How to have a spooktacular Halloween
Plan for a terrifying treat at one of these spectacularly spooky events in the East Midlands
IF you love nothing more than being completely scared out of your wits, October is the perfect time of year to do it. And there’s a plethora of fun family events planned for Halloween, especially if your little ones enjoy dressing up and really getting into the “spirit” of the occasion (warning - there could be many more bad puns like this later in the article). We’ve rounded up some of the most hair-raising stuff happening around the East Midlands to mark October 31. GHOST TOURS National Justice Museum, Nottingham October 20, 26 and 30, from 6pm Take a chilling character-led tour of this amazing building, walking in the steps of those who were condemned, imprisoned or executed there down the centuries. Voted the “most haunted building in the UK” you’ll hear some truly strange tales and chilling stories in an event lasting 60 minutes. Not suitable for children aged under 16 years. Tickets £10.95. www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk SPOOKTACULAR SATURDAY Saturday October 27, Hinckley Town Centre, 10am-3pm Come and enjoy a fang-tastic day out in Haunted Hinckley. Hinckley’s second Halloween event offers fun for all the family in the Market Place. Come into town in your Halloween costumes with prizes for the best dressed and best carved pumpkin - bring in your carved pumpkin and display in the market. 2017 Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist ‘Hoop Guy’ will be entertaining the crowds with themed stilt-walking. There will also be pumpkin bowling, Halloween crafts, scary stories in the Mead with Tom the Tale Teller, freaky face painting, Fosse 107, creepy crepes, pumpkin lattes and more. All activities are completely free. SCAREFEST Alton Towers, Staffordshire October 6-November 2 There are spooks, frights and thrills for everyone this year as the region’s biggest theme park holds its annual Halloween special - with rides open until 9pm, brilliant live shows, four “scare mazes” and plenty for younger visitors too. The hotel resort has lots of special offers on (including a second day free at the theme park) and there will be fun with colourful characters such as Gretyl the witch. Also, look out for the CBeebies Monster’s Ball and prepare yourself for the ultimate challenge as you take on the mighty Wicker Man rollercoaster ride. Theme park tickets from £33 per person online. www.altontowers.com SCREAMFEST National Forest Adventure Farm Tattenhill, Burton-upon-Trent October 11-November 3 Enjoy - if that’s the right word - no less than five super scary attractions specially developed for Halloween season, with live entertainment, extreme performers, DJ sets and paintball thrown in for good measure. Choose from delightful experiences such as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) or Insomnia - where you’re invited to enter a child’s worst nightmare. Or how about Love Hurts, where you might get to meet your soul mate at a speed dating night with a difference? Sign us up now. Tickets range from £9-25 online. www.screamfest.co.uk FAMILY SCREAM PARK / XTREME SCREAM PARK Twinlakes, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire October 13-November 4 There’s a fangtastic line up of family fun at this popular venue this Halloween, including pumpkin carving, wicked craft workshops, ghouls, ghosts and more. Don fancy dress and enjoy Fruity the Witch’s trick or treat wagon, or meet Marty the Monster and have a dance at his silly disco. Meanwhile, for older guests, the awardwinning Xtreme Scream Park is back until October 31 - with a full night of frights for brave souls aged 16 years and over, including scare mazes with lovely names like, Hoodoo Voodoo, The Village and the Ash Hell Penitentiary. Cripes. General admission £20, Xtreme Scream Park tickets from £20.99. www.twinlakespark.co.uk LIL’ PARK OF HORRORS Wheelgate Park, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire Family friendly Halloween fun, with pumpkin painting and carving, magic workshops, broomstick flying masterclasses, and meet and greet sessions with Milly the friendly monster and Grizelda the naughty witch. There’s also a chance to take part in a Halloween Owl Walk on October 26, as the falconry team lead a tour of the venue - with glow sticks provided. Tickets £12.48 online www.wheelgatepark.com MONSTER MAGIC Gulliver’s Kingdom, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire October 13-31 There’s lots of great activities for younger children on offer at the theme park in the run up to Halloween, including trick or treating, costume parties and a Scare School. Get your picture taken on stage and, on selected dates, meet characters from Hotel Transylvania 3. Tickets from £17.95 online. www.gulliversfun.co.uk GHOST HUNT Leicester Castle, Leicester October 20, from 8pm Join paranormal investigators from the Haunted Heritage team at this overnight jolly inside the historic venue, which has seen 800 years of drama and intrigue and hosted the likes of Richard III. It was also the scene of many trials, imprisonment and executions - but what vibes will you be picking up during your stay? Tickets £25. www.hauntedheritage.co.uk DRACULA’S GHOST The Guildhall, Leicester October 20, 11am Find out the real story of Dracula in this new stage show, performed by Jonathan Goodwin. Part of the terrifying Don’t Go Into the Cellar series of macabre Victorian theatre experiences.
