WITH Halloween falling in the same week as half-term, there are plenty of family-friendly events taking place across Sussex to keep the children entertained, from a haunted hayride to pumpkin paint balling.

If you are looking for some fang-tastic inspiration for things to do, we have rounded up some of the best events for you and your little monsters.

Sealife Centre, Brighton

SEALIFE Brighton is holding Halloween shows from Tuesday to November 3.

To book tickets in advance and to find out more about events at the Sea Life Centre, visit the website.

Brighton Open Market, Brighton

BRIGTHON Open Market and the Balcony Studios in Marshalls Row, Brighton, will be entertaining families on Thursday, October 31.

This is a free afternoon of trick or treating, wicked creative workshops, spooky storytelling, music and awards for the best costumes.

The Balcony Studios at Brighton Open Market presents the drop-in Halloween half-term family event on Thursday, October 31, from 1pm to 4pm. It welcomes children aged 11 and under and their adults to go along and take part in a variety of workshops at the Balcony studios, upstairs at Brighton Open Market, as well as spooky storytelling, and trick or treating in the market place.

Visit the Balcony studios (Arlo’s Cabin, Quiet Down There, Sew Fabulous, and Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage) for free workshops on bat making, Halloween crafts, Halloween window transfers, badge making and spooky photography.

Arts organisation Same Sky will mount a creative installation in the market place to create an All Hallows Eve vibe, along with a jampacked afternoon of half term family fun including storytelling, trick or treating (take a bag) and music.

i360, Brighton

BRITISH Airways i360 viewing tower, Midday, October 30

The British Airways viewing tower is on the hunt for all the spookiest pumpkins visitors can provide across four age categories- 5-8, 9-11,12-15 and 16. To take part, participants must bring their finished pumpkins to Wests Beach bar and restaurant in the viewing tower by midday on October 30 itself, with the winners being announced later that day.

Entries must be designed to include a battery operated tea-light as no candles are allowed in the pod.

Winning entrants will have their creations on display throughout the viewing tower. First place in each category will recieve annual passes to the BA i360 worth up to £120, whilst runners up will receive passes worth up to £60.

The eventual pumpkins on the pod display, featuring all the carved pumpkin entires will be available on-deck from October 31 to November 3.

Participation is free.

Notcutts Garden Pride Garden Centre, Ditchling

FAMILIES can enjoy some free half-term fun at Notcutts Garden Pride Garden Centre in Ditchling, with a haunting Halloween activity trail open from Saturday to November 3.

Young ghosts and ghouls of all ages can hunt around the garden centre in Common Lane for spooky characters hiding among the plants, including Billy the bat, Olivia the owl and Peter the pumpkin.

Once all the spooky characters have been found, children can unravel the brain boggling clues and pick up a tasty treat at the end of the trail.

For more information about Notcutts Garden Pride call 01273 846844 or visit notcutts.co.uk.

Tulley's Farm, Crawley

ONE of the biggest and scariest Halloween events in the country is right on our doorstep – but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Tulleys Shocktober Fest Scream Park in Turners Hill, near Crawley, is offering those who are brave enough an immersive experience that is simply too frightening for some.

Open since October 5, this year the event features ten horrifying attractions culminating in a finale night and firework display on November 2.

The “haunts” include Twisted Clowns, The Cellar, The Chop Shop, The Circus of Horrors, Haunted Hayride and The Creepy Cottage.

Street theatre will happen around you as you wander through the park, so you’re not totally safe from terror even when you aren’t in the mazes. There are various activities and places to eat and drink, plus two live music stages.

For an additional charge, visitors can go on a ride called X-HELL-8 where they will be thrown 40 metres into the sky and pulled back to Earth at more than 50 miles an hour.

There is also pumpkin paint ball, face painting and a tarot reader.

Due to the frightening nature of the attractions, it is recommend that under 15-year-olds do not go.

Tickets are £33 per person online and £38 at the gate.

North Laine Halloween trail, Brighton

THERE will be spooky goings-on at Brighton’s North Laine this weekend as shops take part in a family-friendly Halloween trail.

All ages can take part in the Trick-or-Treat Trail which will be returning for 2019.

Organised by Calandra Balfour, co-owner of Lust in Upper Gardner Street, the free event will see shops from Bond Street to Trafalgar Street giving out sweet treats.

Trick-or-treaters young and old can dress up and visit the shops, which will display posters to show they are taking part.

Now in its second year, the family event aims to bring the community together for the popular spooky season.

Last year children collected sweet treats and shop staff wore spooky costumes to greet trick-or-treaters.

Businesses taking part are members of the North Laine Traders Association.

“The reality is most small business owners are working all the hours just to keep their business on track. This event allows us all to feel that we are not alone, there is a limited amount of working together,” Calandra said.

Drusillas Park, Alfriston

SHRIEK Week at Drusillas Park, Alfriston, will take place from this Saturday to Sunday, November 3, with all kinds of scary happenings.

Venture through the creepy cobwebbed corridors of Haunted Heights into the “terror-tory” of sin sisters Hocus and Pocus as they play hide and shriek with the unsuspecting public.

Thrill seekers are invited to knock on the trap door and discover the spook-tacular surprise within.

Scuttle along to the Discovery Centre for some creepy crawly encounters throughout the week and meet some amazing mini monsters.The centre, open between 10.30am and 4.30pm, will be swarming with weird insects, slimy molluscs, scary spiders and experts from the zoo team will be available to answer your questions.

On Wednesday, October 30, the Gruffalo will be joining the Halloween fun, meeting brave visitors in the events arena at throughout the day. Fang-tastically frightening tattoos and face painting will be available, transforming little angels into witches, black cats and monsters.

Brooklands Park, Worthing

FOLLOWING a series of successful events this summer, Worthing Borough Council, working with Fox and Squirrel, invites families to join in a variety of Halloween-themed entertainment on Sunday from 1pm until 4.30pm.

There will be plenty for children of all ages to sink their fanged teeth into, including pumpkin carving, broom making, wand decorating, and cobweb weaving at the amphitheatre at Brooklands Park, the same location which held a series of summer holiday events.

Worthing Borough Council has been working on the master plan for Brooklands Park with its partners to develop the open space into a new adventure park, emphasising learning about science and the natural environment through fun, play and exploration.

Stopping in for a spell on Sunday will be the landscape architects working on the improvements.

Providing a spooky serenade for the crowds will be a choir organised by Paul Ackerley of Creatives Across Sussex, who has the ambition to start a community choir for future singing in the landscape at Brooklands.

Brooklands Park is a large 45-acre open space around an eight acre lake which has recently been restored by dredging, the building of a 105m boardwalk and the introduction of reed beds.

Aldingbourne Country Centre, Bognor

Families are invited to the Aldingbourne Country Centre, north of Bognor, for a half term of Halloween fun.

The woodland walk will give children a chance to spot zombies, ghosts and witches, the pumpkin treasure hunt will allow them to hunt through the woods, looking for a prize treat and children can also enjoy story time and a musical trail on their non-scary Halloween hunt.

Participation in the events is included in the £6 admission fee to the grounds.

For more information about the Aldingbourne Trust Charity and the grounds, visit the website.