When I was getting upset at seeing all the back to school shop displays at the end of August I turned the corner of an aisle and came face to face with several shelves full of grimacing pumpkins and the thought of Halloween also looming on the calendar left me with a big grin on my face too.
Last year’s Halloween was definitely a cause for celebration in the Malpi household as Faith returned home from hospital following her heart operation just in time to join in the festivities but we’re definitely hoping this year’s run up to trick or treat time will be slightly less stressful.
If you’re looking for activities that are more fun than fearful, there are plenty on offer in Lincolnshire and just across the county border to keep your mini monsters amused.
As always – some events need advance booking, there are only so many pumpkins in a pumpkin patch and, of course, all live (and undead) events are subject to change so be sure to click on the links to check the details and phone/book before travelling.
Do you know of an event we’ve missed? Tell us about it in the comments or email us at hello@theminimalpi.co.uk and don’t forget to keep checking back in case we’ve found more.
October 6:
7pm-9pm: Pumpkin Lanterns Ceramic Workshop, The Little Pottery Studio, Lincoln
October 6-31:
Pick up a Pumpkin Festival, Maxeys Farm Shop, Kirklington, Nottinghamshire
October 12:
11am-8pm: Spalding Pumpkin Festival, Spalding Town Centre
October 13, 14 & 20-31:
Bell’s Pumpkin Patch, Benington, near Boston
October 13 – 31:
PYO Pumpkins, Doddington Hall, near Lincoln
October 19 – November 4:
Halloween Pumpkin Festival, The Pink Pig Farm, near Scunthorpe
October 20 – 28:
Prison of Smells, Spooks and Stories, Lincoln Castle
October 20 – 29:
Halloween Pumpkin Picking, Uncle Henry’s, Grayingham, near Gainsborough
October 20 – 31:
Pumpkin Trail, The Workhouse, Southwell
Scarecrow Competition, Doddington Hall, near Lincoln
October 20 – November 4
Halloween Monster Hunt, Rufford Abbey Country Park, Nottinghamshire
October 22:
10am-11am: Spooktacular Halloween Party, Age 6 months to 7 years, ARTventurers, Witham St Hughs Village Hall
October 22 – 27:
Spooky Crafts, Normanby Hall, near Scunthorpe
October 22 – 29 (except 28th):
10.30am-3pm: Halloween Spook Walk & Activities, Bransby Horses, near Lincoln
October 22 – 31
Hallowe’en Half-Term, Tattershall Castle
October 23:
10am & 1pm: Pumpkin Carving, Harstholme Country Park, near Lincoln
2pm: Pumpkin Carving, Wolds Words, Louth Library
October 23 & 24:
10am-3pm: Land of the Dead Craft Workshop, Age 6-11, Wolds Words, The Riverhead Theatre, Louth
October 24:
11am & 1pm: Room on the Broom Storytelling, Normanby Hall, near Scunthorpe
October 24 – 27:
Doddington Hall’o’ween: Ghost Hunter, Doddington Hall, near Lincoln
October 24 – 31:
Half Term Halloween Fun, Rand Farm Park, near Wragby
October 25:
9.30am-12.30pm: Halloween House of Horrors Cupcake Workshop for Children, Age 9+, The Back Garden Bakery, Bracebridge Heath Pavilion, Lincoln
10am: Pumpkin Carving, Harstholme Country Park, near Lincoln
1pm: Mask Making, Hartsholme Country Park, near Lincoln
1.30pm-4.30pm: Children’s Halloween Cupcake Decorating Workshop, Age 4+, The Back Garden Bakery, Bracebridge Heath Pavilion, Lincoln
2.30pm-3.30pm: Room on a Broom with Rhubarb Theatre, Wolds Words, Louth Library
October 25 & 26:
10.30am-2pm: Glitter Tattoos and Spooky Face Paint, Bransby Horses, near Lincoln
October 25 – 29:
Halloween Trail, Hartsholme Country Park, near Lincoln
October 26:
10.30am-noon: Halloween Slime & Pumpkin Painting Workshop, Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham
6pm-8.30pm: Halloween Roller Disco, Fun Farm, North Hykeham, near Lincoln
October 26 & 27:
5pm-7.30pm: Fright Night Spooky Walk, Tattershall Farm Park
October 27:
11am-3pm: Beauty and the Beast Halloween Grotto, Hildred’s Shopping Centre, Skegness
11am-4pm: Halloween Trick or Treat Day, Bransby Horses, near Lincoln
October 27 – November 2:
Halloween Festival, White Post Farm, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire
October 27 – November 4:
Halloween, Sundown Adventureland
October 28:
11am-4pm: Halloween Children’s Activities and Family Tours, Nottingham Industrial Museum and Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
2.45pm-5.45pm: Halloween Special, Lincolnshire Wolds Railway
4pm-8pm: Normanby Hall-oween Spooktacular, Normanby Hall, near Scunthorpe
October 29:
10am: Spooky Exotic Animal Encounter, Tattershall Farm Park
October 31:
6pm: Spooky Goings On, Cogglesford Watermill, Sleaford
7.15pm for 7.30pm start: Ghost Walk, start Baysgarth Museum House, Barton
The second half of this year’s October may have gone in a slightly surreal blur but, thanks to the angels watching over Faith, both here and above, they gave her the strength to recover much quicker than expected and she was even home in time for Halloween and to see her brother, sister and daddy dress up for trick or treating.
I might not be appreciating the start of the autumn season as much as I normally do due to the start of school but it does signify that Halloween is just around the corner and that still remains my favourite time of year.
Fortunately there’s lots to choose from in and around Lincolnshire – you can take a walk around around a pumpkin patch or some haunted city streets or, if your toes tremble too much at the thought, then take the ghost train or bus. Whatever your deadly destination be sure to dress up to join in the frightening fun!
