Hallowe’en fun for all the family – ghoul love it
TAKE a look at the superb Hallowe’en-themed events taking place across Southport and West Lancashire this October.
It’s a great way for youngsters and adults to dress up and make the most of the October half term.
There is lots going across across the area, from the Spookport festival in Southport, Happy Hallowe’en at Southport Pleasureland and spooky trains in Hesketh Bank to The Trail of The Lost Tomb at Farmer Ted’s in Downholland.
Spookport Parade and Spookport
Lord Street in Southport will be transformed by a Hallowe’en spectacular this Friday (October 28) as one of the highlights of this year’s Spookport Festival.
A creepy carnival will crawl along Lord Street, starting at Duke Street (shoreside) from 6pm, then turning onto Lord Street. It should take 45mins to one hour and will finish at Leicester Street.
It will see the “demons that have possessed the townsfolk of Southport driven out” with lights and lanterns, with lots of music, dancing and spectacular performances.
Spookport has been brought back to the town by Southport BID, with more ghoulish, gruesome and ghastly goings-on than ever before.
The parade is part of Southport Spookport, a week when Southport is transformed into the Hallowe’en capital of the UK, with terror tours, murder mystery nights, and much more besides. See VisitSouthport.com
Farmer Ted’s Halloweek – and The Trail Of The Lost Tomb
Farmer Ted’s Farm, Flatman’s Lane, Downholland. October 24-30
Join Professor Hetherington Smythe, October 24-30, and explore the Farmer Ted caves in an interactive, family-friendly journey, Trail of the Lost Tomb.
Rumours are that monsters might be lurking around in the shadows but, if you can make it through, you might even find treasure.
During Halloweek you can also enjoy magic shows, fancy dress competitions, pumpkin carving competitions, birds of prey, face painting and, of course, all the fun of the farm!
Phone: 0151 526 0002 or visit www. farmerteds.com/halloweek/
Happy Hallowe’en
Happy Hallowe’en at Southport Pleasureland, October 22-30, will be open every day throughout half-term week.
Expect to see hundreds of pumpkins, bats, spiders, ghostly gardens and more as you walk around the free-to-enter park. Open from 10am each day.
See halloween.southportpleasure land.com/
Wesley Street Scarecrow Festival
Part of Southport’s Spookport Hallowe’en celebrations, Wesley Street traders have revealed their own Scarecrow Festival, with ghoulish characters along the street.
Hallowe’en Party
Enjoy a Hallowe’en Party, 4.306.30pm, on Friday, October 28, Jollies Barn, at The Gravel, in Mere Brow.
Tickets are £10 per child (this includes one aduly only).
Includes food, entrance and entertainment. Call 01772 812309.
Spookport Family Fun Day
Head to Town Hall gardens 1-4pm on Saturday, October 29, for a day of spooky, crafty mischief with The Creation Station Merseyside, Southport.
To celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday, create BFG dream jars and marvellous medicines.
Free activities include all crafts, Fun Science West Lancs, plus 100 free candy flosses from the Pretty Little Sweet Company. Street Beatz will provide musicial entertainment plus
much more.
Half Term Hallowe’en at Rufford Old Hall
Free house every 24-31. Booking not needed. Assistance dogs only are welcome. Gates open 11am, ends 5pm. For more details, please phone the contact number below. Rufford Old Hall, 200 Liverpool Road. Call: 01704 821254. trails and day, in the grounds October
Pumpkin Festival – Martin Mere
October 22-31, WWT Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough.
Pumpkin carving: Create your own spooky face in a pumpkin to take home. 11am-4pm in the Dome.
Pumpkin Hunt: There are 15 carved pumpkins named and hidden in the grounds – find them all for a chance to win prizes.
The trail costs 50p to take part, find all the pumpkins and you will get a special chocolate prize. Last certificate and prize given out at 4pm.
The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Martin Mere: Explore the grounds, but be careful or you may get raspberried by the Phantom as he jumps out on you.
Then join the Phantom every day at 2.30pm for the raspberry blowing competition. The competition is free to enter, with a daily prize given out by the Phantom. Call 01704 895181.
Hallowe’en Party
Playtown, Ocean Plaza, Southport, Friday, October 28, 5pm-7pm.
Tickets cost £9 per child. This will include a hot meal for all children, fancy dress competition, face painting, fun and games, prizes and more.
Call 01704 778444.
Hallowe’en Party
Saturday October 29, 2-4pm at The Buff’s Community Club, Skelmersdale.
There are party games, pumpkins, a spooky disco and a walk through the Tricks & Treats Trail with some surprise guests. Also themed drinks and
Hallowe’en Crafts
Enjoy Hallowe’en-inspired crafts at C’Espresso on Lord Street in Southport 11am-1pm on Saturday, October 29, run by The Creation Station.
Costs £2.50 per child (includes milkshake).
Carve Scary Pumpkins
Enjoy carving scary pumpkins at Stanley Coronation Park on Saturday, October 29, at 10am. Pumpkin carving sessions are also planned for Richmond Park, Burscough, on Saturday, October 29, at 2pm, and Coronation Park, Ormskirk, at 2pm on Sunday, October 30. Booking is essential. To reserve your place, please call 01695 570258 or 01695 622794.
Hallowe’en at The Concourse
Children are invited to get dressed up and head to The Concourse shopping centre in Skelmersdale on Saturday, October 29, where there will be spooky backdrops and decorations, supplied by Pretty Little Things.
Young visitors can get their faces painted for £1.50, get a free SFX Hallowe’en make-up effect, available in West Square by the make-up artist at local store Trimmers, and enjoy some photobooth fun with props from Poundland and Max Spielmann.
Take a selfie in front of the Hallowe’en backdrops around the centre and load them on to the Concourse’s Facebook page or tweet @ shopconcourse with the hashtag #ConcourseHallowe’en to be in with the chance of winning a prize.
There’s also a find the pumpkin competition, with free chocolates.
Young people from the Artz Centre will perform and, in the market hall, dancers from Becki Lou’s Dance Studio will be staging a live Thriller performance at 1pm.
Massarella’s Coffee Shop is holding a Hallowe’en drawing competition 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 29.
Spooky Steam Hallowe’en
West Lancashire Light Railway, on Station Road in Hesketh Bank, is staging a Spooky Steam Hallowe’en event on Sunday, October 30.
Ghost trains depart Becconsall Station at 5.30pm, 6pm and 6.30pm.
Visit www.westlancsrailway.org
Mommas Spooky House
Head down to Mommas House on Shakespeare Street in Southport 1-4pm on Sunday, October 30.
Tickets are £9 which will include entrance for play, spooky snacks, and face painting, plus entrance for best dressed competition.
Hallowe’en Extravaganza at Coronation Park
Be prepared for fantastic frights at Coronation Park, Ormskirk, on Monday October 31.
There are plenty of scary goings on planned between 6-8pm, including spooky walks through the woods with vampires and ghosts.
There is live Hallowe’en music by The Doctors, and Base Dance will perform some spooky dances. There will also be a costumes competition.