Love it or loathe it, there's no denying that most people will be getting into the Halloween spirit this week.

Here's what's happening in East London and West Essex this spooky season, with events suitable for families and those looking for a scare.

Painted Pumpkin Workshop

Come and enjoy a fun packed afternoon of pumpkin painting. You can be as creative as you like with your spooky designs. Take home your unique spectacularly spooky pumpkin creation. Booking is essential.

Community Services Training Room, 25 Hemnall Street, Epping, CM16 4LU, Tuesday, October 29, 2pm to 4pm. Details: eppingforestdc.gov.uk

Spooky Slime Workshop

Come along for a fun afternoon of spooky slime making. Booking is essential.

Community Services Training Room, 25 Hemnall Street, Epping, CM16 4LU, Wednesday, October 30, 2pm to 4pm. Details: eppingforestdc.gov.uk

Spooky Steps Dance Workshop

Come and celebrate Halloween by learning a dance based on the famous Thriller video and play some spooky themed games. Feel free to come dressed up on a Halloween theme. Booking is essential.

Epping Forest District Museum, 39 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EL, Wednesday, October 30, 10.30am to 12pm. Details: eppingforestdc.gov.uk

Mischief and Mayhem

Get ready to have some frighteningly good fun with your favourite farmyard friends this half term. Come and get a spooky face-painting then explore the Haunted House before following the Trick or Treat Trail. Have a go at pumpkin carving and toboggan riding, before watching a birds of prey display or a creepy critter and puppet show.

Lee Valley Park Farms, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2EF, Saturday, October 26, to Sunday, November 3. Details: 01992 892781 lvfarms.co.uk

Dr Gore’s Spooky Mad Lab

Join the scary Dr Gore and Mad Lab assistants for spooktakular science shows and interactive family fun. Evil Dr Gore will be undertaking some scientific demonstrations as part of a hauntingly delightful mix of science and fun that will entertain the whole family. In the Spooky Mad Lab Dr Gore’s assistants will help you conjure up wickedly messy experiments such as creating magic potions and glorious goo. Families can also get into the spirit by making witches hats, dressing up, and getting hands-on with a range of Halloween arts and crafts. Back in the science theme, children can also make and launch a rocket.

Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1JY, Saturday, October 26, to Friday, November 1. Details: royalgunpowdermills.com

Ghost Train

Dress up in your scariest outfit and join the full size ghost train as for Halloween fun. Meet Jack and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Watch onboard magic and listen to spooky storytelling. Join in the ghost hunt and meet the owls from Epping Hawk and Owl Sanctuary.

Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar Station, Station Approach, Ongar, Saturday, October 26, Sunday, October 27, Wednesday, October 30, and Thursday, October 31. Details: 01277 365200 eorailway.co.uk

Ghost Walk

Take part in the official original Hangman’s Hill Epping Forest ghost walk, as seen on TV’s Most Haunted and The Only Way is Essex. During the walk you will take in several stops to hear tales of ghosts, hauntings,local history and murder. This is followed by a stop in the eerie cemetery and an area that was once the site of a grand house, said to be still haunted by the family and staff that once lived there. You will be taken on a walk through the woods to carry out a seance during which a medium will then attempt to contact any ghosts that may be present. As the evening continues you will hear many other tales that include sightings of a troubled spirit who runs in front of passing cars glaring into the eyes of drivers before disappearing, the ghost of a dead girl who is said to have drowned near the Kings Oak Pub, the penny farthing ghost, a headless horsemen and much more.

The Kings Oak, High Beach, Epping Forest, IG10 4AE, Tuesday, October 29, 8pm. Details: dusktilldawnevents.co.uk

Spooky Walk

Come along to this magnificent forest for a haunted hike. This is a family friendly event with spooky stories and hidden monsters waiting for you in the forest. Fancy dress is welcome.

Hainault Forest, Romford Road, Chigwell, IG7 4QX, Thursday, October 31, 5pm. Details: thetouristtrail.org

Halloween Craft Session

Make a pumpkin face using balloons. You can make it scary, angry or happy and then display them in the library for visitors to see.

Walthamstow Library, High Street, Walthamstow, E17 7JN, Monday, October 28, 12pm to 1pm. Details: walthamforest.gov.uk

Spooktacular Halloween Fun

Come along after school for Halloween crafts and colouring activities.

Higham Hill Library, North Countess Road, E17 5HS, Thursday, October 31, 3.30pm to 5pm. Details: walthamforest.gov.uk

Celebrate Halloween

Celebrate Halloween at Vestry House Museum. Devilish drinkies at the witches’ bar, freaky face painting, zombie flashmob dancing and a ghostly mystery game. Fiendish fun for all the family!

Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road, Walthamstow, E17 5NH, Thursday, October 31, 6.30pm to 9pm. Details: walthamforest.gov.uk

Terrifically Terrifying Tales

Two new ghost stories performed live especially for the spooky season. In The King’s Head, a traveller down on his luck steals the coins from a dead man’s eyes and ends up finding good fortune. But are the coins as lucky as they seem? In As Shuck Would Have It, a writer goes in search of the legend of the Ghost Dog of East Anglia and turns up with more than he bargained for.

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Thursday, October 31, 7.45pm. Details: 01245 606505 chelmsford.gov.uk