Halloween falls next Thursday – half-term for lots of kids around the Uk, so the trick or treaters will be out in force! Visit www.netmums.co.uk for local-to-you activities, bake a few spooky goodies or take a trip to one of these freaky activities below!
Tulleys Farm, West Sussex
This theme park specialises in Halloween and has an entire ‘Spooktoberfest’ at the par. It includes a ‘Boo Barn’ and a ‘Horrid Hayride’. Prices vary but a family ticket costs £49.95 -booking advised. Visit www.tulleysfarm.com.
Ham House and Garden, Surrey
This palatial mansion dating from the 18th century is a perfectly spooky setting for ghostly garden trails and arts and crafts between 26-31 October. Kids go free if accompanied by a paying adult and family ghost tours are available. Half term Halloween fun, 26-31 October 11am-5pm. Booking is not required, for more information please call 020 8940 1950 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more Halloween ideas.
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
Crime, punishment and medieval surgery, 26-27 October, 11am-4pm
Are you brave enough for a little 'medieval surgery'? Or would you prefer to be a criminal in medieval times? Join "Happening History" for a gruesome weekend, with gory talks and demonstrations on medieval surgery and learn about the horrific fate of medieval criminals.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not required for this event, for more information please call 01580 830196 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Fright Night, Sheffield
The locals claim this is the Britain’s biggest Halloween party, attracting 40,000 people onto the streets of Sheffield. There’s something for everyone and this year’s attractions include exploding pumpkins and a T-Rex dinosaur! This is a free event on Sunday 27th October which runs from 3.30pm until 8.30pm, minimum age, 5. For more information visit www.smiffyshalloween.com.
Trick or treating? Keep safe
There’s safety in numbers – never go out alone and children should always be with an adult – at least one adult for every five children.
If you have teenagers who want to trick or treat, warn it can be intimidating to have groups of teens coming to do the door. Advise them to stick to their ‘rounds’ before 9pm.
Wear something reflective – at lot of shop-bought costumes have this these built-in (especially the witches hats). Anything which alerts drivers to children on a dark road helps.
Never let children into a stranger’s home and if you’re accompanying a group of children, always stay within site of the front door so you can be seen by the homeowner.
Things to make and do - on the cheap!
Visit your local McColls, Martins or RS McColls newsagents nationwide and buy a Halloween magazine for £1. Packed with ideas for spooky parties, recipes and costume ideas, 50p goes to charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Play ‘Hunt the Eyeball’ with trick or treaters when they visit you! Fill a large pot with cooked spaghetti and some ping pong balls (‘eye’ decoration optional). For more free games ideas visit www.familycrafts.com.
Off to a party? Carve a non-traditional pumpkin – find stencils for free at pumpkin glow.com, everyone from Star Wars’ stormtroopers to Elvis visit www.pumpkinglow.com (traditional stencils available too).
Dish up some spooky treats – Wright’s (available at Sainsbury's) have introduced some super-simple new cake mixes just add water and oil – the easiest baking ever!
Halloween cup cakes
Ingredients:
Method (makes 12 muffins):
Place the toffee mix, water and oil into a bowl and mix for 1-2 minutes.
Line a standard 12 muffin tray tin with muffin cases.
Divide the mixture between the 12 cases.
Bake in a preheated oven 180°C (360°F) gas mark 5 for 20-22 minutes until golden in colour and firm to the touch.
Allow to cool completely before decorating.
Sift the icing sugar into a bowl and add the water.
Beat until smooth and creamy for about 4-5 minutes and add the food colouring drop by drop to achieve an orange colour.
Add marshmallows, black and orange sprinkles or black icing for a spider web effect.
For more inspirational recipes, please visit: www.wrightsflour.co.uk
Frogspawn punch!
Method
Make up 2 x 135g packs lime jelly according to the instructions, pour into shallow trays and place in the fridge for an hour to set.
When the jelly has set, cut 4 kiwi fruit, peeled, into large chunks, removing the white pith. Reserve a few slices and place the rest in a blender with the juice of 2 limes and 750ml lemonade and whizz for 30 secs or until the kiwi has blended well.
Cut the jelly into small cubes and place in the bottom of a punch bowl.
Pour the kiwi mixture over, adding 1.25 litres lemonade. Garnish with the reserved kiwi slices