearances around the park, spooky photo opportunities and Halloween-themed treats. There will also be special Spider's Den sessions from 28 to 30 October, when visitors can meet some eight-legged guests and learn more about spiders.

Drusillas is also offering a special Halloween half-term deal in 2026, with selected advance-booking tickets allowing one accompanying child to visit for £1.

Book tickets in advance to save and check the latest Halloween offers.

We're Going on a Ghost Hunt at Nymans

10 October to 1 November 2026

Halloween gets a gentle treatment at Nymans with a family-friendly ghost hunt inspired by the popular We're Going on a Ghost Hunt books. Little visitors can choose their bunny name, search for hidden ghosts, play Halloween hoopla and race their broomsticks before joining a celebration party and collecting a sticker.

The trail is particularly suited to preschoolers and younger children and is free with normal admission to Nymans.

Check opening information before visiting.

October Half Term Fun at Amberley Museum

25 and 28 to 30 October 2026

Head to Amberley Museum during October half term for a mix of seasonal activities, hands-on crafts and heritage fun. For an extra Halloween touch, the museum's pottery is offering Pumpkin Pinch Pots throughout October. Get creative with clay and make your own pumpkin-themed decoration to take home for an additional charge.

Book your tickets to Amberley Museum online.

We're Going on a Ghost Hunt at Petworth

10 October to 1 November 2026

Petworth House is also joining in with the ghostly fun this autumn. Follow the Bunnies of Hoppity Hill as they search for hidden ghosts around the property.

There are also special storytelling sessions on 17 and 18 October, with stories, music and gentle Halloween fun aimed at younger children. The storytelling sessions are free with normal admission, but spaces need to be booked in advance.

Book or check admission information before visiting.

A Spellbinding Halloween at Borde Hill

17 October to 1 November 2026

Head to Borde Hill near Haywards Heath for a Halloween trail through the gardens, with spooky activities and family entertainment on selected days. The 2026 programme includes magic shows, wand making, Halloween crafts and encounters with spiders and snakes, alongside the main Halloween trail.

It is a good choice for younger children who like their Halloween with plenty of magic and silliness rather than anything too frightening.

Book tickets and check the dates of the additional activities.

Spookiful at Standen

Until 1 November 2026

For a gentler Halloween experience, head to Standen House and Garden near East Grinstead for its Spookiful trail. The spooky but not scary trail takes visitors around the garden, with Halloween-inspired activities along the way. Look out for creepy crows, Standen bats and magical meetings, as well as the Spookiful Bothy and Witchard den.

The trail costs £3 in addition to normal admission and does not need to be booked in advance.

Check admission information before visiting.

Halloween at Newhaven Fort

26 to 31 October 2026

Newhaven Fort is going Halloween crazy during October half term, with a different spooky activity taking place throughout the week. The programme includes witch-themed storytelling and crafts, creepy-crawly encounters with Reptylers, a wizard magic show and spooky tunnels to explore. There is also a family ghost hunt on Thursday 29 October, which needs to be booked separately.

The spooky tunnels are recommended for children aged eight and over and involve steps, so may not be suitable for everyone. It's a great choice if you're looking for a Halloween day out with a difference, combining a little history with some seasonal fun.

Book tickets and check the full Halloween programme before visiting.

Halloween Experiences for older kids and adults

Ready to explore Sussex’s spookier side on foot (or by torchlight)? These Halloween trails and ghost walks lead you through haunted history and glowing forests:

The Ghost Train at Bluebell Railway

22 October to 1 November 2026

This Halloween, the Bluebell Railway is taking visitors on a brand-new Ghost Train adventure inspired by a mysterious railway tragedy from 100 years ago. The immersive experience begins at Sheffield Park before travelling by steam train to Horsted Keynes. A reporter's unfinished notebook, altered railway records and a mysterious parcel all form part of the story as passengers try to uncover what really happened on the night of 31 October 1926.

This isn't a traditional jump-scare attraction, but it can be frightening in places and is aimed at families with older children and adults. Under-16s should be accompanied by an adult.

Book the Ghost Train in advance.

Halloween Evening & Ghost Train at Amberley Museum

31 October 2026

Fancy a Halloween night out with a difference? Amberley Museum is bringing its heritage railway to life after dark with a special Halloween Evening and Ghost Train. Climb aboard and keep an eye out for who, or what, might be lurking in the woods. The event is mainly outdoors, so warm clothing and sensible footwear are recommended.

The experience is not suitable for children under 12 and flashing lights will be used during the event.

Book the Halloween Evening and Ghost Train online.

Ghostly Gatherings at Preston Manor

Fridays throughout October, including 30 October 2026

Discover one of Brighton's supposedly most haunted houses after dark at Preston Manor. Ghostly Gatherings combines a guided exploration of the historic house with spooky stories and tales of its former residents. Guests are welcomed with a glass of wine and nibbles before heading into the house with an expert ghost guide.

The experience runs from 8pm to 11pm and is a great choice for adults looking for something atmospheric rather than a full-on scare attraction.

Book Ghostly Gatherings in advance.

Ghost Walk of the Lanes, Brighton

Wednesdays to Saturdays throughout October

Explore the darker side of Brighton on the long-running Ghost Walk of the Lanes. The approximately 80-minute walking tour visits eight supposedly haunted locations around Brighton's historic Lanes, with Victorian-costumed storytellers combining local history with tales of ghosts and unexplained happenings.

