Ghostly Gaslight at Blists Hill Victorian Town – 25/10/2014

Dress up in your most scary costume and go along to the Ghostly Gaslight Halloween event at Blists Hill Victorian Town when the streets, shops and houses will be transformed into eerie places filled with ghosts, ghouls and monsters. The buildings will be illuminated in spectacular style and fireworks and pyrotechnic effects will light the night sky.

One of Shropshire’s biggest Halloween events, Ghostly Gaslight will keep all ages guessing what spooky encounter they might meet next – will it be the wicked wizard casting spells, the local carpenter seeking victims to nail in his coffin, ghostly apparitions in the cottages’ windows or zombies looking for brains.

Ticket Prices: Adult & 60+ – £9.50, Child (aged 3-15) – £6.25, Child (aged 0-2) – Free, Family (2+2) – £29.00, Joint Family Ticket (2+2) for Ghostly Gaslight and Fireworks Night (1 November) – £52.00.

Passport tickets are not valid for this event and dogs will not be allowed. Tickets are only available in advance of the event from any Museum ticket point, Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre or online. £2 P&P is applicable to tickets sent from the VIC. P&P is free for online sales.

Tickets will not be available on the night.

Spooktacular Market and Funfair in Shrewsbury – 25/10/2014

There will be Halloween fun for all the family in Shrewsbury’s Quarry on Saturday 25 October.

Visitors will be able to explore more than 20 stalls selling local produce, food and gifts. There will also be fully licensed bar, provided by Tipples, a children’s entertainer and fairground attractions for all the family, provided by Stokes Funfairs.

The Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Beverley Baker, will also judge a Halloween-themed fancy dress competition at 5pm in the event tepee.

The Halloween Funfair and Market will run from 12pm until 8pm and will culminate in a spectacular fireworks display at 8pm.

Hallowe’en promises to be a ‘fright’ at Dudmaston – 26, 27, 29/10/2014

Everything is becoming a little spooky at the National Trust’s Dudmaston Estate as a host of mythical and ghoulish characters seem to have moved onto the property in readiness for Hallowe’en.

On Sunday 26 October the atmosphere darkens with lots of Hallowe’en themed activities throughout the day. Visitors are asked to wear their scariest costumes and can head out on a trail across the gardens in a bid to help Dr Frankenstein create his newest monster and embark on some scary craft activities to help decorate their homes. A face painter will be on-site to put the finishing touches to your outfit!

At 2pm those aged under 5 (or who find Hallowe’en just that bit too scary) can join an Enchanted Walk through the Dingle to hear a story from the ‘Good witch’ in her fairy glen and add wishes to the secret Wishing Tree.

As the daylight fades at 4pm brave folks are required to join us on our Haunted Dingle walk and help us challenge the strange characters that have taken up residence there for Hallowe’en. Will you spot the werewolf? Can we send him to ground? Make a lantern before you go to help light your way.

Too scared to go into the woods? Children’s author Carol-Anne Carr will be on the property signing copies of her books and entertaining children with some of her spooky stories.

Families can enjoy the Apothecary’s Apprentice trail on property Monday 27 and Wednesday 28 helping to discover the necessary ingredients for his lotions and potions, plus have a go at the craft activities to take home.

Make a creepy creature at Coalport China Museum – 27, 28, 29, 30, 31/10/2014

Go along to a Spooky Halloween themed family workshop at Coalport China Museum in Shropshire’s Ironbridge Gorge during the autumn school half-term and try your hand at painting or making creepy creatures from clay.

On Monday 27 October let your imagination go wild and decorate a mug with strange monsters using on-glaze paints, while on Tuesday to Friday, 28 to 31 October, try your hand at modelling a spooky creature in clay. Choose from a batty bat, scary spider or gruesome rat, or create your own weird and wonderful design, the choices are limitless. You can also paint a delicate china flower or fridge magnet, or join in some paper activities.

