The Best Halloween Events in Kent 2026
Kent’s castles, historic houses, farms and family attractions transform throughout October with spooky trails, pumpkin activities, trick or treating and Halloween entertainment.
From family-friendly ghost hunts and mad scientist experiments to scare mazes designed for older teenagers, there are Halloween events across Kent for almost every age group.
Whether you are planning an October half-term day out, looking for Halloween activities with younger children or searching for something genuinely frightening, here is our guide to the best Halloween events in Kent in 2026.
1. Halloween Half Term Fun at Hever Castle
Address: Hever Castle, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG
Dates: 17 October to 1 November 2026
Event type: Family Halloween trail, crafts and live entertainment
Opening times: Halloween activities from 10.30am, with individual activity times throughout the day
Tickets: Halloween activities included with normal admission unless otherwise stated
Best for: One of the best all-round family Halloween days out in Kent
Why visit: Hever Castle is hosting Spooktacular Science for Halloween 2026, turning the grounds of the historic castle into a family-friendly world of strange experiments and mad scientists.
Children can follow Hever's Mad Scientists Trail around the grounds, searching for unusual experiments, hidden letters and clues before solving the final puzzle and collecting a reward.
There is also a daily craft activity where children can make their own mad scientist goggles, plus timed Halloween shows featuring Dr Frankenstein and an interactive experiment designed to bring their creature to life.
The Halloween programme runs alongside Hever Castle's Autumn Colour season, meaning visitors can explore the gardens at one of the most colourful times of year while also enjoying the wider castle, playgrounds and attractions. Halloween activities are included with admission unless otherwise specified.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Arrive early and complete the Halloween trail before exploring the castle and gardens. The combination of Halloween activities and autumn colour makes Hever particularly good for a full-day visit rather than a short seasonal event.
2. Halloween Spooktacular at Kent Life
Address: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AU
Dates: 24 October to 1 November 2026
Event type: Trick or treating, pumpkin activities and farm Halloween event
Opening times: Generally 10am to 5pm during the Halloween high season
Tickets: Special Halloween event admission applies
Best for: Traditional family Halloween fun and trick or treating
Why visit: Kent Life's Halloween Spooktacular is one of Kent's biggest dedicated family Halloween events.
The heritage farm park is decorated for the spooky season, with activities including trick or treating, pumpkin carving or painting, farm rides, a creepy corner and daily fancy dress competitions.
One of the main attractions is the spooky house, where children can follow a trick-or-treating route and discover which characters are waiting behind the doors.
The event runs throughout the October half-term period, allowing families to combine the Halloween entertainment with Kent Life's animals, historic buildings and usual farm attractions. Kent Life advises visitors to book online, particularly during school holidays and special event days.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Halloween is one of Kent Life's busiest events of the year, so book before the main half-term week if you can. Fancy dress is encouraged and gives children another activity to get involved with during the day.
Get spooky with some sheep at Kent Life
3. Halloween Half-Term at Dover Castle
Address: Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover, Kent CT16 1HU
Dates: 4 October to 1 November 2026
Event type: Great Pumpkin Party, storytelling, games and Halloween trail
Opening times: 10am to 4pm for the Halloween programme
Tickets: Included with normal castle admission; English Heritage members visit free
Best for: Combining Halloween with one of Kent's biggest historic attractions
Why visit: Dover Castle provides one of the most atmospheric settings for Halloween in Kent, with its medieval towers, underground spaces and centuries of history forming the backdrop to English Heritage's 2026 Great Pumpkin Party.
Families can take part in interactive storytelling, spooky games, themed trails and seasonal entertainment around the castle.
There will also be Halloween selfie locations, disco-style entertainment and a daily fancy dress competition with prizes available for some of the best costumes.
The Halloween programme is included with standard admission. Visitors who book general admission in advance can save 15%, while English Heritage members receive free entry.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Leave enough time to explore Dover Castle itself. The Great Tower and underground wartime areas turn this into much more than a Halloween trail, particularly for older children interested in history.
