Sat. Oct 12th, 2024

Spooktacular Products for Halloween.

Sticker Robots, Vampires & Zombies – brand new sticker packs from SRK just in time for Halloween! These extra-large stickers (each one is approx. 17x10cm) are durable, splash proof and scratch proof. They’ll look great, and last ages, whether decorating your walls or zipping around on skateboards and bikes. www.laurenceking.com

Make Your Own Spaceship – Construct your own spaceships and then launch them into space at hyper speed! This set includes 14 spaceships for you to press out and slot together (no scissors or glue required). Twelve of the craft have been individually decorated by a gang of leading illustrators and artists, the other two are blank and ready for you to add your own inter-galactic designs to. Also included is a bonus sheet of aliens for you to assemble and colour in!

Make & Move: Monsters – Have fiendish fun with this collection of creepy critters, from graveyard ghouls and villainous vampires to spooky skeletons and slippery deep-sea monsters. Each model comes with easy-to-follow assembly instructions, and no scissors or glue are required! Contains nine ready-to-play monsters, plus three to colour in with your own fantastic designs.

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Enjoy a spooky half term stay in an English castle

Augill Castle in Cumbria is providing families with a spectacular spooky place to stay this October half term.  With turrets for wardrobes, claw-footed baths and stained glass windows, the wonderfully informal castle. The only one in the whole of Cumbria to host overnight guests – is offering families the perfect setting for an indulgent stay in the run up to Halloween.

As the children enjoy themselves, grown ups can escape the frights of an intense Half Term and enjoy Great British spirits from the Great British Bar in front of a roaring log fire. They’ll also be spoiled with beautifully majestic rooms, Egyptian cotton linens, homemade biscuits, fresh ground coffee and indulgent toiletries with the option of leisurely walks in the private and peaceful 20 acres of estate. For further information on a spooky stay at Augill Castle please visit  www.stayinacastle.com

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Spooky “Create & Grow” 

Bring the children along to Squire’s this Half-Term 24th-31st October. They can paint a terracotta pumpkin, complete with a fun LED blow out battery operated tea-light (£5.50), or go batty by creating their very own bat ‘Trick or Treat’ bucket (£3.50). Or why not make both! There’s no need to book, simply turn up on the day. There are also FREE activities including a creepy colouring competition and a ghost hunt. Find your nearest Squire’s at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

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Halloween Entertainment at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace Ghost Train Hop on board the Blenheim Palace ghost train which takes you through a creepy tunnel to the Pleasure Gardens where a cackle of witchy goings-on are to be found.

Daily from 22 – 30 October Pumpkin carving, Spooky Tours and storytelling. Park & Gardens ticket required: Adult £14.90 / Child £6.90 (Age 5-16)   www.blenheimpalace.com

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Hair-raising fun at the Halloween Adventure

The spell has been cast for a hair-raising holiday of spooky fun at Stockeld Park this October half term with the return of the Halloween Adventure. The award winning visitor attraction reopens daily with a packed special event programme for all the family from Wednesday 19 to Monday 31 October, 10.30am until 8.30pm.

To celebrate the Autumn festival the team at Stockeld Park have worked their magic to create a spell-binding week of ghoulish goings-on with the return of the real ice skating rink. The Nordic Ski Trail, the Giant Maze, the bewitching Enchanted Forest, Face painting, the Halloween Catwalk?? and Creepy Crafts in the Spooktacular arts and craft zone. For all events, timings and pricing please visit www.stockeldpark.co.uk where you can now book tickets online.

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Halloween Half Term at Pirate’s Quest

The bravest of buccaneers must head to Pirate’s Quest in Newquay this October Half Term (22 – 29 October) for some fiendish family-friendly fun! Join Captain Calico Jack and the rest of legendary crew for a family friendly adventure as they embark on a spooky swashbucklin’ voyage through eerie Cornish coves.

There’s no need to fear, the LIVE pirates are guaranteed to keep visitors on the safe path throughout their exciting journey. Families can join in the ghoulish fun with a special spooky treasure map, follow the hidden pumpkins to claim some of Calico Jack’s cursed treasure! Don’t be afraid to dress up, it’s optional but most welcome. Advance booking is recommended, book online at piratesquest.co.uk or call 01637 873379.

Not for transmission or publication without express permission of the copyright owner, Simon Burt

Trick or Treat this Halloween with I Just Love It

Ghouls and goblins, monsters and mummies; once again, it’s almost the time of year when a knock on the door after dark means the trick or treaters have arrived, and if you don’t give them treats, the fear of getting tricked is all too real.

Personalised Trick or Treat Spooky Bag  £9.99 Ghouls and goblins, monsters and mummies; once again, it’s almost the time of year when a knock on the door after dark means the trick or treaters have arrived, and if you don’t give them treats, the fear of getting tricked is all too real.

Dress Up Horror Fridge Magnets  £7.99 If you’re not particularly keen on the day, but want to add a small token of the holiday to your home, these Dress Up Horror Fridge Magnets are perfect. Each pack contains 35 magnets which can be placed on top of photos to give them a horrifying makeover. Dress up friends and family with a new monster-inspired look, although we recommend not putting the witch broom under any pictures of your mother-in-law!

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Treetop Trek

There’s plenty of room on the broom at Treetop Trek in the Lake District this Halloween There will be plenty of room on the broom this Halloween at Treetop Trek in the heart of the Lake District, as all little witches and wizards will be treated to a free ‘flight’ in honour of the spooky occasion.

Those wanting to extend their Treetop adventure can enjoy a one hour Mini Trek from £18 per person and swing, climb, balance and fly through the ancient oak woodland canopy. To find out more and book places, please call 015394 47186.  To find out more about Treetop Trek please visit www.treetoptrek.co.uk

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Family Fright Night at the National Marine Aquarium

This Halloween the National Marine Aquarium is creaking open its doors to give visitors an eerie night of tricks and treats. On Saturday 29th October, those brave enough to come, will be transported around the Aquarium in the dark of night learning about all the sea-faring ghost stories the murky depths have to offer.

The Halloween themed Family Fright Night will be an evening of ghosts, ghouls and ocean myths starting at 6.30pm and running to 10.30pm.  Families will be able to enjoy a creepy array of activities including; petrifying pumpkin carving, terrifying trick or treating and fearsome face painting, as well as a terrifically frightening Fright Night Show. Visitors are invited to wear their most fearful fancy dress costumes and prizes will be given for the best and bravest outfits. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £7 for children. www.national-aquarium.co.uk

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Horrible Halloween  Ewell Walk On the Dark Side

Thurs 27 October 2pm to 3.30pm Mon 31 October 7.30pm – 9pm Tues 1 November 7.30pm – 9pm Discover Ewell’s dark past and remember the tales that some would rather forget.  Learn about the terrible exploding gunpowder mills and visit the graveyard of St Mary’s where the victims rest in peace.  As you walk around the village discover the folk who lived locally and just won’t stay dead!  Hear tales of witches and horrible murder, funerals without a body, tragic coach crashes and ghosts!

Gather your courage and tread in the footsteps of the 19th-century body snatchers, visit where they plied their grisly trade, learn why a vicar pulled down his own church!

£5 per person. Meet in the foyer of Bourne Hall Places limited  020 8394 1734.  dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/BourneHallMuseumClub.html

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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