Out and About – Halloween Special

Halloween at House of Fraser
Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 October 2010, 11am – 4pm
Meet all kinds of amazing creatures such as lizards, cockroaches, snakes and spiders at the in-store petting zoo from 10am – 3pm. Wear your best spooky fancy dress outfit.

There will be a public appearance from Ben and Holly to meet and greet all children courtesy of Art You Grew Up With from 2pm – 3.30pm. Holly and Ben will pick the winner of the best fancy dress costume with 10 runner ups prizes up for grabs as well.

You can also expect Halloween cupcake decorating, face painting and a creepy crawly hunt around the store for a chance to win a gift card set of signed limited edition art. On Sunday there will be a monster masterclass where you can learn how to draw monsters.

House of Fraser, 98-116 Deansgate, Manchester, www.houseoffraser.co.uk, 0844 800 3744

Vampire Week at Smithills Hall, Bolton
Tuesday 26 – Friday 29 and Sunday 31 October 2010, 1pm – 4pm
Vamp up Smithills Hall for Halloween. There’s a free quiz and prizes for all those who come in fancy dress.

Smithill Hall, Smithills DeanRoad,Bolton,Lancashire,BL17NP, www.boltonmuseums.org.uk, 01204 332377, Price: £3.00 for adults £2.00 for concessions, free entry for children.

Halloween Festival at Red House Farm
Saturday 23 – Sunday 31 October 2010, 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm) every day 23 – 29 Oct, 10am-6pm (last entry 5pm) 30 – 31 Oct
This year they are running a child-friendly family orientated event, aimed very much at fun rather than frights. As well as the spooky hunt, there will be bouncy castles, barrel train rides and the balloon typhoon, not to mention the regular fancy dress parades.

Red HouseFarm, Red House Lane, Dunham Massey, Altricham, Cheshire, WA14 5RLwww.redhousefarm.co.uk, 0161 941 3480, Suitable for all ages, Tickets: Child £4.50 per child (toddlers upwards) (all activities excluding gem mining) £2.50 gem mining (per go) £6.00 combo ticket (all activities + 1 gem mining).

Halloween Haunting at the Old Hall, Tatton Park
Tuesday 26 – Sunday 31 October 2010, open 12pm – 5pm (last entry at 4pm)
TV's Most Haunted Live were genuinely spooked when they visited the Old Hall during January 2010. How can things be scary and so much fun? Kids, drag those terrified adults and friends along and show them how brave you are in the Horrendously Haunted Old Hall. Horrible History Mystery and quiz. Face painting and mask making (small additional cost).

Tatton Park and the Old Hall, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN, www.tattonpark.org.uk, 01244 355474. Suitable for all ages. Tickets: Adults £4.50, Child £2.50 (5-16 years), Family £11.50 (two adults and up to three children), Under 5s are free, normal park opening times and prices apply – please visit website for more information

Halloween treats at Glo Family
From Monday 18 – Sunday 31 October 2010,
A Halloween themed week at Glo. The regular dressing up box has been replaced with witches, skeletons, pumpkins and spiders. Daily creative play sessions will be pumpkin hollowing and all types of spidery, witchy things. On the menu are cute Halloween cookies and witches broth as well as toffee apples and pumpkin pie. With spooky Halloween competitions, there’s lots of spooky fun.

Glo Family, 98 Stockport Road, Cheadle, Stockport Cheshire, SK8 2AJ, www.glofamily.com, 0844 8007380. Suitable for all ages. Normal entry price applies – please visit the website for more information

Pumpkin Party at Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate
Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 October 2010, 12pm-1pm, 2pm-3pm
Visit the Apprentice House Garden and decorate a pumpkin for Halloween to take home.

Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate, Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 4LA, nationaltrust.org.uk. 01625 445 896 www. Suitable for all ages, Price: Child £3.00

Spooky Science at Hat Works
Tuesday 26 October 2010, 10.30am-12 pm and 1-2.30pm
Help celebrate National Science Week and make a moving creepy spider or ghost that will amaze and scare your family and friends.

Hat Works, Wellington Mill, Wellington Road South, Stockport SK3 0EU www.hatworks.org.uk, 0161 355 7770, suitable for children aged 5 – 11 years, booking required, Price: £3.00 or Leisure Key £2.50 (limited places)