Love Basingstoke Presents returns this October half term with five days of free spooktacular fun across the Top of the Town from Monday 23 to Friday 27 October from 11am to 3pm.

All activities are free, most activities you can just turn up to enjoy, but ceramic painting and slime making do require pre-booking (see links below).

Monday 23 October 2023

Head into town for some crafty fun to kick off Halloween. Paint your own pottery with local ceramic studio Pots2Paint - be prepared as you may get messy! Spaces are limited on these one-hour workshops and booking is required in advance using the links below:

11am workshop - NOW FULLY BOOKED
12.30pm workshop - NOW FULLY BOOKED
2pm workshop - NOW FULLY BOOKED

Get into the Halloween spirit making spooky and scary arts and crafts artwork with local artists Rachel Davis and Jacky Purtill from 11am to 3pm in Market Place. Enjoy making scary spiders, spooky ghosts, magic wands, moon and star decorations, crazy paper plate creatures and other fun arts and crafts to take home.

Tuesday 24 October 2023

Halloween isn’t complete without a potion. Get ready to explore your creativity with local company See Scents to create a magical, fizzing potion to empty into your next bath. Head to Cross Street and drop in between 11am and 3pm.

An outdoor planetarium will pop up in Market Place. Immerse yourself in a 360-degree short film experience between 11am and 3pm, with showings run every 20 minutes.

Head on an exciting adventure of mischief and magic with Routine Riots through Wandering Woods and across a froggy, boggy swamp to hear the tale of Grotty Greta and The Naughty Magic Shoes unfold. The interactive storytelling sessions take place in Cross Street at 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm.

Meet Madam Pumpkin who has a box of tricks! Dare to pop your hand inside the box to guess which creepy object you can feel? There will be bubbles, stickers and plenty of photo opportunities at 10.45am, 11.45am, 12.45pm and 1.45pm.

Wednesday 25 October 2023

Can you help Felicity Featherstone get back on track after her library of spellbooks went up in smoke? There will be surprises in store and hopefully a little magic on the puzzle potion trail. This is an outside activity that will require a little bit of searching throughout the Top of the Town area, suitable for children under eight and those older with a sense of fun! Starting at the Triumphal Gates, London Street at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

Local artist Junk Jodie will be in London Street from 11am to 3pm, drop in for some Halloween makes and takes.

Thursday 26 October 2023

Thursday is a day of stories, trails and craft.

Local storyteller Lizzy will be in Market Place from 11am to 3pm sharing stories on the theme of light. Expect puppets, drama, music and audience participation.

Pick up a trail map in Market Place and find the clues around the Top of the Town to work out the answer to the multiply trail. Return your completed trail to pick up a prize. Please note that an adult will need to provide contact details to the Multiply Team to collect the prize.

Create tree hanging witches, ghosts and spooky beasties with local artist Louise Hight from 11am to 3pm in Market Place.

Friday 27 October 2023

On Friday, have some ‘fang’tastic fun getting slimy with the Creation Station. There are seven workshops lasting 25 minutes from 11am. Space on the workshops is limited, please pre-book using the links below to avoid disappointment. Be prepared you may get messy.

11am workshop - NOW FULLY BOOKED
11.30am workshop- NOW FULLY BOOKED
12noon workshop- NOW FULLY BOOKED
12.30pm workshop- NOW FULLY BOOKED
1.30pm workshop- NOW FULLY BOOKED
2pm workshop- NOW FULLY BOOKED
2.30pm workshop- NOW FULLY BOOKED

Little ones can really look the part as there will be face painting from 11am to 3pm in Market Place.

Last but definitely not least, the BVA team need your help as Halloween pumpkins have left their home at The Orchard and gone hiding in the War Memorial Park. Can you help them find them in time for Halloween using the clues they left behind? Collect your free map from The Orchard (White Hart Lane, Basingstoke, RG21 4AF) where the trail starts between 11am and 2pm. There will be a ‘sweet’ treat waiting for those who complete the trail!

For full details of events, including locations and times take a look at our Autumn fun programme. If you are looking for other ideas to keep your little ones or not so little ones entertained then see our ‘fang-tastic’ guide to what’s on in Basingstoke and Deane.

Love Basingstoke Presents is organised by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Booking will be required for workshops where spaces are limited and these spaces can be reserved via a third party website, Eventbrite. Clicking the links to book will take you to the Eventbrite website. Please familiarise yourself with its Privacy Policy. If you have any queries or would prefer not to use Eventbrite please get in touch via hello@lovebasingstoke.co.uk. Workshop places are free of charge.

October 2023