4. Trick or Treat Trail at Quex Adventure Farm Park
Address: Quex Adventure Farm Park, Quex Park, Park Lane, Birchington, Kent CT7 0BH
Dates: Selected dates during October 2026 - check the live booking calendar
Event type: Trick-or-treat trail, pumpkin picking and family farm park
Opening times: Farm park generally opens from 9.30am, with timed entry to the Halloween trail
Tickets: Children from £18.95 for selected ticket types; prices vary by date and flexibility
Best for: Younger children who want trick or treating and a pumpkin
Why visit: Quex Adventure Farm Park's Trick or Treat Trail combines several classic Halloween activities into one family experience.
Visitors enter the Spooky Woods where Halloween characters are waiting with tricks, treats and interactive surprises. Children then receive a Halloween treat before heading to the Bewitched Pumpkin Patch.
Each child ticket includes one pumpkin, together with a ride on the Slime Blaster Express and full-day access to the wider farm park.
That means families can arrive before their allocated trail time and use Quex's play areas and other attractions before or after the Halloween experience. Tickets are available in different flexible and fixed-slot options, with child tickets currently advertised from £18.95 on selected bookings.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Treat the booked time as your Halloween trail time rather than your arrival time. Arrive earlier so you can make full use of the farm park before your allocated slot.
Trick or Treat in Birchington
5. Halloween at Leeds Castle
Address: Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL
Dates: 24 October to 1 November 2026
Event type: Family Halloween event within the castle estate
Tickets: Included with an eligible Leeds Castle admission ticket
Best for: A full castle day out during October half term
Why visit: Halloween returns to Leeds Castle during the October half-term holidays from 24 October to 1 November 2026.
The event will take place throughout the castle's extensive estate, with the autumn parkland providing a seasonal backdrop for the family Halloween programme.
Full details of the 2026 Halloween activities are still being finalised, but Leeds Castle has confirmed the dates and that the event will be included with admission.
A visit can also include the castle itself, the maze and underground grotto, adventure playgrounds and the wider grounds, making this another attraction where families can easily spend most of the day.
Visit Kent Guide tip: This is one to revisit before October. Leeds Castle has confirmed the event dates but has not yet released the full 2026 programme, so check what has been added before booking your visit.
A real spooky treat: Leeds Castle at Halloween
6. We're Going on a Ghost Hunt at Chartwell
Address: Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent TN16 1PS
Dates: 3 October to 1 November 2026
Event type: Children's Halloween ghost trail
Opening times: 10am to 4pm for most of October; 10am to 3pm from 26 October
Tickets: Halloween trail free with normal admission
Best for: Younger children, particularly under-eights
Why visit: Chartwell's 2026 Halloween event has been designed specifically with younger children in mind.
We're Going on a Ghost Hunt takes families through the garden and woodland surrounding Winston Churchill's former home, with eight Halloween stops featuring games, activities and playful challenges.
Children need to look out for ghosts hidden along the route before collecting a special sticker reward once the trail has been completed.
The trail itself does not carry an additional charge, although normal National Trust admission applies. The route runs through woodland and includes slopes, steps and uneven ground, so robust footwear and an all-terrain pushchair may be useful after wet weather.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Choose Chartwell if you want a gentler Halloween experience without actors or deliberate scares. The trail has been created for children under eight and is more playful than frightening.
7. Halloween at Emmetts Garden Autumn Festival
Address: Emmetts Garden, Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 6BA
Dates: Autumn Festival from 9 October to 1 November 2026; Halloween workshops from 29 October to 1 November
Event type: Halloween crafts, family trail and autumn activities
Opening times: Garden generally open from 10am; activity times vary
Tickets: Normal admission applies; some Halloween workshops carry an additional charge
Best for: Halloween crafts and younger families
Why visit: Emmetts Garden combines Halloween activities with a much larger Autumn Festival throughout October.
Families can follow the Fun-Gus Saves the Forest outdoor trail from 9 October to 1 November, before the Halloween programme expands during the final few days of the month.
