2026 Event 🔨

Follow along as the walk-through comes together — from scaffolding going up to the final scare test before event weekend.

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7 October 2026
We've made the news!
A massive thank you to Southend Today for featuring Dexter's Halloween and telling the story behind what Dexter has been building — the increasingly ridiculous collection of animatronics, our giant gargoyle, this year's £3,000 target for Little Havens Children's Hospice, our brilliant sponsors and the England v Croatia Wembley raffle. For a 13-year-old who started out putting Halloween decorations outside the house, seeing his event featured like this is pretty special. Have a read and please share it — every share helps us reach more people and hopefully raise even more for Little Havens!
Read the Southend Today article 📰
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7 October 2026
Dexter and Casper with the new animatronics!
Dexter and Casper have been getting to know the fantastic new animatronics donated by Mad About Horror — the pumpkin scarecrow, the skeleton digger and the creepy doll are all ready to scare this year's visitors!
Dexter and Casper on the platform with the pumpkin scarecrow, the skeleton digger and the creepy doll
Dexter and Casper with the new Mad About Horror animatronics
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7 October 2026
The gargoyle has been decorated!
The gargoyle's platform now has its spooky backdrop, hanging vines, chains and lights in place above the walk-through entrance. Another part of this year's display is coming together!
Dexter giving a thumbs up on the platform beside the gargoyle
The decorated gargoyle, with glowing red eyes, chains and hanging vines
The decorated platform above the walk-through entrance
The gargoyle display outside Queens Road as the evening sky turns golden
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6 October 2026
Unboxing Mad About Horror's donation!
Mad About Horror have donated a bundle of animatronics to this year's walk-through — press play to watch Dexter open one of the new arrivals and meet our latest scare.
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5 October 2026
Thanks to Mike and his team!
A huge thank you to Mike and his team at TG Scaffolding, who worked for two days to get this complete. Dexter got to meet the crew who built our amazing walkthrough — and the gargoyle even came down to say hello.
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4 October 2026
The gargoyle lives!
The gargoyle is up on the scaffolding and fully wired — red eyes glowing and wings spread wide above the walk-through entrance. Press play to see him come to life as darkness falls.
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3 October 2026
Scaffolding phase 1 goes up!
Phase 1 of the scaffolding is up on the deck — the skeleton of this year's walk-through is in place. Watch the time-lapse to see it come together.
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2 October 2026
Walking the planned route
A quick walk-through of the route we've planned for this year, taped out on the decking so you can follow the exact path visitors will take — and see where the scares will be waiting.
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October 2026
The route is taped out on the deck!
The walk-through route is now taped out on our decking, so you can see exactly where visitors will walk and where the scares will be. Next step: the scaffolding goes up and it really starts to take shape!
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October 2026
Route planning — taped out on the deck!
This year's walk-through route is planned out on paper and taped out on our decking, ready for the scaffolding going up tomorrow. It's starting to look real now!
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September 2026
The cast is assembling
The clowns have arrived and they're already creeping everyone out on the deck. Costumes and characters are coming together — this year's line-up might be the scariest yet.
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September 2026
Props out of storage!
The garage has been emptied and the props are out. Gravestones, skeletons, cobwebs and boxes of horrors are being sorted, tested and prepped for the walk-through.
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September 2026
Planning is underway!
We're back for 2026 and this year's target is £3,000 for Little Havens Children's Hospice. The plans are drawn up and the scaffolding goes up soon. Follow along here!