On Saturday we did loads of Halloween-related activities and I thought I’d share a few snaps with you!

First, we got crafty by making these masquerade masks. This one is mine. The project wasn’t all that frugal but if you’d like to make your own you can find everything you need at your nearest Hobby Craft (which currently is running on offer on free shipping for orders over £25, wouldn’t you know).

Next up, we carved jack-o-lanterns. Scooping out (and playing with) the pumpkin guts was probably our favourite part of the day. The result is above.

While all this was going on, we’d roasted a cooking pumpkin. I had planned to make pumpkin pie, but in the end decided to bake pumpkin bread. I found this recipe online which turned out gorgeous, but made a LOT of batter and should probably be considered a cake vs a bread.

Finally we toasted our pumpkin seeds which also turned out delicious.

Ah…an exhausting but really fun day!

On Saturday, drop by the Tate Britain for Spooky Tate, a free, Halloween-themed day of stories and entertainment throughout the gallery: From 12:00 – 17:00 you’ll be able to:

• Create your own trick or treat costumes
• Hear the spooky stories behind the paintings
• Make your own dancing skeleton puppet
• Help us fill the galleries with thousands of spiders and bats

On Sunday, the British Museum is celebrating the Day of the Dead with free events and activities from 11:00 – 17:00. There are loads of fun activities for the whole family.

There will be dancing, music and art performances all day in the Great Court, carnival parades of dancing skeletons led by Mandinga Arts 13.30 and 16.15 as well as art workshops, storytelling and face painting. To see a full list of family-friendly activities, click here, or download a pdf of  the entire event schedule here.

For even more fun Halloween events, check out last week’s post: Almost Free this Weekend: National Trust Halloween Events.

More for the healthy half term file!

British Gas has pledged £15 investment in British Swimming over the next six years and will support swimming from learners to elite athletes as well as water polo, diving and other related activities.

So what does that mean for you?

Through 31st March 2010 British Gas has teamed up with hundreds of pools around the UK to provide customers a free family swim. Click here to find a pool near you and register for your voucher. For more information on the programme visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming

In addition, British Gas has joined forces with Sharron Davies to offer the following top ten tips to encourage families to take the plunge with the Free Swim campaign.

Ten tips to swimming success

1. Don’t feel you need to be a strong swimmer to participate. If you’re not a confident swimmer, check for the availability of lifeguards in the pools you visit and make sure they’re aware of any concerns you might have.
2. Buy an annual swim pass. This will help you save money, and encourage you to go more often.
3. Set realistic goals. It can be difficult to squeeze another activity into the hectic family schedule, so why not set yourself manageable goals? Start with trying to swim together once a month, and them increase it to twice a month and so on. Before you know it you’ll be in a regular swimming habit.
4. Start a family challenge. Set the kids achievable targets and make sure Mum and Dad match them so the whole family can join in.
5. Join a parents and toddlers group. Children can learn to swim at any age but it’s when they’re still toddlers that the pick it up the most quickly. Many pools offer group swimming lessons for parents and their little ones, which are really great not only for teaching your kids to love the water but also for socialising with other parents in the area.
6. Bring lots of toys along. Kids love buoyancy aids such as swimming noodles and rubber rings and lots of pools provide them for free.  Give a couple to your kids and watch them go!
7. Make sure you bring goggles. It sounds like a small thing but many children are put off swimming by the stinging sensation chlorine can cause.  Make sure you always have a pair of goggles to hand and watch them explore their underwater world!
8. Look for offers. British Gas customers can make the most of the free family swim offer until March next year. The government are also offering free swims to those under sixteen and over 60, so make sure you find out if you’re local pool is participating.
9. Learn to swim. Lots of pools offer adult swimming lessons – it’s never too late to learn. Why not ask at your local pool and learn with your child so you can make the most of fun family swimming occasions.
10. Go off peak. If you’re feeling self conscious about stripping down to your swim suit, ask your local pool which is the quietest time and make this your weekly visit. Some pools even have women-only sessions which could be a great place to start.

The National Trust has loads of family-friendly, affordable events on this weekend to celebrate Halloween.

Ahhh. I’m tired. I’m just going to cut and paste all the stuff from their website about the events even though that’s a bit sucky.

Here is a list of all the wonderful things to do this weekend from the National Trust. Click here for their website.

