A frightfully fun programme of activities is being crafted for children this October half-term as the Love Basingstoke team returns to Basingstoke’s Top of the Town and Cross Street.

Ghoulishly good activities on offer for those aged three to 13 include mask making, performances from Bubblesman and Scratch Built Productions, a caving experience, a Halloween disco and biscuit decorating. The free activities, funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, will take place between 11am and 3pm every day from Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 October.

On Wednesday 29 October, Cross Street will be packed full of spine-tingling fun. Makendoo will be running workshops to create a spooky Halloween mask, while Bubblesman will be mesmerising audiences with his performances and offering the chance for them to have a go as well.

Also in Cross Street, Scratch Built Productions will present their Magical Market Stall, combining puppetry and clowning in a fun street performance. Visitors will also find Scrap Susie there for some spook-tacular recycled crafts and head underground with a helmet and torch in the caving experience.

On Thursday 30 October, the Basingstoke Witches are hosting a pre-Halloween party with seasonal games such as pin the wart on the witch and tombstone toss. Artist Olivia will be on hand to help children create their very own magical wands and crowns, while See Scents will also be helping visitors make their own fizzing potions. These activities can all be found in Cross Street.

Also in Cross Street, Mrs Sprocket’s Rocket Rescue will be an interactive story time performance, with puppets, music and movement. For something more adventurous, the Love Basingstoke team will host some interactive games nearby, while a 7.3-metre-tall activity wall in Market Place will test those brave enough to tackle it.

On Friday 31 October, the Love Basingstoke team will be getting children in the mood with a Halloween disco and fancy-dress competition. Maximum Role Play will unveil their bubbling mud kitchen, while a face painter will be on hand to create transformations into ghouls, witches, pumpkins and monsters. For those who want to start the sugar rush early, pumpkin-shaped biscuits can be decorated, with all these activities taking place in Market Place.

BVA will also have hidden pumpkins all around War Memorial Park. Visitors can pick up a trail map at the Orchard Café and return for a sweet treat once they have found them all.

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “There are lots of free activities to help families get in the Halloween spirit and get out and about in the town centre this October half-term.

“Whether you fancy adventure on the climbing wall or caving experience, being creative by making your own wand, potion and crown, want to be transformed into a supernatural being by a face painter, or reckon you have the best Halloween fancy dress to win our competition, there is something for everyone.

“Please visit the Love Basingstoke website and social media channels to help plan your days and check for any last-minute changes.”

To find more information about all these activities or to find even more ideas for half-term fun, residents should visit www.LoveBasingstoke.co.uk