From 29 October to 1 November, children aged eight and over can join a Spooky Woodcraft workshop, learning to use carving tools to make a wooden mushroom keyring. Tickets cost £8 in addition to normal admission.
Younger children can take part in the Halloween Spiderweb Weaving Workshop, creating a spooky spider web and pinecone spider. This activity is suitable for children aged two and over and is free with normal admission.
A children's fairground also operates during half term from 23 October to 1 November, while the gardens provide one of Kent's best displays of autumn colour.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Visit between 29 October and 1 November if Halloween is the main reason for your trip. Earlier dates are better suited to families primarily interested in the wider Autumn Festival and activity trail.
8. Halloween at the Rare Breeds Centre
Address: Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent TN26 3RJ
Dates: 24 October to 1 November 2026
Event type: Family Halloween event at a farm attraction
Tickets: Advance booking recommended; full 2026 Halloween details are still to be announced
Best for: Younger families and children who also enjoy animals
Why visit: The Rare Breeds Centre has confirmed that its family Halloween event will return from 24 October to 1 November 2026.
The Woodchurch attraction traditionally combines its Halloween activities with the animals, play areas, woodland and wider farm experience.
The centre's Halloween events feature seasonal entertainment and the return of witch Effel Fartwaffer, although the complete programme for 2026 has not yet been released.
Because the Rare Breeds Centre remains a full farm attraction throughout the event, it is particularly suited to families wanting Halloween entertainment without making the entire day about scares.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Add this page to your list to check again in September. The dates are confirmed, but the Rare Breeds Centre is still announcing the full programme of Halloween activities.
9. Quex Halloween Fest
Address: Quex Adventure Farm Park, Quex Park, Park Lane, Birchington, Kent CT7 0BH
Dates: Selected October 2026 dates - check the current ticket calendar
Event type: Night-time scare mazes and Halloween festival
Age guidance: Designed for ages 14 and over
Tickets: Advance booking required
Best for: Teenagers, older children and adults looking for a scarier Halloween event
Why visit: Quex Halloween Fest provides a considerably scarier alternative to the family-focused Trick or Treat Trail held at the same attraction.
The night-time event returns in 2026 with three new scare mazes featuring live actors, cinematic effects, soundscapes and unexpected scares.
Visitors can also explore the Pumpkin Village, find themed photo locations, listen to music and buy seasonal food and drinks. The wider festival atmosphere makes it more of an evening Halloween experience than a traditional children's trail.
Quex currently recommends the event for visitors aged 14 and over, making it one of the strongest Kent options for families who have older teenagers and have outgrown gentler Halloween trails.
Visit Kent Guide tip: Make sure you book the correct Quex event. The Trick or Treat Trail is aimed at families with younger children, while Halloween Fest is specifically designed to provide genuine scares for older visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Some of the biggest confirmed Halloween events in Kent for 2026 include Halloween Half Term Fun at Hever Castle, Kent Life's Halloween Spooktacular, Halloween Half-Term at Dover Castle, Halloween at Leeds Castle and the Trick or Treat Trail at Quex Adventure Farm Park.
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Halloween events begin at several Kent attractions in early October, with the largest concentration taking place during the second half of the month and the October half-term holidays. Halloween itself falls on Saturday 31 October 2026.
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Chartwell's We're Going on a Ghost Hunt is particularly suitable for younger children because it has been designed for under-eights. Emmetts Garden also offers activities suitable for very young children.
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Quex Halloween Fest is one of the strongest choices for visitors looking for genuine scares. The event is aimed at ages 14 and over and includes live-actor scare mazes and special effects.
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Many are. Halloween activities at Hever Castle, Dover Castle, Leeds Castle and Chartwell are included with eligible general admission, although some attractions charge separately for individual activities or special event tickets.
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Many are. Halloween activities at Hever Castle, Dover Castle, Leeds Castle and Chartwell are included with eligible general admission, although some attractions charge separately for individual activities or special event tickets.