Erddig, Wrexham
Halloween Hootings
25 October 11am – 4pm

Take part in our Halloween workshop with live owls, scary bat hunts, stories with Hagrid from ‘Harry Potter’, spooky witches, live scorpions, spiders and snakes. Plus there’s free admission to children in fancy dress.

• Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional events charges.
• Booking is not needed for this event.
• For more information please call 01978 315151.

Belton House, Lincolnshire
Halloween Happenings
26-31 October & 1 November 11am – 4.30pm

Wear your spookiest costume and join us for the Magpie’s Treasure Trail in the Garden. Then afterwards, why not indulge in some frighteningly good food in the restaurant. There’ll be a prize for all junior participants.

• Normal admission charges apply plus an additional event charge of £1.50 for the trail.
• Booking is not needed for this event.
• For more information please call 01476 566116.

Polesden Lacey, Surrey
Polesden Lacey Witch’s Spooky Halloween Trail
26-30 October 10am – 3.30pm

Follow the witch’s instructions and complete this creepy trail within the grounds at Polesden Lacey.

• Normal admission charges apply plus an additional event charge of £2 per child.
• Booking is not neededfor this event.
• For more information please call 01372 458203.

Quarry Bank Mill and Styal Estate, Cheshire
October half-term activities
26-31 October & 1 November 12pm – 3pm

Craft activities with a Halloween theme plus follow the Halloween trail through the Mill.

• Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional charges.
• Booking is not needed for this event.
• For more information please call 01625 445850.

Attingham Park, Shropshire
Spooky Walk Night
28-30 October 5pm, 6.30pm & 8pm

Join us on a horrifying tour of Attingham if you dare. Please wear warm clothing and good walking footwear and bring along your torch. Note – This event is not suitable for children under 8yrs.

• Event charges £12 for adults and £8 for children.
• Booking is essential for this event please call 01743 708170.
• For more information please call 01743 708123.

Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire
Halloween at Wimpole
30 October 6pm – 9pm

Explore the Hall and Gardens at night and meet the strange inhabitants of Wimpole on this ghostly evening – but only if you dare. Spooky food will be available in the restaurant.

• Timed tickets in half hour slots between 6pm – 9pm.
• Event charges adults £7.50, children £6 and families £26.
• Booking is essential for this event please call 01223 206000.

Killerton, Devon
Halloween- Spooky nights in the garden
30-31 October 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Beware of the strange and spooky creatures that lurk in Killerton’s lit up ‘night time’ garden. Come dressed in your Halloween best and prepare to be scared.

• Booking is not needed for this event.
• For more information and prices please call 01392 881345.

Brownsea Island, Dorset
Halloween Weekend
31 October & 1 November 10am – 3pm

Gruesome Halloween crafts and activities! Follow our Brownsea bats on a Halloween trail and join in with the ‘make and take’ Halloween activities in the Visitor Centre.

• Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional charges.
• Booking is not needed for this event.
• For more information please call 01202 707744.

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire
Halloween Story-telling in the Hayloft
31 October 2pm – 4pm

Spooky stories for four to nine year olds. Dress up in your spookiest attire and win a prize for the best costume. Normal admission charges apply plus there is an event cost of £1.50 per person (including refreshments).

• Booking is essential for this event please call 01765 643166.
• For more information please call 01765 608888.

Sutton House, London
Halloween Ghost Tours
31 October 5pm – 5.45pm, 6pm – 6.45pm, 7pm – 7.45pm & 8pm – 8.45pm

An eerie evening tour of Sutton House, unveiling the mysteries of its ghostly past. Scary stuff for you and your family. Tours at 5pm (for children), 6pm, 7pm & 8pm. Note – this event is suitable for children over the age of eight years.

• Event charges adults £6 and children £3.50.
• Booking is essential for this event -please call 0844 249 1895.
• For more information please call 0208 9862264.

Carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns is a brilliant Halloween tradition. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Let each kid pick a pumpkin with personality.

2. Cut a cap by carving a big circle around the stem on top of the pumpkin. Scrape all of the pulp away from the inside of the cap.

3. Give kids big spoons to scoop out all of the pulp and seeds (or have them use their hands). Then help them scrape the insides clean–the cleaner and drier the pumpkin, the longer it will last. Set seeds aside for roasting.

4. Let kids draw a face on the pumpkin with a permanent marker. An adult or older child can then help cut the eyes, nose and mouth holes. Or get fancy with patterns like these.