The drop-in half-term workshops at Coalport China Museum will be held from 11am until 1pm and 2pm until 4pm; ceramic activities carry an additional fee of up to £4 per item plus £3 to post your finished piece back to your home after firing; paper activities are included in the admission fee.

Open 10am to 5pm Coalport is one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. A great value Annual Passport Ticket allowing entry into all ten museums, valid for twelve months and unlimited return visits, costs £27.50 per adult, £21 for the 60 plus, £16.50 for students and children and £68 for a family of two adults and all their children aged up to 18 years in full time education (terms and conditions apply); under 5s free.

For further information, contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424.

Halloween events at Severn Valley Country Park – 29, 31/10/14, 01/11/2014

Shropshire Council’s rangers at Severn Valley Country Park in Alveley are gearing up for a spooky, fun-filled week during October 2014 half term.

There will be two sessions of Halloween Fun on Wednesday 29 October (10am-12pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm). The activities will include making toffee apples, bobbing for apples, and playing outdoor games such as witches’ broom relay race and pumpkin bowling. The cost is £3 per child.

For Halloween itself, on Friday 31 October 2014, our rangers will be lantern-making and leading a ghost story walk into our woodland village. The event, from 4.30pm-6.30pm, will include sandwiches, pizza slice, drink and fairy cake in the £5 ticket price.

On Saturday 1 November 2014 (11am-12.30pm) we will be getting creative with a Halloween craft session where children can make their own spider, witch and ghost to take home.

Throughout the whole week, families will be able to enjoy a spooky Halloween trial. The trail weaves its way around the park following scary clues which, when solved, leads to a treat to collect from the visitor centre. Trail maps are £1.50 each and can be collected daily between 11am and 4pm.

For more information or to book your place please call 01746 781192.

Spookley Pumpkin Festival at Apley Farm Shop – 25,26,27,28,29,30,31/10/14

For the half term holiday, 25-31 October, Spookley the Square Pumpkin is back, bringing fun for all the family at Apley Farm Shop.

Climb aboard the Pumpkin Express, when you can hear the Spookley story being read by a friendly Mrs Pumpkin. The Express will also take you to the pumpkin patch where you can select your own pumpkin. Once back in the courtyard, you can carve it & enter our daily competition for the best carved pumpkin, to be judged at 5pm on Friday 31 October when the 3 winners will receive a prize.

For the Pumpkin Express, turning up on the day is OK, but booking will guarantee your place. Just go to https://apleyfarmshop.digitickets.co.uk/tickets to book tickets via the Apley website.

Tickets are £10, £6.50 & £4: The £10 Orange ticket includes a ride on the pumpkin express, carving your own pumpkin, a play in Pigg’s Playbarn & a copy of Spookley Square Pumpkin story book. Tickets at £6.50 include the Pumpkin Express, pumpkin & carving cavern. Tickets at £4 include only the pumpkin & carving cavern.

As you leave via the Farm Shop, don’t forget to pick up your very own copy of the book ‘Spookley the Square Pumpkin’ & even your own soft Spookley toy (also available from Alley Katz toy shop in the Courtyard). The story book carries a strong antibullying message, which is shared with school children across the country.

To complete your Spookley experience, pop into the Creamery Café for lunch & select our delicious pumpkin soup in the Creamery Café, served in a mini pumpkin with a pumpkin muffin.

There also will be a free friendly pumpkin trail on the Skylark Nature Trail, for all to try out.

Take a Ghost Train at Severn Valley Railway – 25,30,31/10/2014

The Ghost Train returns to the Severn Valley Railway on 25, 30 and 31 October, following a sell-out year in 2013.

Take one of the evening ‘Ghost Trains’, if you dare, for a thrilling ride out into the countryside from Kidderminster to Arley and return.

Arrive early at at Kidderminster station where ‘Disco Daddy’ will be there to entertain you before your ghost train departs out into the night and, hopefully, back! Ghost Trains depart at 6.00pm, 6.50pm & 8.00pm.

