What to do for Halloween in Hedge End

You can get into the Halloween spirit throughout the week (until Sunday 31 October) at Manor Farm Country Park, Pylands Lane, with a host of activities to enjoy from taking broomstick flying lessons in the schoolroom to doing creepy craft sessions in Mrs Earwicker’s haunted farmhouse – and taking a tour through the rest of the house if you dare! Normal farm entry charge applies.

Also open daily throughout the week (10.30am-3.30pm) and until Sunday 31 October is the Halloween Trail at Itchen Valley Country Park in Allington Lane (£1.75 per trail pack) plus you can also try your hand at making Halloween lanterns on Wednesday morning (10.30am-12.30pm) – cost £3.00 per lantern.

And on Saturday 30 October the park is hosting a Halloween Party 6.30-8.15pm with the fun on offer including a spooky walk through the woods by the light of a lantern made on the night and creepy-themed food to eat. Tickets are £8.00 per person and booking is essential – phone 023 8046 6091 or see the Itchen Valley Country Park website for more information.

In Eastleigh the museum is holding a Halloween Family Craft Day from 10am on Thursday 28 October (last admission 2.30pm) with free entry and materials – phone 0845 603 5635 for further details – and at The Point’s Halloween Hip Hop on Friday 29 October there’s a chance to create a spooky dance to the accompaniment of the latest hip hop tunes. The event costs £15 and for more information phone 023 8065 2333.

On Saturday 30 October (10.30am-5pm) Hedge End’s Sainsbury’s is joining with Cadbury to give customers a Halloween fun day with free face-painting and spider-making sessions, plus the chance to win a Halloween party-pack in a free prize-draw.

Also on Saturday 30 October but in the evening, 8-11pm, the St George Festival Committee is holding a Barn Dance at Hedge End Village Hall, St John’s Road with live music provided by the King’s Band and featuring ‘spooky surprises’ and ‘lively dancing’. There will be a free drink for people in costume, plus a prize for the best dressed.

Tickets are £6.00 adult, £3.00 children, £15 family and obtainable by phoning 01489 795289 or 02380 517054.

If you’re planning on holding a party at home, Janice Barfoot’s has some great cake decorations - skeletons, owls, spiders and ghosts, pumpkins, cats and witches - plus suitably coloured icing and cutters, and Greggs in Lower Northam Road has a good selection of cakes.

And for where to get those costumes, check out Hedgeendpeople story Halloween and where to buy the freakiest costumes in Hedge End.

But if Halloween isn’t for you, King’s Community Church in Upper Northam Close is holding a Crazy Colour Party on Sunday 31October for children year R to year 6. An annual event for the church it’s a Halloween alternative event which they say has over 100 children attending to have a fun time.