Shenfield’s Spooktacular Halloween event brought spooky energy to Shenfield High Street last Friday; filling it with evil laughter, beastly bubbles, and the unmistakable sound of Beetlejuice causing mild chaos!
Created by Bowerbirdy, in partnership with Brentwood Connected, the event turned the high street into a villainously vibrant mix of games, characters and surprises. With five themed Bowerbirdy activations, plenty of free treats and a story that unfolded as visitors explored, the celebration of Halloween was a showcase of how creative, community-led events can transform a town centre into somewhere people genuinely want to be.
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Nevermore Academy: Wednesday’s Secret Undertaking
Wednesday and Enid set up camp in Shenfield for the Halloween event, based at a “totally normal” popcorn stand. They were there to secretly investigate mysterious happenings on the high street while handing out free popcorn to passers-by as a cover!
Visitors scanned a QR code to join in the mysterious fun through a secret trail. By collecting codewords from each stand, to enter on a special website, they had the chance to win a bundle of Halloween toys. It was a proper covert mission, with excited kids and curious parents chasing clues between snacks.
Who You Gonna Call for a Good Time?
It wouldnât be a Halloween event without the Bowerbirdy Ghostbusters! Families gathered around the famous Ectomobile, meeting the team and checking out all their gear before posing for a photo that they could take home instantly as a free keepsake.
Over at the second Ghostbusters station, the Ecto-2 interactive bike was a hit as always. Children helped the team track down hidden Ecto Eggs, which they then posted into the Ecto Vault on the back of the bike to claim a prize. It was noisy, full of energy, and completely impossible not to smile at. Or at least, an evil grin.
Villain-Con International: A Wickedly Fun Experience
One of the most popular parts of the Halloween event was the Villain-Con International exhibit, where BAD Labs (thatâs Bowerbirdy Advanced Development, or course!) unveiled their latest âevil inventionâ: a prototype villain vehicle complete with with smog machine (which may or may not have been a classic Bowerbirdy LED bubble blaster) and slightly suspicious gadgets and weapons.
Children were invited to help our eccentric inventors come up with a suitably villainous name for the machine, which led to some truly brilliant suggestions, and also take on the piranha tank challenge! Anyone brave enough could plunge their hand into a âtank of piranhasâ to fish out a pack of sweets…
Beetlejuice’s Sweet Sensation
Of course, Beetlejuice wasnât going to miss a huge Halloween event like this! He brought along his wickedly sweet candy floss cart, which attracted huge queues with visitors queuing up for a selfie and a free swirl of green sugar.
His usual unpredictable self, Beetlejuice spent the afternoon joking with families, pulling faces for photos and making sure nobody walked past without a laugh.
A Free Event With a Big Impact
Everything at the Shenfield Spooktacular Halloween Event was completely free to take part in. Working with local partner Brentwood Connected made it possible to offer families an afternoon out that didnât cost a penny but still felt full of value. It brought people back to the high street, encouraged them to pop into local shops and reminded everyone what community spirit looks like.
For us, the event wasnât only about dressing up or handing out sweets. It was about creating shared experiences, sparking imaginations and proving that a well-planned Halloween event can do far more than entertain for an afternoon. It can reconnect people with their town and each other!
Bringing the Magic to Your High Street
The Shenfield Spooktacular showed just how much a bit of creativity and storytelling can transform a public space. Whether itâs a Halloween event, Christmas activation or a summer celebration, when we capture peopleâs attention it brings a whole community to life.
If youâd like to create something just as memorable for your area, get in touch with us. We can help you design an event thatâs engaging, inclusive and full of personality!
