Budget Halloween events under £5 in Kent for families this October half-term 2025

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

Looking for some Halloween family fun without unleashing hell on your bank balance?

From spooky trails to creepy crafts, there are plenty of ways to get into the spirit in, all for £5 or less. Here are some of the best budget-friendly events for families this October…

Enjoy family activities for under a fiver this October half-term. Picture: iStock

BROCKHILL COUNTRY PARK, near Hythe

The spooky trail starts at the Rangers Hut, where you can collect your trail sheet before setting off on a magical adventure around the park. You can discover mythical plants, hidden paths, unusual creatures and clues that will help you find your way to the finish line, where you’ll receive a small prize.

Details: Saturday, October 18; Sunday, October 19; Saturday, October 25; and Sunday, October 26 at Brockhill Country Park in Saltwood, near Hythe. Entry is free, trail sheet costs £4.

GUILDHALL MUSEUM, Rochester

Step inside this historic museum and see how many ghostly inhabitants you can find. You’ll receive a reward if you manage to find them all, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the craft stations where, on select dates, you can create your own Day of the Dead-themed decorations.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Saturday, October 25 at the Guildhall Museum in Rochester. Entry costs £5 and includes trail and craft activities.

The free cinema returns for Halloween with a series of outdoor films, including family favourites and scary thrillers. Picture: Folkestone Harbour

HARBOUR ARM, Folkestone

Folkestone’s outdoor cinema returns this Halloween for a string of horror classics and family favourites. The series kicks off with the kooky, creepy Addams Family, starring Anjelica Huston and Christina Ricci. That weekend, visitors can also catch ‘80s comedy Teen Wolf and animated film Hotel Transylvania and, for the grown-ups, an evening screening of The Exorcist will also be shown.

Details: Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26 at Folkestone Harbour Arm. Free entry, no booking required.

HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, near Canterbury

Save on entry to one of Kent’s biggest wildlife parks with free kids' tickets during the half-term. There will be a ghostly activity trail through the park, along with creepy crawly encounters, a critter corner, autumnal snacks and a chance to see more than 390 rare and endangered animals.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, November 2 at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Free entry for kids, adult tickets cost £26. Book online here.

Get up close to creepy crawlies with free kids’ tickets at Howletts. Picture: Howletts

LULLINGSTONE COUNTRY PARK, near Swanley

Pick up a self-guided Halloween trail and find clues around the park to uncover all of the spooky spots hidden within the grounds. If you manage to pick up all of the ingredients needed to conjure up an enchanting spell, you’ll receive a small reward.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, November 9 at Lullingstone Country Park in Eynsford, near Swanley. Entry is free, trail sheet costs £3.

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM

Let your creative side loose with school holiday craft sessions at the Maidstone Museum. There are three workshops available during the October half-term where children can make their own autumn wreaths, build dancing scarecrows, and create autumnal bunting. Each session lasts between 30 and 50 minutes.

Details: Tuesday, October 21 to Thursday, October 23 at Maidstone Museum. Craft sessions cost £3.50. Book online here.

PUMPKIN MOON

Take seasonal selfies with the family and pick your own pumpkins from Kent’s three Pumpkin Moon sites. The patches boast more than 100 varieties of pumpkins, along with decorative displays, mini mazes, food and drink stalls and fancy dress.

Details: Select dates until Friday, October 31. Patches are located at Lower Rainham Road in Rainham, Old Chatham Road in Maidstone, and Perry Court in Faversham. Tickets start from £2.75. Book online here.

Grab your wellies and explore Kent’s pumpkin patches this October

SAFFERY FARM, Faversham

Spot spooky decorations and fun, autumnal displays as you explore this farm, just outside of Faversham, that has been growing pumpkins for more than 30 years. Pumpkins are priced by size, and once you’re there, you can stay for as long as you want.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, October 26 at Saffery Farm in Selling, near Faversham. Entry costs £4 per car, no booking required.

SHORNE WOODS COUNTRY PARK, near Gravesend

The autumn trail at Shorne will take you through some of the park’s seasonal highlights. It might be trees with changing leaves or the wildlife that lives within the grounds at this time of year. You can follow the trail sheet, which takes around an hour, and receive a prize if you complete the sheet.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, October 26 at Shorne Woods Country Park near Gravesend. Entry is free, trail sheet costs £3.

TROSLEY COUNTRY PARK, Gravesend

The mysterious Mythical Creatures trail will take over the country park during the October half-term. There will be ghostly characters and mysterious creatures to find and, if you cross them all off on your self-guided trail sheet, you’ll get a reward at the end.

Details: Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, November 9 at Trosley Country Park in Gravesend. Entry is free, trail sheet costs £3.