5. Set a lit votive candle carefully inside and place the jack-o-lantern in a window or front garden.

Some stores sell pumpkin carving kits, like this one at Waitrose, but you don’t need them. Just a sharp knife, big spoons, a permanent marker and some clothes that can get a bit messy will do you just fine!

If your neighborhood is big on trick-or-treating, be prepared for a night of fun! If you haven’t bought your sweets yet, here’s a rundown of prices around town:

ASDA

Milky Way, Mars, Twix and Maltesers Funsize for 3 for £4
Expires 1/12/09

Cadbury Heroes, Cadbury Roses, Nestle Quality Street and Mars Celebrations for £5

These and more ASDAs trick-or-treat offers listed here

Tesco

Cadbury’s Treatsize Variety Tub and Swizzels Spooky Selection for £5
Expires 27/10/09

Cadbury’s Treatsize Buttons, Dairy Milk, Twirls and Crunchie 2 for £3
Expires 3/11/09

Milky Way, Mars, Mars Stars, Twix and Maltesers Funsize for £2
Expires 27/10/09

Nestle Quality Street for £5
Expires 20/10/09

Haribo Trick or Treat Bag for £3
Expires 3/11/09

These and more Tesco trick-or-treat offers listed here

Sainsbury’s

Animated trick-or-treat bowl for £6.99 (see snap)

Milky Way, Mars, Bounty, Twix and Maltesers Funsize for £1.50

These and more Sainsbury’s trick-or-treat offers listed here

Waitrose

Large pumpkin trick-or-treat bag for £6

Halloween milk chocolate eyeballs, spiders and pumpkins for £1.29

Swizzels Party Time tub of mixed sweets (3.5 kg) £14.99

These and more Waitrose trick-or-treat offers listed here

Heaps of great posts around the budget blogosphere with budget Halloween costume ideas. Here is a roundup of some of my faves, from classic to silly (can’t get enough roundups lately, are you with me?)

• Recycle! Take costumes from previous Halloweens and update them. Twice I’ve had my young daughter wear the same costume, which she looked just as cute in the second time. Turn a vampire cape into a Hogwart’s cloak with a few accessories. (Courtesy Tips for Halloween Savings from WalletPop)

• A Bag of Jellybeans. Cut arm and leg holes in a clear trashbag.  Put it on and fill with balloons of all colors.  Gather the bag at the neck and tie (but not too tightly).  Viola! (Courtesy Tightwad Tuesday: Frugal Halloween Costumes from BeingFrugal.net)

• Ghost (the classic). Cut white sheets to proper length for your child and decorate with cute or scary faces or cut out a section in the middle for the head so that the sheet fits like a poncho. (Courtesy Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids from Wisebread)

• Gum on a shoe. Wear all pink and Velcro a shoe to the top of your head. (Courtesy 25 Frugal Halloween Costumes from Moolanomey)

A really fun offer landed in my inbox from Woolworths.co.uk.

Special ‘Woolworths Movies for Juniors’ screenings of ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles‘ will take place at 67 Cineworld cinemas across the country the morning of Halloween.

The events are free, but you have to sign up to Woolworth.co.uk’s ‘Very Important Family’ Programme before the 23rd of October. Joining up is free, and once you’re registered, you’ll be invited to return to the site to download a free family cinema voucher which entitles you plus three friends to attend a screening. Register here.

Families are encouraged to turn up in their most haunting Halloween outfits for a chance to win ‘Most Frightening Family’ and ‘Most Creepy Child’ prizes. Every child in fancy dress will also receive a ‘Be Bright Be Seen’ reflector for safe trick or treating in the dark.  I’m promised there will also be Halloween games and plenty of fun and frolics!

I just got wind of a special offer on Thorntons Halloween lollies that are on sale in stores and online for 3 for £2, 5 for £3 or 69p apiece.

Take your pick from the milk chocolate skeleton, white chocolate ghost and milk chocolate pumpkin.

Trick or Treat, anyone?

It must be time to start planning for Halloween because I came across a post called Save Money at Halloween on Money Magpie today. In the post, Sarah Lockett, author of The Dish (a fun-sounding, land-a-man-by-way-of-his-stomach cookbook, if I’ve interpreted the Amazon description accurately), shares her recipe for Halloween cookies. I’m not exactly sure what makes these cookies “Halloween,” but they look pretty scrummy to me! The idea is that making your trick-or-treat treats rather than buying big bags of candy is cost-effective–and will impress the other mums and dads.