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Halloween activities and bonfires for children in Suffolk
2013
Spooky Surprises and Fancy Fireworks - 2013
The terrifyingly terrific season of tricks, treats and thunderous explosions is here once again. Read on to find out more about pumpkin carving, Halloween crafts and games, how to make piñata pumpkins, and how to surprise the trick or treaters!
Pumpkin Carving
Children can really explore their creativity when carving pumpkins and are thrilled when their sculpted masterpieces are perched on the doorstep for all to admire.
BBC TV presenter and gardening expert, Toby Buckland sent Primary Times his top pumpkin carving tips for 2013:
“The carving trend for Halloween 2013 is to wedge a small pumpkin-head in the carved mouth of a big predatory one or to have the pithy innards spilling out of its mouth like sick – very gory! If you prefer something more arty, these days there are loads of gorgeous stencils you can buy of owls, Halloween cats and various spooky scenes. My favourite method – effective but easy - is to use a drill fitted with a hole cutting bit (plumbers use them to run pipes up through wooden sink cupboards) to create neat Swiss-cheese style holes that let the candlelight spill out, or if you don’t have a big drill bit you could use an apple corer. Pumpkins deteriorate quickly once cut, so always leave the lid off when the candle is in to prevent it shrinking and when it does start to shrivel dunk your gourd in a bucket of water for a few hours to rehydrate”.
Make the most of your pumpkin carvings – here are some tips...
When to carve your pumpkin:
Pumpkins have a tendency to rot rapidly once they have been carved so the best time to carve your mini masterpiece will be no more than two days before Halloween.
What you will need:
•A pumpkin
•A design template if using one
•A spoon to scoop out the inside of the pumpkin
•A special pumpkin carving saw, otherwise use a sharp, straight edged knife
•A candle
•A bowl to place the ‘fruit’
•A pen
•Adult supervision
How to carve:
•Start by etching your design on the pumpkin. Be as creative as possible – for ideas on templates take a look at www.primarytimes.net/suffolk
•Cut out a lid from the top of the pumpkin. Cut at a slight angle to make sure the lid doesn’t fall into the pumpkin. Scrape off the flesh from the lid
•Scoop out the flesh and seeds using a large metal spoon and put into a bowl. Make sure the walls of the pumpkin are least 2 cm thick
•Next, with adult supervision, start carving the pumpkin using motions that direct the knife away from you. Use a slow, sawing motion to carve the design. Avoid any jerking motions by keeping a part of the blade in the pumpkin when sawing
•To sculpt, it will be better to start working on the centre of your design first
•To add shapes, you may wish to use other utensils such as an apple corer to make circles
•Remove all carved sections of the pumpkin
•Make a flat spot on the base of the pumpkin for the candle. Use a tea light candle.
•To prolong the lifespan of your pumpkin cover it with a damp towel when it isn’t on display.
•Finally, place your mini orange masterpiece on your doorstep for all passers-by to see.
Another way to get creative is to make a Pumpkin Piñata – here’s how:
The piñata makes a wonderful additional to any children’s event and will be particularly good at a Halloween party. A hollow pumpkin shape piñata filled with small gifts and sweets will be well received by party guests, and especially more so, if the children help to make the piñata.
How to make:
You will need:
• A round balloon
• Orange tissue paper for the main body
• Black paper for the face
• Runny glue
• White paper
• Newspaper torn into small pieces
• A small amount of green tissue paper to be used for the stem
To make:
1. Inflate balloon to the required size.
2. Glue the torn bits of newspaper to the balloon. Add 3 or 4 layers of newspaper. Leave a hole big enough to insert the gifts and sweets.
3. When it has dried cover the piñata in white paper.
4. Next, lightly layer on the orange tissue allowing it to stick up to add texture.
5. Cover the knot of the balloon with green tissue to act as a ‘stem’.
6. Cut out the eyes and mouth from the black paper and glue this to the pumpkin.
7. Fill the piñata with sweets and gifts.
8. Cover the hole to prevent the goodies from falling out.
9. Give the children small sticks to hit the piñata.
A fun surprise for trick and treaters
Instead of simply handing out the customary supply of sweets why not add an element of surprise to those mini witches and wizards that tread your doorstep on Halloween night? Give them the option to get a bigger bag of ‘treats’ if they are brave enough to place their hand in a special Halloween box! You can make this fun for the children by using a ‘lucky dip’ style box, labelling it ‘Monster Veins’ and filling it with cooked, cold spaghetti noodles or labelling it ‘Monster’s Slime’ and filling it with green jelly! The children can then reach in the yucky box to get their well-earned treat.
Halloween Party Ideas
A good Halloween party will be filled with frighteningly good food, captivating craft and imaginative ghoulish games. Here are some ideas:
- Apple bobbing
- Make pumpkin piñatas
- Halloween feel box game
- Carve pumpkins
- Create a Halloween feast
- Guess the monster parts
- Pin the face on the pumpkin
- Fancy dress competition