Tickets from £8. www.dontgointothecellar.com HALLOWEEN MONSTER HUNT Rufford Abbey, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire October 20-November 4, 10.30am-4pm The rangers are investigating some weird goings on at the park and they need plenty of help to track down the culprits. Follow the map into the creepy woods and see what’s lurking there. £2 per map. www.parkwoodoutdoors.co.uk HALLOWEEN TOURS Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire October 25, 29, 30 and 31, from 6pm Book a spooky evening tour focussing on the fascinating “apotropaic marks” - otherwise known as witch’s marks - scattered around the masonry and woodwork of this fabulous old building. Find out about their origins, purpose and the motivation of the unknown individuals who created them and step back in time to understand something about the lives of these superstitious former residents. Tours begin with a welcoming Halloween cocktail and sweet treat. Places are limited. Tickets £29 online. www.haddonhall.co.uk THE HAUNTED HALL The Guildhall, Leicester October 25-26 Join the ghosts of the Guildhall for a fun family event, featuring creepy crafts and treacherous trails. Look out for the Barber Surgeon on Friday as he administers some gruesome treatments to cure toothache, fever and ghastly infections - appointments available throughout the day. Tickets £3. There’s also a triple bill of scary films at the venue on October 28, comprising Disney’s Coco (PG), Carry On Screaming (PG) and The Old Dark House (PG) - tickets are £7 per person or two films for £10 www.leicester.gov.uk OLD MARKET SCARE Old Market Square, Nottingham October 26-31 Prepare for the ride of your life as Nottingham’s Old Market Square plays host to the biggest ghost train in the UK as part of a fun event to mark the witching season. There will also be a walk-through haunted house and you’ll get the chance to have your photo taken in full fancy dress with a giant pumpkin. How could you refuse? With live entertainment on October 31 and a fully stocked bar to calm your nerves. Entrance free. www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk FRIGHT NIGHT Bolsover Castle, Chesterfield, Derbyshire October 26-31, 6pm-9.30pm It’s 1666 and England is in the grips of the Great Plague. Residents of this historic castle are dying off one by one – first the fever, then the headaches, vomiting and chills. Rats are scuttling through the building and there’s an air of death everywhere. Have you got what it takes to brave the castle after dark? Bring your own torches and explore a venue where nobody is safe. Not suitable for children under 12 years. Tickets £8. www.english-heritage.org.uk HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR National Forest Adventure Farm October 26-November 4 For those who aren’t quite brave enough to handle the theme park’s main Screamfest event, perhaps this friendlier family oriented celebration might be more suitable. There’ll be pumpkin picking, broomstick training, a Scare School, a Mummy Maze and storytelling fun with some silly witches. Tickets from £11.25 online. www.adventurefarm.co.uk DEAD AND BREAKFAST Derby QUAD October 27 Prepare for a thrilling evening watching five of the scariest films ever made - starting with The Excorcist at 8pm and going straight through the night with Ringu, The Lift, Aliens and Jason X. If you survive the ordeal, you’ll be treated to a delicious breakfast (if you can stomach it by then, that is). Tickets £25. www.derbyquad.co.uk HALLOWEEN HALF TERM HOOT Chatsworth, Derbyshire October 27-November 4 The famous stately home will be turned into a veritable house of horrors throughout the half term holidays this year, with terrible treats, evil entertainment and devilish delights around every corner. Experience the abandoned tunnel attraction, listen to scary tales or search for hidden pumpkins. You can also join in creepy crafts and ride the “fright flight” into Warlock Woods, where you’ll meet a further array of colourful characters. Adult tickets from £23 for full access to house, garden farmyard and playground. www.chatsworth.org CREEPY CRAWLY TRAIL Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood, Ashbourne, Derbyshire October 27-November 4 Sid the Sudbury Spider has hidden Halloween decorations in webs around the grounds, the little tinker. Can you help find them? Count how many spiders you can spot in this self-led trail around the lovely grounds. Adult tickets from £18.60 for non members. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sudbury-hall-andthe-national-trust-museum-of-childhood HALLOWEEN GHOST HUNT Beaumanor Hall, Charnwood Forest, Leicester October 27, from 9pm Another spooky night of fun from the Haunted Heritage team, this time inside a venue that dates back to the 13th century - where numerous paranormal sightings have been reported (including someone called Martha in the cellars). Yikes. Tickets £38.50. www.hauntedheritage.co.uk SPOOKTACULAR SATURDAY Hinckley town centre October 27, 10am-4pm Head into town in full fancy dress for a traditional celebration, with prizes for the best costume, pumpkin carving, freaky face painting, scary stories, magic tricks, creepy crafts, stilt walkers and lots more. Free. www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk HALLOWEEN AT SUNDOWN Sundown Adventureland, Retford, Nottinghamshire October 27-November 4 Take part in spooky but thankfully never scary fun at this theme park for little ones. Tickets from £16 online. www.sundownadventureland.co.uk MEET THE GHOSTS Nottingham Industrial Museum, Wollaton Park, Nottingham October 27, 7.30pm-9.30pm Look around this great museum and see items, including old carriages and steam engines, which are full of spooky history. With a free glass of wine or tea/coffee. Not suitable for children under 14 years. Tickets £15.50. www.madameparboiledink.weebly.com FAMILY HALLOWEEN NIGHTS October 29-31, from 6.30pm Conkers, Swadlincote, Derbyshire Dare you step inside the haunted woods or take a trip on the runaway train heading into the night? There’s plenty to terrify you at this bracing outdoor venue - but don’t worry, there’s fun stuff on offer for little ones too, including an ugly bugs’ disco, fancy dress, crafts and The Flip & Dippy Show (not a clue). Tickets from £7.95. www.visitconkers.com GHOST WALK Bosworth Battlefield October 30, from 7pm The Haunted Heritage team are back and this time they’re wrapping up warm to lead a walk around a historic location, where many a ghostly encounter has been reported. With a short presentation and a chance to use bonafide ghost detecting equipment. Tickets £15. www.hauntedheritage.co.uk PUMPKIN PARTY Calke Abbey, Derbyshire October 31, 11am-3.30pm Buy a home grown pumpkin from the abbey’s own gardens (or bring one with you) and decorate it so you can add to the seasonal display. Adults tickets from £15.50 for non members. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey