Halloween Spooky Walk is returning! Here's all you need to know

The ever-popular Halloween Spooky Walk will be returning to give residents a fright at Preston Park Museum and Grounds next month.

This year's walk takes place on Sunday, October 29 with tickets on sale from Monday, October 2.

The Museum and Grounds will be changed into the remnants of an abandoned theme park, with shadowy structures and hidden surprises.

The evening combines an earlier family-friendly walk and a later walk for adults and children aged 11 and over.

What can I expect at the Spooky Walk? 

Unusual sightings have been reported at Preston Park Museum and Grounds, now an unsettling land of abandonment. Legend has it that the park is cursed and a series of characters have been trapped for eternity. Are you brave enough to enter?  

There are two walks - one especially designed for younger children and their families and one more suited to more thrill-seeking older children and adults.

Some fairground rides and concessions will also be on site to enjoy.

4pm and 5pm walks

This fun and family-friendly trail is aimed at children aged under 11.

For the 4pm walk, families are encouraged to arrive between 4pm and 4.30pm.

And for the 5pm walk, families are encouraged to arrive between 5pm and 5.30pm. 

7pm and 8pm walks

The older trail is aimed at adults and children aged 11 and over.

It includes spooky interventions from a live cast, as well as sounds, lighting and other special effects.

Audiences are encouraged to arrive between 7pm and 7.30pm for the first walk and between 8pm and 8.30pm for the second walk.

Where can I get tickets?

Tickets must be booked in advance and can be bought from 12pm on Monday, October 2, via the Spooky Walk web page.

Tickets cost £4.50 per person and are free for children under five.

There will also be some tickets available to buy at the Enjoy Stockton-on-Tees Shop on Stockton High Street.

Please note there will be no tickets sold in-person at Preston Park this year.

How do I get to there?

Anyone attending the Spooky Walk is strongly advised to take advantage of the shuttle buses in place for the event, which is included in the cost of a ticket.

There's strictly no parking in place at Preston Park or the surrounding residential areas, except for a limited number of disabled parking spaces within the park.

Pick up points for the coaches are:

• Myton Road, Ingleby Barwick (next to Tesco Superstore), TS17 0WA
• Stockton, Church Road (outside the Hilton Hotel), TS18 1AQ
• Yarm High Street (outside Yarm Town Hall), TS15 9AH
• Billingham Town Centre (Stand D near ASDA), TS23 2DD
• Thornaby Town Centre (outside Lidl, TS17 9BQ)

Buses will run frequently on a loop from each stop.

Please arrive at your chosen pick up point with sufficient time to travel to the park and have your email confirmation/ticket ready to show event staff.

Is there anything else I need to know?

The 4pm and 5pm walks are mainly on flat ground and suitable for both pushchairs and wheelchair users. Please ask event staff on the night for any more details should you need them.

However, the later walks take a different route through the woods and some sections are not recommended for wheelchair users or audience members with mobility issues.

The walk may also contain strobe-lighting effects.

The grounds around Preston Park are uneven and lighting levels may vary, so appropriate footwear should be worn. You may also want to bring along a small torch.

What do Councillors think?

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: "The Spooky Walk is always one of our most popular events with residents and tickets always sell extremely fast, so make sure you book quickly when they become available to avoid disappointment.

"The evening promises to be great fun for all ages and a perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit.

"So if you're feeling brave enough, get yourself to Preston Park on October 29!"

Where can I find out more?

More information is available on the Spooky Walk web page.

And for more information on events happening across the area, visit the What's On Tees Valley website.

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