Fun facts about Halloween:

• Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green!
• The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
• Black cats were once believed to be witch’s familiars who protected their powers.
• Originally you had to dance for your ‘treat’.
• Jack-o-lanterns were once made out of turnips, beets and potatoes – not pumpkins.
• Halloween used to be a great day to meet your soulmate – this doesn’t have to be past tense!
• Ireland is typically believed to be the birthplace of Halloween!

Places to celebrate Halloween in and around Kingston:

The Viper Rooms are holding a Nightmare on Thames Street night!
Full club décor and live actors on the night!
Entry from 10pm Fancy dress welcome!

Thorpe Park Fright Night every night from now until October 31st!
All of Thorpe Parks thrilling rides in the dark! Including new hair-raising events and live actors on site throughout the night!

Tulley’s Farm is in Crawley, West Sussex
Shocktober Fest scream park is back and scarier than ever with 8 haunted attractions, live music and great food.

Or if you are on a budget, why not have a party in your accommodation! Planning a DIY party like this can be as much fun planning as it is to attend! Get together with some others in your building and have a spooky get together! All prepare one dish and bring a bottle!

Here are examples of some quick and easy Halloween party food recipes:

Stuffed jack-o-lanterns: Cut the top from any colour pepper, carve in some spooky eyes nose and mouth and add cooked long spaghetti – pull the spaghetti through the holes!

Ghost Kobabs: Skewer some fruit and mix with marshmallows, draw a face on the marshmallow with edible pen!

Rice Krispy Brains: Mix Rice Krispies with Golden syrup, butter and sugar. Shape them into brains … leave to cool and set in that shape then decorate with red icing pen!

Spider Jelly: Simply make and set any colour jelly. Once set mix it all up and add some jelly worms! Or plastic spiders look most effective!

Once you are all together with your drinks and spooky treats you should play some spooky Halloween games:

Apple Bobbing: A classic … fill a big bowl or bucket with cold water throw in a load of apples and the game is ready! Each player has to have their hands tied behind their backs and drop to their knees! You can make it more interesting by putting a time limit on them and if they have not caught an apple using their mouths only within 1 minute they should get a forfeit!

Pass the Mini pumpkin: All stand in a line, the first player places the mini pumpkin under his or her chin and passes it to the next player in any which way …. Without using hands!!

Guess the Villain: When your guests arrive at the party, attach the name of a movie villain onto their backs so they can’t see it. They can then ask other guests yes/no questions to try to guess which villain they are, and they can have conversations with other guests to help them figure out theirs.

Photo Booth: Set up a corner in the room with scary props including a large frame made from cardboard … use your party name and where you party is … set up a hashtag and ask everyone to use it when they post their pics!