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Trick or treat?
Every Halloween, once the sun goes down, the children come out in their costumes (like vampires as one parent has described it) and head into the centre of Coggeshall. It isn’t coordinated but everyone seems to know what to do and where to go! They pretty much follow the same route, heading up the main roads in the historic part of the village.
The benefits of grouping together are that once the knocks on the door start, you can pretty much just stay in the doorway with your tub of chocolate or sweets and your turn will be over in about half an hour! If you want to get involved, you put pumpkins out to indicate you’re happy for your doorbell to be rung. If you don’t, then the children simply don’t knock and move on to the next.
This is such a great approach as it shows respect for those who don’t want to be involved, although it does mean they miss out on some of the amazing outfits. And that goes for children and animals – people often dress their horses as ghosts, which is always just as brilliant year after year.
Flame-free
While some of the decorations that you see around the village are really quite incredible, it is also great that each year the number of people putting real candles in the pumpkins outside their homes seems to have gone down. This has partly been led to features in the media about the danger of candles but also people who have posted on local social media groups. This might be an obvious thing to do – fire and children? Hmm not a great mix! However, lessons have been learnt the hard way.
In 2017, TV presenter Claudia Winkleman was out with her daughter trick or treating. The costume her daughter was wearing caught fire and due to its synthetic fabric, it went up in flames. Surely it makes sense to try and avoid this happening so we would urge everyone to go flame-free and stick to the pretend candles you can buy.
Pumpkins galore
Once you have your battery-operated candles, you’ll need a pumpkin to put them in and Abbey Farm is the place to go. You can get small ones for just £1, medium are £5 each and large are £10. Be warned, the large ones are hefty. If you’re walking, make sure you take something to wheel them home in! Should you be driving (which might be advised) there is free parking. Head up Grange Hill and turn down Abbey Lane. Follow the pumpkins signs and you will find it – if the farmer isn’t around then just use the honesty box to pay.
Want to get into the Halloween spirit?
Should you want to get involved in the Halloween events this year, there is plenty you can do in and around Coggeshall, especially if trick or treating isn’t your bag or you’re busy on the 31st.
Marks Hall
Marks Hall is hosting a spooky Halloween trail for children on Saturday 26th of October-Sunday 3rd of November. Suitable for children aged 3-12 years, the trail will cost £1.50 per person and this includes a munchkin pumpkin prize. Times for this trail run from 10am to 4pm each day.
Coggeshall Youth Project
CYP is putting on a Light Party from 5.30-7.30pm on 31st October. Held at St Peter’s Church, it will be like the usual Wednesday Youth Club but all children of primary age are welcome to go along! This is perfect for those who don’t celebrate Halloween or want to do something different to trick or treating.
Poplar Nurseries
Poplar has a range of events for everyone to get involved in some spooky fun this half term:
- Monday 28th October: Make wool spiders from 10-11am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm. Tickets are £3.50 for all ages
- Tuesday 29th October: Gruesome eyeball cakes from 10-11am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm. Tickets are £3.50 for all ages
- Wednesday 30th October: Pumpkin carving from 10-11am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm. Tickets are £7.50 for all ages
- Thursday 31st October: Spell making from 10-11am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm. Tickets are £3.50 for all ages
- Friday 1 November: Spaghetti broomstick painting from 10-11am, 12-1pm, 2-3pm. Tickets are £3.50 for all ages
For adults who want to do some Halloween crafts, there is a needle felting workshop on Friday 25th October from 10am-1pm. Tickets are £30 and you will learn needle felting techniques to create your own original decorations such as a pumpkin, spider or witch.
To book tickets for any of these, check out their listings on Eventbrite.
Coggeshall library
On Thursday 31st of October Coggeshall library is holding an event called Halloween Fun. The event includes spooky story time, creepy crafts and a horrible hunt around the library. It is free and open to everyone and will run from 9.30-10.30am. Don’t forget to head to the market afterwards for any supplies you need for a Halloween party!
Feering community centre
On Thursday 31st of October, Feering community centre is hosting a Halloween party. Tickets are £5 and include a hot dog and drink – under 2s go free. The party includes a Halloween fancy dress competition, games, crafts and a disco. Tickets are open to all ages and people are encouraged to purchase their tickets before the event.
If you think we’ve missed anything off the list, send us a message and we will add it on! Have a happy Halloween everyone.