10 things to do for Halloween and Bonfire Night in Leicestershire

AUTUMN is a time for leaves changing colours and traditional celebrations to mark harvest, halloween and bonfire night.

Leicestershire County Council is marking harvest time with a festival feast for more than 200 schools this week.

It is dishing up Quorn hot-pot, traditional chicken pie, bramley apple steamed pudding and oatie fruit flapjack to 17,500 pupils today.

The seasonal menu marks the traditional harvest of crops and food and is aimed at encouraging children to try school meals.

Ivan Ould, Leicestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "This is the latest in our series of themed school lunches which aim to bring fun and learning to meal times.

"We want more children to enjoy healthy school meals from our menus, rather than take in packed lunches, and we hope that the harvest festival lunch inspires more to make the change.”

And there’s plenty to do to mark Halloween on October 31 and Bonfire Night on November 5 although many celebrations for the latter are taking place on Saturday, November 3.

We’ve picked out 10 venues where you can mark these traditional Autumnal events.

1. Supernatural thrills – Family spine tingling attractions are promised at Twinlakes this Halloween. Plus there are 10,000 free pumpkins for visitors to carve, wicked workshops, creepy competitions. Bosses say: “All you fear is here!”. Twinlakes Family Scream Park is from October 20 to November 2 and it's open until 7pm on October 27. Plus Twinlakes Park and Scream Park Productions have 13 Nights of Fright with Xtreme Fright Nights featuring scare zones, live horror mazes and street performers with off peak £14.49, peak £19.99 and Bonfire ticket £21.99 as the night features a bonfire and fireworks display. Fright Nights off peak are October 13, 19, 25, 28, 29, November 1 and 2. Peak are October 20, 26, 27, 30 and 31 and bonfire night is November 3.

Contact: Twinlakes Park , Melton Spinney Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 4SB T: 01664 567777

2. Fancy dress night – Staff and customers at Swan in the Rushes are urged to dress up and have some Halloween fun on October 27. This real ale pub has a first floor drinking terrace/roof garden as well as parking. It also offers 40 single malt whiskies and has an extensive range of Belgian bottled and imported lager ranges. It boasts a jukebox, quiz machine and a quiet lounge.

Contact: Swan in the Rushes, 21 The Rushes, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 5BE T: 01509 217014

3. Haunted horror – dress up in your scariest outfit and be spooked by scary stories in what the city council describes as one of Leicester’s most haunted buildings. Belgrave Hall was built in the 18th century and once housed a thriving hosiery business. In the following century it was owned by John Ellis who was responsible for bringing the railways to Leicester. The Halloween activity also includes crafts and a house and garden trail. Cost is £2.50 per person on Sunday October 28 from 1pm to 4.30pm.

Contact: Belgrave Hall Museum and Gardens, Church Road, Leicester, LE4 5PE, T: 0116 266 6590

4. Silent fireworks – frightened by bangs and bangers? Then why not join the Friends of Twycross for a night of Silent Fireworks. The Friends of Twycross are organising the first fireworks night at the zoo on November 4 at 6pm at Otter Car Park. Cost is £5 for Friends of Twycross and other visitors £7.50.

Contact: East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Road, Atherstone, CV9 3PX T: 0844 474 1777

5. Bonfire and firework display – meanwhile if you like bangs, whooshes and shrieks head for the Abbey Park Bonfire and Firework Display in Leicester on November 3. The event attracts more than 15,000 visitors. As well as the main fireworks at 8pm, there’s a children’s firework display at 6.45pm which is quieter and themed for youngsters. There will also be a fun fair, food stalls and fire dance performances by Phosphorus. Gates open at 5pm with last admission 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale now. Advance prices £4.50 adults, £3 concessions, £13 family – two adults, two children; on the gate £6 adults, £4 concessions. No family tickets available on the gate. Children under five free but wristbands required and can be obtained when purchasing an adult ticket.

Tickets available at: the following libraries Aylestone, Beaumont Leys, Belgrave, Braunstone at the Brite Centre, city centre Central Library, Evington, Fosse, Hamilton, Highfields, Knighton, New Parks, Rushey Mead, Southfields, St Barnabas, St Matthews and Westcotes.

Aylestone, Braunstone, Evington and Leicester Leys Leisure Centres; New Walk Museum, Leicester University Student Union, De Montfort University Student Union and BBC Radio Leicester building.

6. Pumpkin Ale – in the spirit of Halloween, Everards pubs is now stocking Pumpkeen Ale described as a ‘tasty accompaniment to the annual fright fest that is Halloween’’. T is made with Styrian Dana hops and infused with real pumpkin. Stocked at Everards pubs, one of these is The Globe which has been serving Leicester drinkers since 1720. Interestingly, given its Halloween, its history includes providing accommodation for women awaiting execution at nearby Gallowtree Gate. And it’s apparently haunted by a number of ghosts including a young boy in the cellar who turns off the beer!

Contact: The Globe, 43 Silver Street, Leicester, LE1 5EU T: 0116 253 9492

7. Dracula walks – In the city’s Guildhall on October 26 Dracula Walks the Night at 6pm and 9pm! Described as: “In true Hammer Horror fashion, this frighteningly effective, interactive show pits the Vampire Count against Van Helsing and Sherlock Holms in Victorian London. Eerie graveyard vigils, hansom can chases, near-death misses and fiendish plots a-plenty guarantee audiences an evening of classic chills”. Tickets cost £10 and £8. Booking via number below.

Contact: The Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester, LE1 5FQ T: 0116 253 2569

8. At the races – celebrate Bonfire night at Leicester Racecourse. Rainbows Childrens and Young Peoples Hospice is holding its annual bonfire night on November 3 at the Racecourse. There’s an executive box package so families and friends or work groups can enjoy private facilities overlooking the fireworks. Cost is £250 for a single box for 20 people or £500 for a double box. A two-course hot buffet is available at £22.50 per person. Bookings 01509 638026.

Contact: Leicester Racecourse, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 4AL T: 0116 271 6515

9. The 19th hole – a firework display and bonfire is planned at Lutterworth Golf Club, on November 3. Gates open at 6pm, bonfire lighting at 7pm and fireworks at 7.30pm. There’s a children’s fun fair, hot food, drinks and bar. Tickets £5 adults and children under 14 £2.50. Under six free. Pre-paid tickets adult £4, children £2.

Contact: Lutterworth Golf Club, Rugby Road, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4HN T: to book tickets 01455 557141

10. Fireworks and music – Glebe Garden Centre is holding its annual family bonfire night on November 3 with a mix of bonfire, music, refreshments and fireworks. Profits will be split between Countesthorpe Greenfields School and the Countesthorpe Scout Group. Gates open at 6pm. The bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm with fireworks at 7pm. Advanced family ticket for two adults and three children £12, advanced single ticket £4. On the gate adult ticket £6 and concessions £3. Advanced tickets are available until 6pm on November 2.

Contact: Glebe Garden Centre, Foston Road, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, LE8 5QP T: 0116 277 1570