Children (and the grown-ups) are welcome to come in fancy dress. There will be a fancy dress parade for the children with a small gift for just taking part!

On the train you may meet up with some of our frightening staff who will be giving out spooky goody bags to all the children. The journey takes approximately 75 minutes. You do not leave the train during your journey.

A trolley serving of hot and cold drinks and snacks will be available on the train.

Pre-booking for The Ghost Train is essential. For more information and to book tickets at £8.50 call 01299 403816.

Halloween at Whittington Castle – 26/10/2014

Let your young ones enjoy a spooky time at Whittington castle, collect treats as you play the spooky games, enter a carved pumpkin to win a prize, enter the fancy dress competition and help light up the castle.

The resident castle witch will also be around to visit. The event will take place between 12 noon and 4pm at a cost of £1 each.

Spooky Walks at Attingham Park – 27,18,29/10/2014

Shrewsbury College present a spooky self guided walk around the Attingham grounds at night. But beware! Who knows what may be prowling around at Halloween.

Go along between 6pm & 8pm, and prepare to be spooked! Please wear sensible shoes, warm clothes and bring a torch as the walk is outside in the grounds. This walk may not be suitable under 10s (at parents’ discretion). Last admission is at 7.30pm. Normal admission charges apply.

Read more: Take a spooky walk with Shrewsbury College at Attingham Park

For other Halloween events at Attingham Park read our article.

Theatre Severn to screen Phantom of the Opera – 28/10/2014

This October Theatre Severn is giving Shropshire residents a Halloween treat by screening the silent movie ‘Phantom of the Opera’, along with live musical accompaniment.

The first Phantom of the Opera made its cinematic debut sixty years before Michael Crawford donned the mask, and almost ninety years ago today.

The film is being presented by ‘Unsilent Movies’, who consist of Ric Elsworth (Percussion) & Andrew Shirtliff (Piano). The pair are dedicated to giving classic, Silent Movies a uniquely modern soundtrack played live as the film is screened.

Starring Lon Chaney ‘The Man of a Thousand Faces’ the film has had an interesting history. The original ‘Phantom’ was scrapped when studio heads feared it would not recoup the staggering $20,000,000 it had cost to film, a large part of this budget being spent on the lavish opera house set, which still survive to this day. The film was reshot as a romantic comedy, which was not well received by audiences or critics, in fact audiences ‘booed’ it off the screen when it premiered.

Finally in 1929, after more reshooting, more editing and a completely different ending being added the film was rereleased. This time audiences loved it. The unmasking of the phantom had audiences running out of the theatre, and the 1929 cut has since been deemed ‘culturally significant ‘by the Library of Congress. It is the 1929 version that will be shown at Theatre Severn.

The Phantom of the Opera will be shown on Tuesday October 28 at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn, with live musical accompaniment. Tickets are available by visiting the website at www.theatresevern.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on (01743) 281 281.

Halloween “Horrors” at Weston Park – 29,30,31/10/10

Head to Weston Park for creepy crafts, pumpkin carving and spooky scavenger hunts during half-term. In the Granary Deli & Cafe kids can tuck into pumpkin soup, spooky sandwiches and novelty cakes and biscuits.

The Miniature Railway will be open, taking riders into Temple Wood for a 14 minute journey through Capability Brown’s scenic pleasure grounds.

Gates open at 10.30am – 4pm with activities taking place from 11am – 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm daily in the Activity Room.

Park Admission Prices: £7.50 per child, £4.50 per adult, £22.00 per family (2+2), Pumpkin Carving + £1 per person, Miniature Railway + £2 per person.

Halloween fun at Shrewsbury’s Darwin Shopping Centre – 30, 31/10/2014

Shrewsbury’s Darwin Shopping Centre has gone pumpkin potty and chocolate crazy as it gears up for a spooktacular Halloween celebration.

