Halloween in Brentwood 2026: Free Trails 29-31 October

Halloween 2026 falls on Saturday 31 October, at the end of the Essex half term. Brentwood’s three free high street events run on 29, 30 and 31 October, one in each of Ingatestone, Brentwood and Shenfield. The paid options are Old MacDonald’s Farm, a scare attraction inside the Kelvedon Hatch nuclear bunker, and a muddy trick or treat course next door to it.

The quick answer

• Free: Ingatestone Trick or Treat Trail, Thu 29 Oct, 10am to 4pm. Brentwood Festival of Frights, Fri 30 Oct, 2pm to 5pm. Shenfield Spooktacular, Sat 31 Oct, 2pm to 5pm.
• Old MacDonald’s Farm: Halloween Festival 17 Oct to 1 Nov, plus new evening Pumpkin Nights, 24 Oct to 1 Nov, 5pm to 7.30pm (separate ticket).
• The Bunker Below: adults and teenagers only, no under-14s, tickets £33.50 to £36.50, on 11 dates from 16 October.

The free events: Brentwood Connected

All three are run by Brentwood Connected, the town’s business improvement district, and are paid for by local businesses. There is nothing to book. (Brentwood Connected, Halloween)

In Ingatestone, children visit the businesses taking part, do the activities, “snap a selfie with the spooky walkabout characters” and collect treats. The Brentwood afternoon has characters, activities and treats, and ends with what the BID calls “an exciting Grand Finale fire performance” in Crown Street, so that is where to be as 5pm approaches. Shenfield’s runs “from the top to the bottom of Hutton Road”.

No road closures have been published for any of the three. For town centre parking on the Friday afternoon, see parking in Brentwood.

Old MacDonald’s Farm, South Weald

The farm on Weald Road runs two separate Halloween events this year, and they need separate tickets. (Old MacDonald’s Farm, special events)

Halloween Festival, Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November. The daytime event. The farm’s booking page lists pumpkin picking in the Pumpkin Patch, one free pumpkin for every paying child, Halloween magic shows, pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, and the usual animals and rides. It says booking online in advance saves up to 25%.

Old Mac’s Pumpkin Nights, Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, 5pm to 7.30pm. New for 2026: the farm calls it “a brand-new illuminated Halloween adventure”. The listing includes all rides open after dark, a glow show and parade, treat stations, a fire dancer on the main stage, stilt walkers, glow face painting, an illuminated Pumpkin Patch with a free pumpkin for every child, and toasted marshmallows. (Old MacDonald’s Farm, bookings)

Two timing details from the farm’s opening times page:

• From 24 October to 1 November the daytime hours change to 9.30am to 4.30pm, to make room for Pumpkin Nights in the evening.
• The farm is closed for maintenance on 28 September to 1 October and 5 to 8 October, so do not plan a pre-half-term visit on those days.

(Old MacDonald’s Farm, opening times)

Ticket prices for both Halloween events only show on the booking site once you pick a date, and they were not on the farm’s general price list when we checked on 28 September. Address: Weald Road, Brentwood CM14 5AY, close to junction 28 of the M25.

The Bunker Below: not for children

The scare attraction inside the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker is back for its fifth year. Its organisers describe it as a one-hour experience set 125ft underground and in the woods around the bunker, with jump scares, loud effects and “adult content”. (The Bunker Below)

• Dates: Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October; Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October; then every night from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November.
• Prices: off peak £33.50, peak £34.50, super peak £36.50. The site says it does not charge booking fees.
• Ages: under-14s are not admitted. 14 and 15 year olds must go round with a guardian over 18. 16 and 17 year olds need a guardian on site.
• How it works: you buy a 15-minute arrival slot, and groups going through are capped at six.

(The Bunker Below, booking; FAQ)

Part of the route is outdoors through woodland that the organisers warn can be muddy, so leave the white trainers at home. The sat nav postcode is CM15 0LA (Kelvedon Hall Lane).

While it runs, the bunker’s ordinary daytime museum is shut. Its own page says general entry is closed from 24 October to 4 November, so a normal family visit has to be before 24 October. (Nuclear Essex, Secret Nuclear Bunker)

Muddy trick or treat at Nuclear Wild Forest

Next to the bunker, the Nuclear Essex obstacle course at Parsonage Farm, Ongar Road, Kelvedon Hatch has two Halloween sessions, each about 90 minutes. The daytime one is £24 and the after-dark one £28.50 per person, including the booking fee, with a fourth ticket free when you buy three. (Nuclear Essex, Halloween at Wild Forest)

The daytime one is pitched at younger children and “anyone who might be a little more nervous about Halloween”. Expect to get very muddy: there are hot washdowns and changing rooms, and parking is free.

Halloween shows at Brentwood Theatre

Two family shows on Shenfield Road are Halloween themed, both from the theatre’s own listings:

• The Spooktacular Variety Show, Monday 26 October, 1pm, £10.
• Nicky Trix presents Halloween Howls, Thursday 29 October, 1pm, £15.

(Brentwood Theatre, what’s on)

The rest of the half term programme, including the dinosaur panto on 25 October, is on our October half term in Brentwood page.

Getting there

Old MacDonald’s Farm and both Kelvedon Hatch venues are out of town, so most people drive. Check Brentwood roadworks and travel before setting off, particularly on the A128 towards Kelvedon Hatch.

Is anything still to be confirmed

• Old MacDonald’s Farm Halloween prices, which appear only in the booking basket.
• Road arrangements for the Festival of Frights. None were published for 2026 as of 28 September.

Every date and price above was checked on the organiser’s own website on 28 September 2026. This page will be rechecked in the week before half term.