Issue #006 | Saturday 31st October 2026 | Halloween, family trails and bonfires coming up
High Street, East Grinstead. Photo: Paul Farmer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Good morning, East Grinstead! Pop the kettle on: here's what's happening in town today.
It's Halloween, and after a misty start it should be another dry, sunny day. The Record Fair is on at Trinity Methodist Church this morning, and there's plenty for families, from the Bluebell Railway to Rowfant Trail and Standen.
If there's something happening in town you think we should cover, email us at [email protected].
Grant
In this East Grinstead Guide issue
🌤️ Today's weather
🎃 Halloween - Trick or treat, trails and parties
🌱 Community - The Garden Army needs a new home
🚧 Traffic - Getting around this weekend and next week
📅 What's on this weekend
🎆 Coming up - Bonfire Night and next week in town
🏆 Voting - Have your say: Best of East Grinstead 2026
Looking for a local business? Find shops and services on the East Grinstead Guide website.
1. Today's weather
BBC Weather says this morning's mist and fog should lift by mid-morning in most places, leaving a dry, largely sunny afternoon with light winds. Expect a high of 14°C and a low of 6°C. Visibility is poor in the mist this morning, so take care if you're driving early. Sunrise is at 6.50am and sunset at 4.36pm.
Sunday starts with mist and fog, then patchy cloud and sunny spells, with some rain arriving late in the afternoon and a high of about 12°C.
Full forecast: BBC Weather
2. Trick or treat, trails and parties - Halloween
If you're heading out trick or treating tonight, the Trick or Treat Map shows homes that are happy to have callers. The Sussex Express reports that homes in East Grinstead have signed up, so you can plan a route to doors that are expecting you.
A few highlights today (full details in What's on below):
Photo: Petr Kratochvil, public domain
Bluebell Railway - Halloween crafts on the 11.30am and 2pm trains from East Grinstead, and children travel for £1.
Rowfant Trail - the Hedgehog Trail by day, and a glow-in-the-dark HalGLOWeen walk from 5pm (pre-book only).
The Old Dunnings Mill - kids' disco from 3pm and trick or treating from 7pm.
Light Party - Jubilee Community Church's evening for 10 to 14 year olds, celebrating Jesus, the Light of the world.
Fireworks tonight - Crawley RFC's Halloween and Firework Night, from 6.30pm.
3. The Garden Army needs a new home - Community
Countryside near West Hoathly (not the farm itself). Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Garden Army, the care farm at West Hoathly that helps people manage their mental health through farming and growing, says it could close unless it finds a new site within a year. Founder Tom Morphew told BBC News the landlord plans to change the use of the land, and the team has "11 months to take down everything, pack it up, and move it to a new site".
About 60 adults with mental health needs or additional needs, and about 16 children, go to the farm each week. It needs at least 10 acres, ideally with outbuildings, mains electricity and water, on a long-term tenancy of 10 to 15 years.
4. Getting around this weekend and next week - Traffic
Roads
College Lane is closed from Old Road northwards to De La Warr Road until Friday 6 November, while the gas mains are replaced. Allow extra time if you're heading to Chequer Mead.
Garland Road is closed to southbound traffic for 40 metres south of the London Road (A22) junction until Tuesday 10 November.
Coming up: Church Lane will be closed from the High Street to St Swithuns Close from Monday 9 to Friday 20 November for gas mains work. Road notices
Questions about road closures: West Sussex County Council Contact Centre, 01243 642105.
Trains
Today and Sunday: engineering works at London Bridge. There are no Southern trains between London Bridge and East Croydon via New Cross Gate or Sydenham, and most Thameslink trains are diverted and won't call at London Bridge. National Rail
Monday 2 to Thursday 5 November, late evenings: the 11.22pm from London Victoria to East Grinstead ends at East Croydon, with a rail replacement bus on to Oxted and East Grinstead. National Rail
5. What's on this weekend - What’s On
Event times and prices can change, so check the link before you go.
Saturday 31 October
Bluebell Railway, East Grinstead station. Photo: Bob Walters, CC BY-SA 2.0
East Grinstead Record Fair - 9am to 3pm, Trinity Methodist Church, Lingfield Road, RH19 2HA. Free entry and free parking. New and secondhand vinyl and CDs, and the last fair of 2026.