The Centre’s Pumpkin-Carving Classes will be held in the unit next to Masarellas from 11am to 4pm on 30/10/2014 when Shrewsbury Shopping Centres’ community co-ordinator, Maggie Love, has kitted herself out with genuine American-style safety pumpkin parers and is issuing an open invitation to local youngsters and their families to get creative.

A chocolate workshop will also be held at the same time as the pumpkin carving classes by Chocolatier, Julia Wenlock. Julia will be teaching how to make scary face Halloween lollies.

And then on Halloween Day, Friday, October 31, the Centres will be staging a special Trek and Treat fancy dress event attended by the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Beverley Baker.

At 11am she will lead the children on a tour of participating stores which will be handing out goodies before judging the fancy dress competition with prizes for five to eight and nine to 12 age groups.

Register for the Pumpkin Carving Workshop

Halloween Crafts at RAF Museum Cosford – 30,31/10/2014

RAF Museum Cosford will be hosting some devilishly easy ‘Halloween Crafts’ for your little monsters.

With two frightfully fiendish activities available, your little devils can enjoy a scarily good experience. Perfect for trick or treating, children can have a go at building one a treat pot, available in a gross Frankenstein or frightening pumpkin design; they are a hideously fun way to collect your Halloween sweets and candies. Once you have completed your treat pot, why not have a go at making a scary Halloween key ring with plenty of diabolical designs to choose from. This activity costs just £1.00 per person to participate.

To participate in the events, purchase your ticket from the Visitor Centre on arrival. All activities will take place in Hangar 1 between 11.30am and 3.30pm each day during half term week. For further information about the Museum, please visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org or call 01902 376200. The Museum is open daily from 10am and entry to the Museum is FREE of charge.

Telford Halloween Drive in Movies – 31/10/2014

Halloween Drive in Movies will be shown at The International Centre in Telford on Friday 31 October.

The first film – Walt Disney’s animated musical fantasy comedy Frozen (PG), will kick of the event with a 2pm start time, gates will open at 1pm.

Hotel Transylvania (U), will screen at 6pm, with gates opening at 5pm, making it the perfect tea-time treat for children of all ages this half term.

The Halloween Drive in Movie extravaganza will also include the cult 1975 classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show (15) at 8.30pm with hates opening at 8pm.

The culmination of the day’s viewing is one of the all time classic horror films, Wes Craven’s supernatural slasher movie A Nightmare On Elm Street (18). A Nightmare On Elm Street has a screen time of 11pm with gates opening at 10.30pm.

There will be food and drink available to purchase at the Drive in Movie from the host Telford International Centre Catering Team who will be taking orders to your car.

The drive in movie costs £20 per car per film plus a £2 admin fee. Tickets can be booked online at www.theplacetelford.com or by calling the box office on 01952 382382 or by visiting the Box Office in person.

American Smokehouse Big Halloween Party – 31/10/2014

Shropshire’s first American Smokehouse celebrates the spookiest night of the year just like they do across the pond by pulling out all the stops with a spellbinding party on that most devillish of nights, Friday, October 31.

Party-goers are being asked to use a touch of hocus pocus and transform themselves into witches, ghouls and ghosts for the spook-tacular celebration.

The entertainment will include a live band, face painting, traditional apple bobbing and the opportunity to get gunged!

Manager Ryan King said: “We’ve got friends and family who have been to places like New York and Los Angeles when it’s been Halloween over there and they say it’s absolutely crazy.

“They say that Halloween over there is almost bigger than Christmas really and that everyone celebrates from kids up to adults and have big parties.

“That’s what we want to do here – for both kids and adults – so we have a lot of things going on for promises to be a really exciting night.

“We’ve got a band, Hot Rod 55, who play high octane rock and roll for the 21st century, playing live later on in the evening, we’ve got a magician and also someone who will be able to do face painting so if people don’t turn up in fancy dress they will still be able to get transformed for the night and join in the fun.

The ghostly goings on start at 6pm. Tickets for adults are £15 which include a buffet and it’s free for children. There will also be a late disco. Tickets are available in advance by calling 01743 851944.

