What lurks and lingers IN and around Linmere – Our ways to enjoy Halloween
With plenty of beautiful trails and fantastic outdoor venues in and around Linmere, we’re blessed with many ways to enjoy Autumn and the Halloween spirit. Starting with family fun at The Farmstead, we pick our favourite events and destinations to see out the end of October.
Transylvania comes to the Farmstead – Saturday October 29th from 10:00am
You’re the world’s greatest vampire, taking a well-earned break on a cruise holiday for monsters and the world’s greatest vampire hunter also booked the same trip. What are the chances?
Halloween family fun comes home to The Farmstead with Film “Screamings” of the global animated smash hit “Transylvania 3 – A Summer Vacation.” The Transylvania Hotel gang, led by Count Dracula, team up for a cruise for sea-loving monsters, as their arch nemeses – the Van-Helsing family, lie in wait. Voiced by Adam Sandler, Andy Sandberg and Selena Gomez.
There are 4 screenings on the day, starting at 10:00am and admission is FREE. However, tickets to attend need to be booked using the link here.
Presented by Houghton Regis Town Council in association with Houghton Regis Art Town.
ZSL Whipsnade – Boo at the Zoo! – Half Term Week (6 miles from The Farmstead)
You don’t need ghosts and vampires to make your hair stand on end, there are plenty of real-life creepy-crawlies to put a chill in the air.
Whipsnade Zoo is really getting into the Halloween Spirit this year, with their Boo at the Zoo, across the October half term. Take a journey into the spine-chilling world of wildlife, with plenty of educational and fun activities for kids, throughout the week. Fire up their imagination and creativity with spooky story sessions, themed animal talks, pumpkin decorating, and conservation crafts. If that’s not enough to soak up their energy, a daily Halloween disco and ghost hunt on the Whipsnade train will keep them smiling ‘till sundown.
Visiting Whipsnade is subject to an entry fee, with tickets required to be booked in advance (using the link below. Visitors, young and older, are encouraged to arrive in Halloween dress. ZSL members and Under 3s go free.
Located at Whipsnade, Dunstable, LU6 2LF. Entry tickets can be booked using the link here.
The Howl – Mead Open Farm Leighton Buzzard – from Weds 26th October (7 miles from The Farmstead)
If your idea of fun is getting chased around an abattoir by an axe-wielding zombie or getting grabbed by vampires in a dimly lit maze, then step this way. The Howl is best described as a Halloween horror festival for those who’ve outgrown trick or treating, but not their love for things that go bump in the night.
Eight interactive experiences, including the Attic, Squealers Yard, and Howl Valley High, offer revellers countless ways to get frightened out of their wits, as an army of horror characters leap out of every dark corner. If the screaming gets too much, you’ll have plenty of places to relax, enjoy some decent food & drink and dance the night to live music.
The Howl has developed quite a following around Bedfordshire over the past few years and is quite the mecca for the region’s teenagers and Halloween thrill seekers. Open from Wednesday 26th to Monday 31st October. This is not for the faint hearted.
Admission fees apply and tickets need to be bought online, using the link here.
Located at Mead Open Farm, Billington, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9JH.
The “Cat’s Tail” trail on Dunstable Downs – Half term week (4.5 miles)
The rumoured resident witch and wizard have lost their cat and are calling families across the region to join the trail, find the clues and solve the riddles. Once completed, you also get the chance to craft your own broomstick!
Dunstable Downs, situated very close to Linmere, is the highest point in Bedfordshire at 243 metres. It offers outstanding views across the Chiltern Hills, with red kites and gliders souring across its vast skies, best enjoyed from Dunstable Downs View Café.
A small admission fee of £3 is required to join the trial, payable on arrival. Broomsticks are subject to limited availability, so arrive early. With its proximity to Whipsnade Zoo, you can comfortably combine both trips in one day.
Located at Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2GY. Use the link here for more information.