Spooky Sussex: Six Halloween Days Out and Events to Try This Autumn

Crunchy leaves, darker evenings and an entirely reasonable excuse to eat sweets by the handful, - Spooky Season is here. Sussex is getting into the spirit (pun intended) with pumpkin patches, potion making, ghost walks and after-dark cinema. 

If you are thinking of living at Home X in Brighton, Wharf Twenty One or Dock Makers Quarter in Shoreham-by-Sea, and want to see what could be on offer in your new stomping ground, then there’s plenty of the action close enough for an autumn day out. Whether you have little monsters to entertain or fancy something more grown-up, here are six Halloween events in Sussex worth adding to the diary.close enough for an autumn day out. Whether you have little monsters to entertain or fancy something more grown-up, here are six Halloween events in Sussex worth adding to the diary. 

1. Pumpkin picking at Sompting Pumpkins 

Nothing says October quite like wandering around a field looking for a pumpkin with “the right vibe” for you. Sompting Pumpkins is a family-run patch with pumpkins across 15 acres, plus crafts, food, drink and weekend tractor rides. Entry and parking are free, with pumpkins priced by size – so be warned if you plan to wear one as a head piece. 

Location: Halewick Lane, Sompting, BN15 0NE 
Dates: 3–4, 10–11, 17–18 and 24–31 October, open from 10am–4pm 
Price: Free entry; pay for pumpkins and activities 
Best for: Families and children of all ages 

For anyone searching for pumpkin picking in Sussex or pumpkin picking near Brighton, this is an easy autumn classic. 

2. Lewes Ghost Walk 

Ready to meet Lewes after dark? This 90-minute guided walk explores the town’s darker stories, from ghosts and executions to disasters and murders. It is a good pick for adults and families with older children who like their history with a slightly haunted edge. 

Location: Lewes Town Hall, High Street, Lewes 
Dates: 9, 16, 23 and 30 October at 7.30pm 
Price: £12 adults; £6 children 
Best for: Adults and older children 

3. Halloween A Go-Go at The Shoreham Centre 

This one swaps ghost stories for the devilish moves on the dance floor. Halloween A Go-Go brings together 60s, 70s and 80s classics, Soul, Motown, Disco, Reggae and Ska, with fancy dress strongly encouraged. Consider this your chance to discover whether vampires can do the hustle. 

Location: The Shoreham Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea 
Date: 31 October, 7.30pm–11.30pm 
Price: £15 plus booking fee 
Best for: Adults aged 18+ 

4. Halloween Potion Making at One Garden Brighton 

Who needs Hogwarts when you’ve got a garden full of spell-casting ingredients? This hands-on workshop at One Garden Brighton uses plant-based ingredients to teach young Witches and Wizards all about plants while they create their own magical concoctions. 

Location: One Garden Brighton, Stanmer Park 
Date: 28 October, 10am–12pm 
Price: Tickets from £35 
Best for: Children aged 7+; under-14s attend with a parent or guardian 

It is one of the more imaginative Halloween events near Brighton for children who prefer potions to jump scares. 

5. Ghostly Gatherings at Preston Manor 

Fancy raising a glass with a few spirits who definitely aren’t on the guest list? Preston Manor, regarded as one of Brighton’s most haunted houses, opens after dark for expert-led ghost tours. Guests are welcomed with wine and nibbles before exploring the house and hearing stories of its supposedly supernatural residents. 

Location: Preston Manor, Brighton 
Dates: Fridays, 2–30 October, 8pm–11pm 
Price: £36 
Best for: Adults and fans of atmospheric ghost stories 

6. Halloween Pop-up Cinema at Brighton Museum 

Prefer your Halloween frights from a comfortable seat or behind it? Brighton Museum’s Central Gallery is turning into a pop-up cinema for Halloween night. Hocus Pocus screens at 7pm, followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 9.15pm. Costumes are encouraged, naturally. 

Location: Brighton Museum & Art Gallery 
Date: 31 October 
Price: £20 per film or £35 for the double bill 
Best for: Hocus Pocus is open to ages 8+; Rocky Horror is rated 12A 

Make Sussex your Halloween headquarters 

From pumpkin picking to dancing until the witching hour, there’s no shortage of Halloween events, to put a spell on you, in and around Brighton and Shoreham-by-Sea this October. 

Looking for a home close to all the fang-tastic fun (sorry we couldn’t resist)? Home X near Brighton puts you within easy reach of the city’s spooky season, while in Shoreham-by-Sea, Wharf Twenty One and Dock Makers Quarter make the perfect base for your coven – we'll stop now promise. 

Our Shared Ownership homes across Brighton, Shoreham-by-Sea and Sussex, mean your next Halloween tradition could be closer to home than you think.