Spook-tacular goings-on in Eastbourne for Halloween

The spooky season kicks off over the half term holidays with a variety of scary mazes, frightful parties, monster hits on the dancefloor and creepy trails galore.

Starting at The Beachy Head Story, Spooky Specimens runs from Saturday 21 October – Sunday 29 October giving visitors of all ages the opportunity to search for spooky and gruesome plants around the venue.

The exhibition trail is free for people to explore the weirdness of Witch’s Hair and Doll’s Eye plants. There are also drop-in workshops with mushroom craft making on Tuesday 24 and Friday 27 October. Both sessions are from 10.30am-12.30pm and the cost is £2.50.

Following the Beachy Head Marathon on 21 – 22 October, keen stargazers can get a glimpse of galaxies far, far away… through the telescopes of Eastbourne Astronomical Society on Saturday 21 October in a free event from 6 – 8pm at The Beachy Head Story.

On Tuesday 24 October, little monsters can go wild at the Bandstand’s first ever Kids Halloween Disco Party with DJ Oli and DJ Jay. Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start and early bird tickets cost £5 per adult and £6 per child.

Pontypandy comes to Eastbourne on Thursday 26 October as Fireman Sam takes to the Congress Theatre stage at 12pm, in an all singing, dancing, action-packed show. Or for fun for all the family, the Superstars of Wrestling will be on show at the Royal Hippodrome on Sunday 22 October.

It’s party time at the Stage Door on Saturday 28 October when the Compton Street pub hosts a Halloween Party from 8pm. Music will be provided by Bedraggled, with themed spooky cocktails, and partygoers are encouraged to dress up in fancy dress.

The frightful party atmosphere continues at Eastbourne Bandstand, also on the evening of Saturday 28 October with a Halloween concert by The Zoots, ending in a season firework finale. The tribute show will feature all the hits of the last 50 years in a spook-tastic night of music from a host of eras and an array of artists everyone knows and loves. Doors open at 7pm and the 90-minute show starts at 8pm. Tickets are £11 for adults and £9 for children purchased in advance.

Councillor Margaret Bannister, Eastbourne Borough Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure, Accessibility & Community Safety, said, “"There’s a spook-tacular line up of truly wicked events in Eastbourne this Halloween with something for everyone and I hope residents and visitors enjoy the ghostly goings on.”

Also out and about this half term from 21 – 29 October:

Half Term Horrors return to Knockhatch Adventure Park, featuring the interactive Sherlock Holmes Experience in a problem solving journey through the streets of London, alongside the Big Top Spooky Circus and Containment Horror Maze (rated 12a).

Drusillas Shriek Week returns with live action maze adventure in Mummy Mayhem, meet creepy crawlies in Spider’s Den or venture through Haunted Heights to meet the resident witches.

Michelham Priory are lighting up half term from 27 – 28 October with children’s lantern making workshops, a Wererabbit trail and a walk through display of light sculptures from the gatehouse to the priory and barn.

Select your own pumpkin at Sharnfold Farm, fresh from the fields, with pumpkin carving activities and a farm trail with a spooky twist.

Get active this half term with Buzz Active who will be running an adventure week, multi-activity courses, paddleboarding, canoeing and Friday Fun sessions across their Eastbourne and Cuckmere watersports centres.

Let the kids take charge, as Kiddicity hosts Little Monsters Halloween Play Sessions throughout the week, in their role play café.

Or let the kids (and adults) burn off some energy at Ninja Arena’s inflatable air park assault course in Eastbourne or Urban Jump’s trampoline park in Heathfield.

Half term also marks the final week of the Eastbourne Sightseeing Bus before the end of its 2023 season, and Sunday 29 October is the day for last chance rides at Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Park before the trains are tucked away for the winter.

For more information on what’s on in Eastbourne head to VisitEastbourne.com