Don’t hibernate indoors. October in East Anglia means autumn is here and full of fun things to experience.

Get outdoors and see the trees changing colour on a countryside walk. Or if you’re up for a fright there’s Halloween to look forward to. October is packed with lots to see and do. Our Events Team have pooled together their top five for you to actively sink your teeth into.

1. Join our friends at Colchester Zoo on the 26th, 28th, 30th and 31st October ONLY for their famous Fright Nights. As the daylight fades and the darkness sets in you'll be able to enjoy some frightfully good attractions and activities which are sure to scare and delight!
2. Halloween is fast approaching which means it’s almost time to start carving those scary faces into your pumpkins. There isn’t a better way to get into the Halloween mood and secure the best pumpkin than picking it from the patch itself. Check out Foxes Farm Produce and embrace the great outdoors!
3. The world famous Oktoberfest returns to Essex for a day of traditional Bavarian entertainment, food and drink. Events are taking place throughout the month including Chelmsford (5 October), Southend-on-Sea (19 October) and Colchester (26 October).
4. Locals whisper of an old village that appears in darkest Suffolk every year. Ghosts, ghouls and other creatures stalk the night and are said to be able to cross through from the Other Side. They talk of it as a Haunted Village. They call it Scaresville. Some say these are just stories, others won’t say anything at all - are you brave enough to investigate?
5. Get ready for the UK’s newest and most unique Slime Festival. This October Half Term a massive one day event comes to Essex. Slime Fest is a huge indoor event that celebrates all things slimey with lots of amazing entertainment.