Hylands Fear Fest 2026: Dates, Tickets, Prices & Halloween Trails
Hylands Fear Fest comes to Chelmsford for the first time this October, bringing two Halloween trails to Hylands Estate from Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
Visitors can choose between the family-friendly Fear Fest Spooky Trail and the much more intense Fear Fest Extreme, which features live actors, immersive sets and scares throughout the Hylands woodlands.
Running across October half-term and Halloween itself, the new attraction is aimed at both families and older thrill-seekers, with advance timed tickets required.
Below you'll find the Hylands Fear Fest dates, ticket information, age guidance, location and everything you need to know before visiting.
Fear Fest Extreme at Hylands Estate
Designed for thrill-seekers aged 15 and over, Fear Fest Extreme will take visitors on an outdoor nighttime scare experience through the grounds of Hylands Estate.
The attraction will feature live actors, immersive sets, sound effects and unexpected scares as visitors make their way through the trail.
Chelmsford City Council says the nighttime experience will take visitors through Hylands' woodlands, with terrifying set pieces and special effects forming part of the attraction.
It's very much the option for older teenagers and adults looking for a proper Halloween scare rather than a gentle family trail.
A family-friendly Spooky Trail
Younger visitors aren't being forgotten.
The Fear Fest Spooky Trail, recommended for ages 7 and over, offers a much more family-friendly Halloween experience through the gardens of Hylands Estate.
Visitors can expect playful ghouls, friendly characters, interactive encounters and gentler spooky surprises along the route.
Rather than attempting to terrify its visitors, the trail has been designed to combine Halloween atmosphere with fun and mischief for families.
At the end of the experience, visitors will find a fairground, with food and drinks also available to purchase.
A brand-new Halloween event for Chelmsford
This is the first year Hylands Fear Fest has taken place.
The event comes from a team already familiar with Hylands Estate.
Producer Carl Miller and the companies behind the event have previously worked with the estate on the popular Enlightened light trails.
Announcing the new autumn events earlier this year, Miller said Hylands' woodlands and historic gardens made the estate an ideal setting for Halloween experiences.
With the event running for more than two weeks, it will also cover one of the busiest periods of the year for family activities in Chelmsford.
Hylands Fear Fest dates
Hylands Fear Fest runs from:
Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November 2026
The event takes place during the evening, with the Hylands Estate event listing giving overall operating hours of 5pm to 11.30pm.
Visitors should check their individual booking carefully, as admission is by timed pre-booked ticket.
The run includes Halloween itself on Saturday 31 October, as well as the October school half-term period.
Where is Hylands Fear Fest?
The event takes place at:
Hylands Estate
London Road
Writtle
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 8WQ
The historic estate provides a particularly atmospheric location for the event, with the two experiences making use of its gardens and woodland areas after dark.
How old do you need to be?
There are two experiences aimed at different age groups:
Fear Fest Spooky Trail – ages 7+
A family-friendly experience featuring characters, interactive moments and gentler Halloween scares.
Fear Fest Extreme – ages 15+
A considerably more intense outdoor scare trail featuring live actors, immersive environments and unexpected encounters.
Parents should therefore make sure they choose the appropriate experience when booking.
Hylands Fear Fest tickets
Tickets for Hylands Fear Fest are available through the event's official website.
Entry is by pre-booked ticket only, with visitors selecting their date and timed entry slot when booking.
A booking fee applies to online orders.
Anyone planning to attend around Halloween or during October half-term may want to book ahead, particularly for the most popular evening and weekend slots.
Halloween in Chelmsford 2026
Hylands Fear Fest adds another major attraction to Chelmsford's Halloween and October half-term calendar for 2026.
Its combination of a family-friendly trail and a much scarier experience for older visitors means two very different audiences can experience Halloween at the same historic Chelmsford venue.
The event opens on Friday 16 October and continues every night until Sunday 1 November 2026.
Chelmsford City Hub will be covering more Halloween and October half-term events as they are announced.
Do you need to book Hylands Fear Fest in advance?
Yes. Entry to Hylands Fear Fest is by pre-booked ticket only, with visitors choosing a specific date and timed entry slot when booking.
A £2.50 booking fee applies per booking.
Anyone hoping to visit during October half-term or around Halloween itself may want to book early, as availability varies by date and time.
Tickets should be booked through the official Hylands Fear Fest website.