This year Halloween falls in half term, so there’s loads of spooky fun to be had. We’ve rounded up some activities and trips to keep you busy…
Haunted hunt
Join the pumpkin hunt in Hailsham, which is run by the children’s hospice Demelza. You’ll get your own pumpkin passport and have to pick up stamps and treats along the trail. Don’t forget to dress up as there’s a prize for best-dressed! 31 October 11am-2pm. It costs £5 for one child and two adults.
Pumpkin patch
Sharnfold Farm in Pevensey is a must this time of year. There’s a multicoloured pumpkin patch (all for sale), a farm and playground…and it’s free! There’s also a special pumpkin carving activity and spellbinding trail throughout half term for £4.95 per child.
Bikeability
The school runs are getting darker, so knowing how to stay safe and be seen is vital. Eastbourne Cycle Centre is running Bikeability courses all week, for individuals and groups of all levels. They teach you to stay safe on the road and improve cycling. Most importantly, they’re lots of fun! Find out more and book.
Top tip: over the half term buy some reflective stickers and add them to school bags, helmets, bikes, pushchairs and scooters to make sure you can be seen as it gets darker.
Lego lab
Head to the Lego lab at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery on 29 October. Get creative making Lego machines and creatures, and then see what happens when you program them! £2.50 per ticket. There’s lots more going on at the museum too, including free fireworks and Guy Fawkes lantern crafts.
Spooky stories
If it’s raining or you’ve had enough of spending money, the library is a great option. As well as the endless books, magazines, DVDs and computers, there are lots of free events during half term.
Discover dragons and iguanas with Ed Boxall and Brian Moses at Battle library on 26 October, 11.30am-3pm.
Head to Rye library for spooky stories and creepy crafts on 30 October, 10.30am-12.30pm, or Newhaven Library on 1 November, 1pm-3pm.
Also on 30 October, at Battle library you can listen to stories from around the world with Kevin Graal at 10am, 11.30am and 2pm.
Hailsham library and Heathfield library are both hosting the Enormous Crocodile on 1 November. Storyteller John Kirk will bring Roald Dahl’s brilliant tale to life during the storytime sessions at 11.15am (Hailsham) and 1.30pm (Heathfield).
Wilderness Wood
If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise…
Wilderness Wood in Hadlow Down is one of our office favourites where children (and adults) can let off steam exploring the many woodland trails, playgrounds, tipis and dens. Over half term there are plenty of creepy sessions to book onto including potion making, Gruffalo and monster hunt, fire craft and fondue making, family forest school and lots more.
Shriek Week
Drusillas is running Shriek Week through half term, with creepy crawly encounters, frightening tattoos and face paint, mummies in the maze and a pair of witches in the haunted castle. There are often deals to get discount tickets, so keep an eye out!
Creepy crafts
Get crafty with wooden spoon puppets, cupcake decorating and pumpkin painting at Mark Cross Garden Centre. You can then enjoy a spooky afternoon tea featuring zombie fingers and eyeball jelly. Events need booking in advance.
Slime factory
Nothing says Halloween like neon green and orange slime filled with eyeballs and spiders! Come to a one-off slime-making session at Quarry Farm in Bodiam, 30 October, 1-2.30pm. Children 6+ can make five different slimes in a-fully converted haunted bus. £15 per person.
There’ll be loads more planned near you that we couldn’t squeeze into our list. Have you got anything booked in? We’d love to know.