Spooky Supper at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery 31/10/2014

Children can enjoy a sandwich supper at stop. café, a ghostly story, Halloween museum trail and creepy crafts!

The cost is £8.00 per child for the event which takes place between 4pm – 6pm, and up to two accompanying adults can attend free of charge.

Shrewsbury ghost tour and spooky tales – 31/10/2014

Why not join in with a ghost tour with a difference? As well as the usual ghost tour of Shrewsbury, join a second guide for spooky tales at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery and at Shrewsbury Castle.

This will take place on Friday 31 October 2014, starting at 7pm, and will last for two hours.

Learn about the ghosts of the town on a ghost tour with one of our ghost guides, the spooky stories of hauntings at the castle, and tales from the museum collection.

Tickets are £9.99 for adults and £4.99 for children, and the tickets are available from Shrewsbury Visitor Information Centre, The Music Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury. Bookings can be made in person or by phone with a credit/debit card on 01743 258888. Pre-booking is essential as space is limited on this tour.

Halloween Procession at Whittington Castle – 31/10/2014

Let your young ones enjoy a spooky time at Whittington Castle, collect treats as you play the spooky games, visit the castle witch and take part in a special procession. Halloween castle tours are also available.

The event will take place between 6-8pm at a cost of £1 each.

Haunted Hanwood hosts Halloween Community Event – 31/10/2014

This Friday, Severnside Housing is inviting local residents to pop in to Hanwood Village Hall between 1-3pm for a Halloween themed community event.

Along with food and refreshments, there will be spooky entertainment with art and craft activities, horrible face-painting and a fancy dress competition for both adults and little scary monsters otherwise known as children!

It’s also an opportunity to find out about some of the services Severnside Housing provides. There will be information about how to get involved in the community as well as employment and money advice, and family and support services.

It’s also a way for Severnside to stay involved with the community and identify any areas of concern. There will be a number of partnering agencies attend who work together offering different support mechanisms, such as

· Resident inspectors will offer information on affordable warmth and fuel poverty.

· Severnside’s Community team will be promoting their Learning programme.

· The Job Centre, the Prince’s Trust Shropshire Rural Community Council and the Community Development Team will all deliver Employment, Training and volunteering focused at engaging with and raising awareness of the number of opportunities that are available to people from all ages, including educational programmes.

· Severnside’s Employment and Money Advice Team will be promoting money advice along with partners such as C.A.B, Fairshare and Just Credit union. This will include with budgeting, debt advice and obtaining affordable loans.

· The local Policing Team will provide advice and information on Anti-Social Behaviour and Substance Misuse advice to ensure that the community are aware of who to contact and how to deal with these types of issues.

· School Welfare and Family advice will be provided by partners such as Shropshire Education Welfare Officer and The Family Information Services.

All partnering agencies will provide interactive information stands and activities throughout the day.

Everybody is welcome to attend.

Halloween music at Shrewsbury town centre venue – 05/11/2014

Music students from Shrewsbury College are inviting members of the public to attend a Halloween themed live music event at The Wightman, a multi-purpose venue in Shrewsbury.

The, ‘All Hail Halloween’ event, which will take place on Wednesday, 5 November, will include an exciting array of performances from a variety of Music Technology students.

Rob Wear, Music tutor at Shrewsbury College, said: “We always encourage our music students to perform outside of the College and whenever possible in the local community. Getting the opportunity to play for the general public helps our students gain the confidence needed for when they progress into a career.

“We wanted to put together an event that was seasonally relevant and fun for all ages. The students have been working hard and we’d like to encourage people to come along and support up and coming local talent.”

With a small entry fee of £2 and half price entry to those in Halloween fancy dress, the evening promises to be a ‘spooktacular’ occasion.

Money raised during the evening will help fund equipment for the music department’s newly-built studios.

‘All Hail Halloween’, music event will take place from 6 – 9pm on Wednesday, 5 November, at The Wightman, in the Square, Shrewsbury.