9 things you can still do this Halloween half term in Liverpool

Halloween might look a bit different this year with traditional trick or treating off limits, but there’s no reason why you can’t have as much spooky fun as ever here in Liverpool.

There are still plenty of things to do at home with the kids, or at one of the venues around Liverpool putting on special Halloween events.

Here are 9 ways to have a fright-full family weekend …

Watch Halloween movies in your own family cabin

If you want to watch Halloween films but are fed up with doing it from the sofa, Birdies Bar & BBQ next to Ghetto Golf is showing family-friendly favourites during daytimes, streamed to its outdoor heated cabins. From Thursday Oct 29 to Sunday November 1, there’s a line-up including Coraline, Hocus Pocus, Corpse Bride, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Addams Family. Expect scary cocktails and street food (remember under Tier 3 rules you’ll need to order food to be able to drink), fancy dress and games too. Cabins have to be booked in advance via the website: Book here.

Visit the scarecrow trail at Knowsley Safari

If you want to get out then as well as the option to do the five-mile drive in your car, you can go on foot safari at Knowsley Safari too.  You can explore the tiger trail and get up close with the world’s largest cat, visit the giraffes, meerkats and more and as an added extra for Halloween the keepers have created a Scarecrow Trail.  Keep your eyes open and spot them in various locations on the foot safari throughout October half term.

Pre-book your tickets here.

Play duck apple

This one’s been a Halloween favourite for generations and it’s still good for a laugh. Fill up a washing up bowl with water and throw in a bag of apples. Every player takes it in turn to pull out as many apples as they can, hands behind their back, in a set time. Make it harder and messier by blindfolding them – but remember to put a towel down or your carpet will end up soaked!

Get Halloween treats delivered

If you don’t fancy making them yourself, then why not let the experts do it and have them delivered?  The legendary Dafna’s Cheesecake Factory on Smithdown Road has created a Mischief Box of spooky treats. Available through Good Liverpool www.goodliverpool.com, it includes terrifying treats like eerie cupcakes and extra special chilling cheesecakes, available to pre-order for Halloween weekend delivery.

Make salted caramel apples

Toffee apples are a Halloween night treat, and these have an extra gorgeous twist by using salted caramel instead of regular toffee. To make 10, get 10 eating apples, 300g light brown muscovado sugar, 8tbsp golden syrup, 225g softened butter, 1tsp vanilla extract, 1 heaped tsp sea salt.

Dunk the apples in a pan of boiling water for 30 secs then dry. Remove stalks and pierce each apple with a lolly stick or wooden skewer. Cover a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Put the sugar into a large saucepan with syrup, butter and vanilla. Heat slowly until the sugar has dissolved then increase the heat and bring to the boil for around 8 minutes. Test by spooning a little into a bowl of cold water – it should harden instantly. Stir in the salt then remove from the heat. Dip each apple into the caramel, twist using the stick making sure all but the very top is covered and place on baking tray. Allow to cool before eating.

Make day of the dead masks

National Museums Liverpool has lots of spooky stuff going on for Halloween, but if your kids are crafty then they might like to have a go at making Day of The Dead masks. On October 29 & 30, World Museum is doing its own version of Mexico’s traditional celebration when cemeteries and streets are filled with brightly-coloured skeleton, skull and flower decorations. Visitors can make masks and skeletons and help create a communal art piece which will be used as a backdrop for a special Day of the Dead ceremony.

Find out more here.

Have an Eerie experience at home

The Reader Storybarn in Calderstones Park is inviting little ghouls to join them on a friendly ghostly storytelling adventure. Eerie Ears is a spooktacular immersive audio adventure that tells the story of Geoffrey, a friendly ghost who needs families to use their imagination, and a few things from around their home, to help him get back to the Storybarn. The 30-minute interactive experience is suitable for kids aged 4+ and is available to stream from The Reader’s website until November 7 for a one-off price.

Get more info here.

Carve your pumpkins – here’s a few top tips!

Everyone loves pumpkin carving, so here are a few tips to make sure yours looks even scarier than normal.

1. Cut it from the bottom. Yes, we know, the temptation is to carve a circle around the stalk, but if you go from underneath, most of the gunk and seeds will come away with the disc when you take it out.
2. Don’t waste the seeds. Throw what you’ve scooped out into a bowl of cold water, give it a stir and the gunk should sink while the seeds float to the top. Dry them off and roast them with oil, salt and pepper for a snack to have while you’re watching scary films.
3. Make a stencil of your design on paper then transfer it onto the pumpkin using a fork or pencil to make holes along the lines so it’s easier to cut through when you’re carving.

Take your little ghouls (and boys!) to the Ottersghoul Party

Otterspool Adventure down on the waterfront is throwing Ottersghoul Parties for adults and kids and the Halloween one proved so popular that an extra evening session – Friday October 30 from 6.30-8.30pm – has been added. Tickets include access to all park activities, a spooky show by Heartburn Entertainment, characters to interact with, a haunted maze, hot food for adults and lunchbox and sweets bag for kids.

Tickets and more info here.