Halloween on the Bluebell Railway - Halloween crafts on the 11.30am and 2pm trains from East Grinstead, plus Halloween bingo with Felix the Wizard. Fancy dress welcome, and you can bring a pumpkin to Kingscote for the display. Children aged 3 to 15 travel for £1 with a paying adult (up to four), under-3s free.
Hedgehog Trail at Rowfant Trail - 9.30am to 4pm (last entry 2.30pm), Rowfant Business Park, Wallage Lane, RH10 4NQ. Adults £3, children £4.50. No booking, dogs on short leads welcome. Today is the last day.
Spookiful at Standen - 10am to 3.30pm, Standen House and Garden, West Hoathly Road, RH19 4NE. A spooky but not scary garden trail, £3 with a small gift. Normal admission applies, no booking.
The Addams Family, COS Musical Theatre - 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Chequer Mead Theatre, De La Warr Road. Tickets £23, or £21.50 for under-16s. Box office 01342 302000. Final day.
Halloween at The Old Dunnings Mill - Dunnings Road, RH19 4AT. Kids' disco 3pm to 4.30pm with prizes for the best outfits, then trick or treating 7pm to 8pm while stocks last. Questions: 01342 821080.
Light Party with Jubilee Community Church - 4.30pm to 7.30pm, Jubilee Community Centre, Charlwoods Road. For ages 10 to 14, with team games, pizza, a glow-in-the-dark disco and a prize for the craziest hat or wig. Sign up online.
HalGLOWeen at Rowfant Trail - from 5pm (pick a time slot when you book), Wallage Lane, RH10 4NQ. A glow-in-the-dark woodland walk, £9 for adults and children. Pre-booking only, no dogs, and not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Halloween and Firework Night at Crawley RFC - 6.30pm to 10.30pm, Willoughby Fields Pavilion, Crawley. Adults £11, children 5 to 15 £7, family tickets £27 (2 adults, 2 children) or £35 (2 adults, 3 children). Online sales close at 8.30pm.
Sunday 1 November
Halloween on the Bluebell Railway - last day, crafts on the 11.30am and 2pm trains from East Grinstead. Children 3 to 15 travel for £1 with a paying adult.
Spookiful at Standen - last day, 10am to 3.30pm, West Hoathly Road, RH19 4NE. Trail £3, normal admission applies.
Brunch by The Garden Chef at Missing Link Brewing - 10am to 2pm, The Old Dairy, Chiddinglye Farm, Selsfield Road, RH19 4QS.
6. Bonfire Night and next week in town - Coming up
Bonfires and fireworks nearby
Lindfield Bonfire - Thursday 5 November. Procession 7.30pm, bonfire 8.15pm, fireworks 8.30pm on Lindfield Common. Free. Roads close 6.30pm to 9.30pm, so walk in if you can.
Fireworks Night at Lingfield Park - Thursday 5 November, gates 4.30pm, 6pm to 7pm, Racecourse Road, RH7 6PQ. Standard tickets have sold out. Premier Viewing tickets (£29 adults, £15 children 4 to 12) were still showing.
Edenbridge Bonfire - Saturday 7 November. Procession 6.30pm, fireworks 8.30pm, road closed 6pm to 10pm.
Dunorlan Park Fireworks, Tunbridge Wells - Saturday 7 November. Gates 5.30pm, fireworks 7pm, under-5s free. Buy tickets from the official ticket site. The advance prices ended on Friday night, so check the current price when you book.
Next week in town
Tuesday 3 November - East Grinstead Jazz Club with Greg Abate, 7.30pm, Chequer Mead.
Wednesday 4 November - Tenors Unlimited: Great Songs Show, 7.30pm, Chequer Mead.
Thursday 5 November - Farmers' Market, 9am to 2pm, Market Square, High Street, outside Broadleys. And Chequer Mead's 30th Birthday Gala, 7pm.
Saturday 7 November - Winter Fair at Chequer Mead, 10am, free entry.
7. Have your say: Best of East Grinstead 2026 - Ballot
Image: East Grinstead Guide, adapted from 'East Grinstead High Street' by Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0
Know something that's happening in town? Email us at [email protected] and tell us. You can also join us in the East Grinstead Guide Facebook group.
Find local businesses, shops and services on the East Grinstead Guide website.
New on the guide: we've added an FAQ page to the East Grinstead Guide website, with answers to common questions.
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Have a lovely Halloween weekend,
Grant
Want to feature your business or sponsor the newsletter? Email us at [email protected].