FREE THRILLS AT HALF-TERM

HUBBLE bubble, toil and trouble! There are lots of spooky events taking place over October half term that you can enjoy for free.

As the cost of living continues to rise, fortunately there are attractions, shopping centres and museums across Birmingham and the Black Country that are putting on events you can enjoy without having to spend any money.

n Apparently the witches are taking over the Swan Shopping Centre in Yardley on Sunday, October 30.

From 11am to 4pm, there will be lots of spooky goings on with little witches and wizards encouraged to turn up in fancy dress and get crafty making their own magical hat to complete their outfits.

The Swan’s resident witch will be performing her live cauldron show and teaching spells that everyone can join in with. And there’s a witch trail around the centre, with spooky characters to look out for along the way.

n The Exchange on Broad Street, run by University of Birmingham, has a whole range of free activities for families to enjoy over October half term. Running from Wednesday, October 26 to Friday, October 28, you can make Diya lamps for Diwali and learn about traditional Indian pattern design, or have a go making a colourful Rangoli pattern using everyday objects.

There’s also a Giant Home Draw, which offers a chance to take part in a giant drawing inspired by the idea of home.

n Spooktastic megastore Halloween House is back by popular demand at Merry Hill Shopping Centre. There are spooky surprises around every corner and shoppers are welcome to take selfies with their favourite horror movie characters in the store’s eerie cemetery scene, visit the Butcher Shop and a sinisterlooking Pennywise who is up to no good with Georgie.

Stranger Things fans will be pleased to find a new collection of merchandise from the hit Netflix series too.

n Love trick or treating? There will be Trick or Shriek stations dotted around New Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich on Sunday, October 30. Each station will be offering a Halloween experience and a tasty treat together with some spooky characters along the way.

There’s also Count Drac’s cookie class and Dr Frank’s Laboratory for some hands-on mad science