The walks run at 7.30pm every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. No advance booking is currently required, so you can simply turn up at the Druid's Head in Brighton Place.

Check the latest dates and meeting point before setting off.

Lewes or Pevensey Ghost Walks

9, 16, 23 and 30 October 2026

The towns of Lewes and Pevesney both have a suitably dark history, making them a particularly atmospheric place to take a ghost walk. The 90-minute guided walk explores some of the darker stories from these town's past, including ghosts, executions, disasters and murders. It is led by local author Robert Stevens, who has been taking ghost walks around Sussex for almost three decades.

The walk starts outside Lewes Town Hall or Castle Car Park in Pevensey, both at 7.30pm.

Book the Ghost Walk online.

Adults-only Halloween Events

When the kids are in bed and you’re craving something scarier or more grown-up, Sussex has plenty of adult Halloween events – from full-on fright nights to quirky parties.

Tulleys Shocktober Fest

Selected nights from 2 October to 1 November 2026

If you like your Halloween seriously scary, Tulleys Shocktober Fest is the big one. Europe's largest scream park returns to Tulleys Farm near Crawley for its 30th season, with 26 nights of horror, award-winning haunted attractions, live entertainment, street food, bars and music.

The 2026 season runs on selected nights from 2 October to 1 November, with the final night including a fireworks display. There are multiple ticket options, including passes giving access to all the haunts and fast-track upgrades.

This is definitely one for older teenagers and adults looking for a high-intensity Halloween night out.

Book Shocktober Fest tickets in advance.

Halloween Brighton After Dark Murder and Ghost Tour

31 October 2026

Spend Halloween night exploring the darker side of Brighton on this after-dark murder and ghost tour. Starting at St Nicholas' Church, the walk explores Victorian crime and punishment, ghosts, murders and some of the city's more gruesome stories. It is aimed at adults and older visitors and is not suitable for children under 16.

The Halloween special runs from 7pm to 9pm on 31 October.

Book tickets in advance.

Pumpkin Patches in Sussex 

Nothing says autumn like a day at a pumpkin patch. Sussex boasts several wonderful farms and festivals for pumpkin picking and fall fun, perfect for all ages.

Tulleys Farm Pumpkin Festival

19 September to 1 November 2026

Tulleys Farm's Pumpkin Festival is back for another autumn season, with more than a month of pumpkin picking and seasonal activities.

Explore the pumpkin fields, choose your perfect pumpkin and enjoy the farm's autumn attractions, food and entertainment. The 2026 festival also introduces a new Pumpkin Valley, adding even more to this popular Sussex autumn day out.

With plenty going on beyond pumpkin picking, it is a good choice if you're looking for a full family day out.

Book your Pumpkin Festival visit in advance.

Rogate Pumpkin Patch

16 to 31 October 2026

Head to Slade Farm near Rogate for one of Sussex's most popular pumpkin-picking experiences.

The Pumpkin Patch opens daily from 16 to 31 October, with pumpkins to choose from, seasonal activities and plenty of opportunities for some suitably autumnal photos.

There is also a Pumpkin Smash event on 1 November, giving visitors the chance to finish the season by smashing, crushing and chucking the remaining pumpkins.

Book a Pumpkin Patch ticket online.

Somerley Fields PYO Pumpkins

17 and 18 October, then 24 to 31 October 2026

Somerley Fields near Chichester has more than 60,000 home-grown pumpkins waiting to be picked.

Alongside the pumpkin field, visitors can explore a maize maze, enjoy food and drink and brave the Field of Frights. There are also special events during the season, including Mega Machines on 24 and 25 October and a Smashing Pumpkins Day on 31 October.

Advance booking is recommended for the busiest dates, although walk-ins are also welcome.

Book your pumpkin-picking session online.

Tibbs Farm Pumpkin Fest

17 to 18 October and 24 to 31 October 2026

Tibbs Farm near Rye is opening its pumpkin patch for another Halloween season.

Choose from thousands of pumpkins, squash and gourds, explore the farm and enjoy homemade treats from the café. The pumpkin patch is on a woodchip surface, making it suitable for autumn weather and the inevitable muddy boots.

The farm is open for pumpkin picking on 17 and 18 October, followed by daily opening from 24 to 31 October.

Check the latest booking information before visiting.

Sompting Pumpkins

Selected dates from 3 to 31 October 2026

For a more relaxed pumpkin-picking experience, visit Sompting Pumpkins at Lychpole Farm near Worthing.

This family-run pumpkin farm grows more than 20 varieties of pumpkins and offers craft activities, food and drink, tractor rides at weekends and plenty of space to choose your own pumpkin.

There is no entrance charge and no need to book, making this a particularly easy option for a spontaneous autumn day out.

The pumpkin field is open from 10am to 4pm on selected October dates, with last entry at 3.30pm.

Check the latest opening dates before travelling.

Halloween at Sharnfold Farm

24 October to 1 November 2026

Sharnfold Farm near Eastbourne is getting into the Halloween spirit with a themed farm trail during October half term.

Follow the trail through the farm, looking out for mischievous Halloween characters, magical woodland scenes and spooky surprises. There is also the option to add a pumpkin-carving experience to your visit.

It is designed as a family-friendly Halloween day out, particularly suited to younger children.

Book your Halloween farm trail and pumpkin carving experience online.