This half term is a little unusual because Halloween falls at the end of the week – so we all need to be on the lookout for events with a spooky theme.
Haunted happenings aside, Watford Borough Council has pulled together a host of fun indoors and out to help make the most of your time off.
The run up to half term begins on Saturday, October 25, at Albans Wood Local Nature Reserve, Woodgate, with a walk around this attractive woodland to look at the autumn colours and identify the varieties of fungus. Meet at the Woodgate entrance at 10am.
On Tuesday, October 28, there’s a chance to pitch in and help create a new community nature garden at Buryfield Nature Reserve in north Watford. To take part, meet at the Hatfield Road entrance at 10.30am.
Harwoods Adventure Playground on Vicarage Road has several sessions to choose from, including parachute games in the morning and kwick cricket in the afternoon on Monday, October 27. Then on Wednesday, October 29 there will be quizzes and board games, followed by a scavenger hunt. You can then make your own creepy costumes on Thursday, October 30 and add Halloween masks to your ensemble afterwards.
You can finish off the week with a real treat on Friday, October 31, by having a go at some cake baking and decorating. Morning sessions are from 10am to 1pm and afternoon sessions from 2pm to 5pm. Details: 01923 249001.
Over at Harebreaks Adventure Playground, Leggatts Way, there’s a mix of sport and craft workshops from Tuesday, October 28, beginning with potato printing in the morning and dodgeball in the afternoon. Start by getting crafty on Wednesday, October 29 with Hama beads and then take part in a scavenger hunt.
Thursday, October 30, starts in spooktacular fashion with toffee apples, followed by a chance to make your own Halloween outfit. Friday, October 31 begins with a craft session to make decorations for the Halloween party in the afternoon. Session times as above. Details: 01923 677557.
Call 01923 278333 for information
Old Town Hall
If your child has talent, why not let it shine in The Limelight at the Old Town Hall in Hemel Hempstead? These popular drama workshops give children an opportunity to create their own performance using movement, music, drama games, improvisation, props and storytelling techniques and present it to family and friends at the end.
A session for ages five to seven takes place on Monday, October 27, from 1.30pm to 4pm, and for ages eight to 11 on Tuesday, October 28, from 1pm to 4pm and Wednesday, October 29, from noon to 4pm. The final session is on Thursday, October 30 for ages 12 to 16 and will take place from noon to 5pm. Book in advance on 01442 228091 or online at www.dacorum.gov.uk/arts.
For children who’d rather sing than act, there are also urban and acoustic music workshops. The first session on Thursday, October 16 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm is led by professional rap artists where participants will develop rap and backtracks using a lyric-led approach.
Then on Friday, October 31, from 1pm to 4pm, professional musicians are hosting an acoustic workshop to help develop song writing skills. Both sessions are for ages 12 to 18. Book in advance on 01442 228098.
Very young children needn’t feel left out, as there’s also a performance by Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre on Saturday, October 25 at 2.30pm, especially for ages four and up with their families. The Call of the Loon Bird: Native American Myths uses stories, puppets and live music to recreate the legends and explore the culture of Native Americans.
Tickets: 01442 228091 (£3.75-£5)
Celtic Harmony Camp
Discover new skills and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon Lane, Brickendon near Hertford.
The camp is hosting a Half Term Samhain Week from Sunday, October 26 to Friday, October 31 from 10am to 5pm daily.
Step into Celtic times for the day and enjoy activities including archery, rune casting, Celtic dreamcatchers, candle making, face painting and pumpkin carving. Then set off on a treasure hunt ending with storytime, followed by a warming feast of hog roast or a Celtic veggy broth.
There’s also a Halloween Storytelling Evening on Thursday, October 30 from 6pm to 8pm. Gather around the fire to listen of tales of horned witches, spells and ghosts by Susan Samm of Storyroots. Children aged from six and up and their families are invited to bring along a torch and a rug and snuggle up together as the tales are told.
The fun continues the following weekend with a Flintknapping Discovery Course on Saturday, November 1 or Sunday, November 2 from 10am to midday, where you can make your own flint tool to take home with expert flintknapper Karl Lee.
Then enjoy the festivities of the Samhain Fire Festival in the afternoon, with longbow archery, story walks plus loads of hands-on activities for free, and end the day with a hog roast or a bowl of Celtic broth.
Details: www.celticharmony.org
HAVE you ever wondered what goes on in Watford Museum after the doors have closed for the night?
Well it’s not quite like Ben Stiller’s experiences in Night at the Museum where a T-Rex is running loose and Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan are doing battle all over the place, but children are in for a whole load of fun on Thursday, October 30 with The Haunted Museum – a night of fun and frights from 6pm (for ages five and up) and 8pm (for ages ten and up). These spooky sessions are £5 per person.
During daylight hours on Thursday, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, there are arts and crafts workshops priced £3-£5 for those aged eight to 12.
Booking is essential for both events at Watford Museum, Lower High Street, Watford, call 01923 232297.
Rickmansworth Library and Croxley Library
COMIC illustrator Kev F, who brings to life characters for The Beano, is calling in at two Hertfordshire libraries this October half term to inspire children to make their own cartoon creation.
The comic art workshops, taking place at Rickmansworth and Croxley Green libraries, will give children the opportunity to learn what it takes to be an illustrator and to have a go at creating their own comics.
The events are suitable for children aged eight and up and will take place on Wednesday, October 29, from 10am to noon at Rickmansworth Library and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, at Croxley Green Library.
All materials will be provided and workshops are free, but spaces are limited.
Book in advance on 01923 471333.
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