We’ve not really done Halloween here before. It’s not been something we’ve been particularly interested in, but as with many things when kids come along, we are making more of an effort with this time of year, and are definitely seeing the fun in it now! We decided to kick things off with a Halloween-themed day at the weekend (yes, I know we’re early, but we wanted Daddy around for the fun and he’ll be working on Friday).
We spent a very happy, if a tad windy, few hours at the National Forest Adventure Farm, enjoying their half term Halloween Spook-tacular week. First off, Boo had to check on her scarecrow Lily (we made her there on our first visit, so Boo likes to see her!), we had some lunch in the restaurant, and then it was off to say ‘hi’ to the animals…
And then it was all about Halloween….
Boo loved carving her first pumpkin! It was then time for a run around the fabulous play areas….
And it was then back to the courtyard for Broomstick Training…
Did you know you have to hold a broomstick the right way up or the magic runs out of it? And that you have to check the bristles for tiddly-winkers as they eat the magic? Oh yes, Boo knows it all now, and she absolutely adored it! I thought it was a really fun magical idea. I loved watching her there, taking it all in, concentrating on what she needed to do to become broomstick-flying accredited!
And on our return, we lit our Jack O’Lantern and ate pumpkin-patterned hot dogs (and do note, Little Man has his spooky, ghostly top on, too!)
Kicking Halloween off in style!
It was yet another lovely time had at the National Forest Adventure Farm, this being our third visit there in as many months (you can read about how we found the farm and activities here, and then our Spudfest adventure here for more information). The staff are very friendly, always seem to be about and ready to help, and I do love the ingenuity of the place in coming up with fun things to do that get you wanting to go back time and again. Spook-tacular’s on all of this week, until Sunday 2nd November, if your little ones fancy joining in. There’s pumpkin carving, scare school, find the mummies in the maze, broomstick training and a haunted house, along with all of the usual attractions.
What do you do for Halloween?
Disclosure: We received entrance to the National Adventure Forest Farm FOC, though all words and opinions remain my own
People always seem to turn into expert carvers when it comes to pumpkins, yours is brilliant! I think I’d end up accidentally hacking mine up!
Ha ha – Boo designed it and then the Husband did that, mine would be totally tragic!
We are going today – this makes me very excited!!! xx
Have fun – we did! x
Oh wow don’t pumpkins look amazing in the field? The one we went to just had them already picked in a poly tunnel. I wanted to go into the field!!
I am impressed with the sausage-who knew you could put images on them this could open up a whole new world hehe #MagicMoments
Ah, that’s just not as good, is it?! I got those sausages from Aldi, they have totally rocked my world! x
Looks and sounds like you all had a fab day out lovely. We’re off to a Halloween event this arvo, then on Friday we’re having a little tea party at home with friends, and Fri evening the girls are out trick or treating with the neighbours. Fun times 🙂 xx
All sounds great, have fun! x
I love the look of this place! It looks so fabulous (for kids and adults!) I love Halloween and want to go to a pick your own pumpkin but there is none local to me. I may have to do the 2 hour drive next year!
Yes, just drive! It’s a great place to visit 🙂
This looks like a fabulous time, it’s great that you got to have some great Halloween fun whilst Daddy was there to join in as well. I’m sure they’re all super excited for Friday now though! Popping in from Magic Moments.
I think they think they’ve done Halloween anyway now!
Thanks for linking up with me on Country Kids.
Looks like so much fun! I am not into Halloween but hey, its all about the kids!
This looks fab. We are going tomorrow and cant wait, its been hard trying to resist the pumpkins until then. Broom stick training sounds magical. 🙂
Oh, you’ll have a fab time – enjoy!
Love the broomstick training 🙂
It’s fab!
This looks fantastic hun. What a fun filled day of celebrating Halloween. I love pumpkin patches. Great photos too. They all look so happy and entertained. Halloween is great for kids.
They were very happy, plenty to see and do there 🙂
This really is such a great place, each time you’ve done something different! LOVE the broomstick training 🙂 #MagicMoments
It’s great there, we love going. Boo adored that!
It looks great fun. We are hoping to move to Derby?Burton in the next few months so we will check it out x
Ah, perfectly located then! X
Love the big pumpkin patch! Looks like great fun.
Sadly, I’m 41 and have STILL never carved my own pumpkin! When I worked my parents used to buy them for us and my dad carved them. This year I was determined to do it myself, but left it too late to buy one! 🙁
Ah, I just watch the Husband do it, as he’s way better than me at things like this!
Looks great!! I LOVE the broomstick training that is just so so cute! That Guinnea pig in the first picture looks MASSIVE so lovely and fluffy!
Lovely photo of the pumpkin field too, the colours are gorgeous x
Boo so loved that broomstick training! I liked the guinea pigs 🙂
You’re right, our two would love it there. Another one to add to the list. It looks like you all had lots of fun 🙂
Oh, definitely – it’s fab x
Looks like you have had a brilliant time – the photo of all the pumpkins in that field is amazing!!
#CountryKids
We did, it was lots of fun!
This looks such an amazing place, wish we lived a bit closer to it! The pumpkins look amazing. #CountryKids
There’s plenty to keep us all entertained there, great place 🙂
I love the broomstick training! We are not the hugest fans of trick or treating but we carved pumpkins, had a garden fire and toasted marshmallows and cooked our own bread over the flames. Loved it 🙂
No, we didn’t do that, but the pumpkins and broomstick training were fun – we’ll have to add marshmallows to the list for next year!
That looks like such a fun day out. Love your pics. And fab pumpkin! #countrykids
Thank you!
Another very popular place in Blog Land! It seems like you’ve really had a fab Halloween. So much fun (and I love Little Man’s t-shirt!) 🙂 X #countrykids
Yep, another good one! I adore that top 🙂
I carved my first pumpkin this year! I was quite proud of myself in the end …. although I can see how some people can get competitive about it! 🙂
Looks like you had a great time x
Ha ha – it’s a whole new world, isn’t it?! x
What a superb place to visit and the activities for Halloween sound so much fun for all. I can’t get over all those pumpkins! I enjoyed seeing hundreds, like that, when we were in California in autumn last year. This year, back in New Zealand – and spring – there’s nothing but plastic pumpkins (imported from China, of course!).
Ah, not quite so good then!
That looks like a brilliant place to visit. The pumpkin field looks especially awesome! We must try to make it to one of our local farms next year… x
It was a fab day out 🙂
It looks like you had a lovely time! Love the concentration on Boo’s face as she designs her pumpkin 🙂
She was totally focused!