Hallowe’en fun and games across Arran

Arran enjoyed lots of Hallowe’en fun, in spite of pandemic restrictions. Brodick early years children are seen here with lots of brilliant costumes – from dinosaurs to princesses and the cookie monster.

While the pandemic may have scuppered plans for the traditional Hallowe’en parties around Arran this year, it could not stop the enthusiasm of children (and adults) who continued to celebrate the popular occasion with small, local dressing up and themed events.

Children around the island enjoyed dressing up as their favourite characters – from superheroes, witches, ghouls, ghosts and zombies to fairytale princesses – at school events instead of the usual village hall parties attended by large numbers.

Some schools added to the excitement with special Hallowe’en-themed lunches and those that were able to provided additional themed activities such as games, dancing and various activities that could take place safely within the confines of the regulations.

At Arran High School teachers made a special effort at celebrating the occasion with faculty members and pupils dressing up for the day while also enjoying a Hallowe’en-themed lunch at the canteen and a Hallowe’en quiz for house points.

Lamlash Primary pupils enjoyed an afternoon of activities ranging from dodgeball, pumpkin crafting to a ‘protect the egg’ challenge, which also saw pupils earning points for their colour house.

Pupils also enjoyed outdoor activities with a flash mob, including pupils from P1 to P7, taking part in a ‘Thriller’ dance.

Across Arran all schools and Early Years providers helped to ensure that children still continued to enjoy Hallowe’en celebrations in some form or another and, although on a smaller scale than usual, it was a welcome respite from the unusual times they are all experiencing and a return to some familiar fun.

Here is a round up of some of the school events from around the island.

Clockwise from above: Pirnmill primary pupils from P1 to P7 celebrated Hallowe’en with a dress-up day; Teachers at Arran High School set a perfect example with their Hallowe’en costumes; Whiting Bay primary pupils enjoy some afternoon sunshine at their dress up day; A ghoulish gathering of P1 to P4 pupils at Kilmory primary; A motley crew of older pupils at Whiting Bay primary.

Above: Skeletons were a popular theme with this group at Whiting Bay primary school.

Left: P6/7 pupils at Brodick primary get into the Hallowe’en spirit with a number of fun activities and events.

Arran High School pupils embrace the groovy hippy lifestyle of the 60s.

Wee witches, a bee and a minion join teachers at Kilmory Early Years.

Clockwise from above: An impressive costume from one of the faculty members at Arran High; Shiskine primary P3 pupils put on a scary display for the camera; P1 pupils at Shiskine primary show off their costumes; Whiting Bay primary pupils try their best to look scary; P3 and P4 pupils at Brodick primary made an extra special effort with their costumes this year.

Pupils at Lamlash primary enjoyed a number of Hallowe’en-themed games and fun activities.

P6 pupils from Shiskine primary dress up as their favourite characters.