Broadwitch Farm in Southfleet near Gravesend cancels Halloween Hauntfest because of coronavirus

A popular family Halloween attraction has been scrapped for this autumn.

Organisers behind the Broadwitch Hauntfest near Gravesend have said the disruption caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as the reason for the event being called off.

Half Term Activities at Broadwitch Hauntfest provide entertainment for visitors young and old
Half Term Activities at Broadwitch Hauntfest provide entertainment for visitors young and old

Despite there being more than two months until the spookiest night of the year, managers at Broadditch Farm in Southfleet have said it's with 'deep regret' that they've already made the decision not to host the raft of halloween-themed activities and fright nights that take place in and around October half term.

Haunted tractor rides, a pumpkin palace, maze, pumpkin carving and the infamous fright nights for adults have all been part of the draw for families for many years and a whole range of experiences had been planned by the venue in New Barn Road for 2020.

Organisers have decided they are unable to run the Halloween attraction this year because of Covid 19
Organisers have decided they are unable to run the Halloween attraction this year because of Covid 19

But concerns about how visitors would be kept safe while still providing scary close-encounters led managers to decide it would not be possible to continue planning the event.

They do hope to bring the show back next year.

In a statement, organisers said: "It is with great regret that due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Broadditch has made the hard decision to cancel the 2020 Broadwitch Hauntfest.

"We have been closely monitoring the evolving government instructions in regards to mass gatherings and enforcement of necessary social distancing requirements, together with the continued threat of a further local/national waves of the virus.

There are always less spooky events for smaller children
There are always less spooky events for smaller children

"We have concluded that we cannot provide our visitors the highly interactive scare experience they have come to expect from Broadwitch, whilst meeting all of the necessary precautions to keep our visitors, actors, vendors, staff and the surrounding community safe.

"We hope you will appreciate that this has been a difficult decision to make, we are however confident that we will return in 2021 and hope that you will want to return."

Halloween events are not the only thing to see cancellations as we move towards the winter - some Kent pantomimes have also revealed they won't be able to put on a show this year. Read more about that here.

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