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Triple The Spooky Fun This Halloween With Brentwood Connected
Three free Halloween events will take place in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone High Streets this half term, courtesy of Brentwood Connected, the Business Improvement District (BID) which is funded by town centre businesses.
On Thursday 30 October from 10am-4pm, a Trick or Treat Trail will take place in Ingatestone High Street. Families are encouraged to visit Ingatestone Library, Beresfords, Deborah Webb, The Bell, Kennadys, The Ginger Tree, The Star Inn, Ravens Bakery, Co-Op, Budgens, Abigail’s Lifestyle, The Lounge Wine Bar and Ingatestone Community Centre to complete a Trick or Treat Trail activity. Snap a selfie with the Halloween walkabout characters, pick up treats from extra business locations on the way around, and then take part in free pumpkin painting at The Country Café at Patrick Green. All you need to do is bring your own pumpkin, and allow time for it to dry before taking it home with you. Brentwood Connected recommends supporting local and buying pumpkins from Ingatestone High Street retailers including Budgens, Co-Op and Ingatestone Convenience Store.
It’s the turn of Shenfield businesses on Friday 31 October from 3-6pm, with the return of the Shenfield Spooktacular. This is always a super popular event, with the community coming out to enjoy Halloween together and taking part in fun and interactive activities in and around businesses in Hutton Road. There will be spooky experiences outside Beresfords, The Strand, William Hill, Roses Bakery, and Jasmine Bleu including Beetlejuice’s Bewitched Candy Floss, A Taste of Nevermore Popcorn, and Ghostbusters and Villain-Con inspired activities. Free face painting will be located at The Dental Works, free Halloween crafts at Shenfield Library, free ‘Test Your Strength’ ride outside Urban Edge, plus activities and treats at plenty of other Shenfield business locations including Hamburger by Hepburns, who will have Halloween-themed burgers, milkshakes and a magician experience for those dining in, plus scarily good bakes at Roses Bakery and a lucky dip at Barnardo’s.
The final free Brentwood Connected Halloween event will take place in Brentwood on Saturday 1 November from 2-5pm. The Festival of Frights will take place in and around Brentwood High Street, with creepy characters and treats in collaboration with businesses. There will be games and activities outside The Pink Parachute, Hays Travel, Clintons, the Baytree Shopping Centre piazza and The Sushi Co. The Ghostbusters bike will also be a part of the fun, with free face painting at Schmidt Kitchens & Interior Solutions, ending with a Grand Finale with dancing and a fire performance in Crown Street at 4.30pm. If you’re planning to arrive towards the end of the event, please note some games and activities will finish at 4pm to give visitors time to make their way to the Grand Finale.
Creepy Crown Street, organised by businesses Chicken and Frog Bookshop and Ridgewell & Boreham also takes place on Saturday 1 November from 2-5pm, an event made possible with funds from the Brentwood Connected Small Grant scheme. The Spread Eagle is also hosting a Pizza & Paint event for children, with an artist, which will take place from 12-2pm on the same date, meaning families can get creative and have a delicious meal in the town centre before coming along to the Festival of Frights. Details of how to book this are available on the Brentwood Connected website.
Costumes and fancy dress are encouraged at all Brentwood Connected Halloween events, along with something to collect all the treats on offer. Everything is free to attend, thanks to Brentwood Connected businesses. Families who prefer to download trail maps in advance can do so on brentwoodconnected.co.uk/halloween.
Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID) Manager Sarah Walmsley, says, “Our popular Halloween events are consistently well-attended and much anticipated by Brentwood Connected businesses and the local community. Activities like this bring everyone together during the school holidays, entirely for free, thanks to our businesses. We look forward to welcoming the spooky season to all three High Streets during half term, giving families the opportunity to support local, and have fun dressing up!”
Town centre businesses fund Halloween and other Brentwood Connected events. Nic Howard, owner of Howard’s Fish & Grill in Shenfield said, “We are really pleased to be a part of the Shenfield Spooktacular and we're looking forward to welcoming people through the doors of Howard’s Fish & Grill for Halloween treats. The Shenfield community always blows us away with their support at events like this so it's sure to be a fantastic occasion. Our team looks forward to seeing everyone’s costumes!”
Brentwood Connected is a unique Business Improvement District (BID) supporting the borough’s three high streets and funded by town centre businesses to improve the experience of residents, visitors, employees and businesses in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone. For information about Brentwood Connected, including events listings, business directories, local information, and details of the upcoming Halloween events, visit brentwoodconnected.co.uk/halloween.