It’s that spooky time of year again! Stuck for ideas for what to do this Halloween? Whatever your budget or taste here are 10 scarily good ideas to kick off your Halloween!
- FRIGHTFEST AT LEEDS LIBRARY
For any creative soul with a taste for horror and gothic literature, The Leeds Library is the place to be on the 26th of October. Come along to Fright Fest, where you can take part in author SJ Brad-ley’s creative writing workshop, in the setting of one of Leeds’ most haunted and oldest libraries. You’ll also be treated to live readings of award-winning horror stories. If going out isn’t for you, this is the perfect opportunity to have a spooky afternoon out while also honing your creative skills in a friendly environment.
- PUMPKIN CARVING
A classic fun activity for Halloween. Pumpkins can come in all sorts of shapes and designs, have a look online for helpful design tips and ideas. Morrisons are selling pumpkins starting at £1 on their website or if you fancy a bigger challenge, take a look at their large, white ‘ghost’ pumpkins. After carving, you can cook the seeds for a terrifyingly tasty snack.
- FILM NIGHT
Looking for something cheap and fun? A good (or hilariously bad) horror film can make for a scarily good night in. Netflix have some great Halloween flicks such as ‘Hocus Pocus’ and horror classics like ‘The Thing’. Or if Netflix isn’t your thing, CEX have a host of 50p DVD’s that are bound to help you get your Halloween spook on.
- BAKING
What’s better than baking? Halloween baking of course. There are countless recipes online to help get your creative juices flowing. Don’t fancy baking but still want to have a Halloween snack? Take a look at this super quick, easy (and cheap!) spider biscuit recipe to get you started;
Need:
- 200g of dark or milk chocolate broken into chunks
- 113g black liquorice Catherine wheels
- 2x154g packs of Oreo cookies
- White and black icing pens
Method:
- Melt your chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, put your bowl to the side.
- Cut pieces of your liquorice into 2-3cms – these will make the spider’s legs.
- Drop a dollop of chocolate onto half the cookies, and place the liquorice around it to make the legs. Then pop the second cookie on top and leave to cool down.
- Make eyes using the icing pens and your spider biscuits are good to go!
- A TRIP TO THE CINEMA
If you’re a movie fanatic who has already binge watched all of their favourite Halloween films, then the cinema is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday. With tickets costing just over £5 at The Vue, it’s a cheap way to fully embrace this spooky season. Some Halloweenesque films currently showing include Joker, Zombieland 2, and Maleficient: Mistress of Evil, and if you can stomach it, there are select showings of Ready or Not and The Shining on in the evenings. Everyman Cinema is also playing a terrifying screening of The Exorcist on Halloween itself.
- CAFES & COCKTAILS
If you’re looking for a more laid back way to celebrate the scariest day of the year, The Fab Cafe has got you covered. As a cult TV and movie theme bar, The Fab Cafe sets the tone for a kooky afternoon out this Halloween season, with its retro aesthetic and cheap food options. For a more adult evening out, Be At One at Millennium Square is holding a Spooktacular Masterclass of cocktail tasting, as well as pumpkin carving and trick or treating.
- HOUSE PARTY
Whether it’s 20 people or 10, a house party can be a great way to celebrate Halloween. Decorating can be half the fun, check out Poundland or Primark for some cheap decorations to get you started. Whether you choose to drink (have a look at our cocktail section!) or binge some classic horror films, house parties can be a good alternative to a night out, especially if you’re not a fan of big crowds or fancy dress.
- A SPOOKTACULAR NIGHT OUT
As any seasoned resident of Leeds knows, the night life in this city rarely disappoints. If you’re looking to party it up this spooky season, there’s a plethora of choices available. In terms of clubbing, the Student Union is hosting the Living Dead Halloween Festival, with spine-chilling live ac-tors and five spooky rooms (including a roller disco!): think Fruity on steroids. Mischief, Projekt, and Mint Warehouse, just to name a few, are all also hosting spooky themed club events in the lead up to the big night. If you’re not too keen on dancing, Bongo’s Bingo also has a Halloween special on the 30th, and you can never go wrong with a Halloween themed Otley Run.
- ESCAPE ROOMS
If you’ve ever watched a scary film and thought that you’d fair better than the actual characters, why not put yourself to the test in an Escape Room? An equally fun and spooky day out, The Great Escape Game in Leeds runs a range of escape rooms, with the regular rooms costing only 15 pounds from Monday to Thursday if you’re a student. They’ve also got the pop up event, ‘The Carnival of the Damned’, from the 23rd till November 3rd, as well as a zombie-themed Immersive Drinking Experience that combines cocktails and puzzles.
- ZOMBIE EXPERIENCE
“In a zombie apocalypse where would you go?” If this is a question you’ve ever asked yourself, then I have an answer for you – The Black Death Zombie Experience promises to leave your heart racing as you try to escape hordes of undead through the Merrion Shopping Centre. With live actors, you’ll be immersed for 60 minutes as you try to survive. With prices starting at £25, this is a pricier one on the list, but not one to be missed for the thrill seekers out there.
Nikola Hughes and Courtney Flint-Taff