What's on in Rutland: Halloween

Halloween is nearly here and whether you celebrate it in your family or not, there is plenty of things to do around Stamford and Rutland to get into the spirit and keep the kids entertained this week.

So get your planners, diaries and WhatsApp groups at the ready to make some Halloween plans with the following events...

Burghley Halloween Trail

Open Daily from 11:00am to 5:00pm

At: Burghley House, Stamford, PE9 3JY

About: During October why not come and join us for the Burghley Halloween Trail around the Sculpture Garden. Tread through the crispy Autumn leaves and find the hidden spooks to receive a treat. Admission is included with a House and Gardens or Gardens only ticket. Annual Pass holders and Friends of Burghley also get free admission. Afterwards, why not warm up in the Garden Cafe with a yummy hot chocolate or a cup of steaming soup? Open daily from 11am to 5pm (last admission at 4.30pm)

Stamford Family Halloween Ghost Walks

Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Wednesday 31st October

At: Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford, PE9 2DL

Price: from £5

About: New Ghost Walks fun for all the family, suitable for children 6+

Hear about the spooks that haunt Stamford streets!
Book tickets here

Hootingly Haunted Halloween

Saturday 27th October

At: Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Egleton, LE15 8BT

Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Price: £10 per person

About: Carve a pumpkin and make your own broomstick to take home! Discover what goes on under the cover of darkness at a nature reserve as you dissect owl pellets. A prize for the best fancy dress costume! £10 per participant, booking required at rutlandwater.org.uk or by telephoning the centre on 01572 770651.

Spooky Bike Trail

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th October

At: Rutland Cycling, Bull Brigg Lane, Whitwell, LE15 8BL

Price: £1 donation to Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice

About: Cycle the Spooky Bike Trail between Whitwell and Normanton, collecting the clues along the way! Complete the trail to collect your prize at the end.

Barnsdale Scary Spooktacular

Sunday 28th October

At: Barnsdale Gardens, The Avenue, Exton, LE15 8AH

Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Price: from £5

About: Come for a walk in the Weird Woods where you can take part in a spot of spooky apple bobbing and carve your own petrifying pumpkin to take home- it's frightening fun for all the family, and kids in costume visit free!

Stamford Spooktacular

Sunday 28th October

At: Stamford Recreation Ground, Stamford, PE9 1EN

Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Price: FREE Entry

About: It is FREE Entry for the afternoon. 1pm - 4pm, presented by Stamford Town Council with Friends of Stamford and Rutland theatre, Activities for all the family. Music, Live Entertainment, Interactive Children's quiz. Children Colouring Corner and Spooky Photo Area - Come and take your selfie in some "Spooky Accessories". Best Pumpkin (bring your own) and Best Fancy Dress competition. As well as ghost stories, costume characters and many prizes to be won.

Pumpkin Picking at Hill Farm, Chesterton

Just 20-25 minutes from Uppingham, on what looks just like a normal farm, you'll find a real hidden gem and it's called Hill Farm in Chesterton near Peterborough. Which has become quite the annual occasion for us to visit every October, as we go pumpkin picking!

Edward enjoyed picking the pumpkins for each member of his family.

There are different areas of the field where you can pick the pre-picked pumpkins or those still growing.

This year, I took my godson as he's now old enough to pick his own, ride in the wheelbarrow, play on the park and enjoy this country-bumpkin style Halloween activity with me.

Hill Farm is a great place to visit whatever your age and even though I'm twenty-something, I look forward to it each year. It's a working farm which is open throughout certain months of the year as a 'pick your own' farm with everything from strawberries to squashes but each October you can visit to pick the perfect pumpkin!

A wheelbarrow ride around was the easier transport with a two-year-old.

There is plenty of parking and even birds of prey! As well as a play area and it looked like some families had brought along picnic too and made a real day of it. But the farm does have their own coffee shop, toilets and other amenities for you enjoy to make your visit the perfect day out with the family.

The Hill Farm 'Ghost Busters' display.

I recommend bringing your wellingtons, just in case and if you've got little ones, prepare for a little walk to the pumpkin field - the wheelbarrows come in handy with that though! But even the walk to the field is fun-filled with the farm set out with little Halloween displays including the 'Hill Farm Ghostbusters', ghosts hanging from trees, a pumpkin trail, model graveyard and much more.

Each year there are birds of prey which you can have the opportunity to hold if you wish.

You can pick as many pumpkins as you like and if you don't fancy a walk to the field, there is already some freshly picked at the shop for you to choose from. The prices start from around £1 with even some mini munchkin pumpkins too! When you visit the field to pick your own, you return to the shop with your wheelbarrow and each pumpkin you've chosen is measured and priced by size but on average they are just a few pounds.

The play area/park has something for children of all ages with swings, monkey bars, slides, balancing apparatus and even a little farm cut out for your to take funny photographs in. There is plenty of bench seating too, but many had bought a picnic blanket too.

The shop also features a selection of other kinds of pumpkin and squashes some for decoration and some to each, carve or decorate! As well as prepicked fruit and vegetables, oil, apple juice and other items grown or made on the farm.

Each year I visit Hill Farm it makes me realise how lucky we are to be surrounded by farming and all these unique activities we get to be able to do because of the gorgeous countryside.

     Find out more about Hill Farm...

Hill Farm, Oundle Rd, Chesterton, Peterborough PE7 3UA

Opening hours:

Monday: CLOSED

Tuesday - Saturday: 10am to 5pm

Sunday: 10am to 4pm

T: 01733 233270

www.hillfarmpyo.co.uk

Where to go Pumpkin Picking!

I've always wanted to go pumpkin picking as I am a big fan of Halloween. Last year I took it upon myself to search for a local farm where I could do just that! My friends and I had so much fun, like big kids! It really was a great day out for people of all ages to enjoy.

So, we went again this year and I thought I'd take along my camera to photograph the afternoon so I could share it on the blog to show you where you can go pumpkin picking locally!

Halloween in Stamford & Rutland: Things to do

Autumn is here and Halloween is closely approaching. As a lover of Halloween myself, I'm always looking for spooky, creative or festive things to do in the area. Whether you're looking for daytime or weekend events for the kids, or maybe you're an adult who loves Halloween like me! Here is your guide of things to do and 'What's On?' this Halloween in and around Stamford and Rutland.

Found out 'What's On' in Rutland this Halloween.