Halloweenfest Details For Businesses

Halloweenfest Comes To Herefordshire – A Touring Festival For A Spook’tastic October Half Term Of FREE Family Fun.

Herefordshire will be hosting the very first Halloweenfest this October half term, a Halloween themed festival which will be touring the county’s five market towns between 30 October and 3 November 2023 offering a host of fun for all the family.

The festival is FREE to attend and takes place each day from 10am to 4pm launching on Monday 30 October in Bromyard, moving on to Ross on Wye, Ledbury, Leominster and finishing off in Kington on Friday 3 November.

Each town will have its very own pop-up pumpkin patch centrally located where families can enjoy carving one of over 250 pumpkins a day as well as other craft activities which are being run in conjunction with local businesses including Yat Pottery in Ross on Wye and the Sydney Nolan Trust in Kington.

Children can grab a wheelbarrow to explore the hay filled pumpkin furrows, pick a pumpkin to either take home or carve as part of the festival and enter into the competition for the best carved pumpkin. Any pumpkins left over are being donated to the Kington Small Breeds Park Farm to use creating animal enrichment activities.

Other fun activities taking place include face painting, circus skills workshops, balloon modelling, music and magic as well as the opportunity to find out more about the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

Diane Mansell, Chief Executive of Herefordshire County BID who are organising this event as a Visit Herefordshire initiative said, “We wanted to host an event involving as many local businesses as possible which we hope will attract visitors from near and far and bring them into our market towns this autumn. Halloweenfest is a FREE family fun day out which we hope will be welcome as everyone is feeling the squeeze right now. In turn we hope the events will give a boost to our hospitality, retail and tourism businesses in each town. This festival complements the many other superb half term events and attractions already happening across the county at a time when Herefordshire is looking so beautiful as the autumn colours glow and our acres of orchards are being harvested. Herefordshire is truly autumn personified!”

In addition, each town will have its very own Scarecrow Trail for families to follow and enjoy throughout the half term week (this is open 28 October to 5 November), as well as the opportunity to win a gift voucher from local businesses who complete the trail and enter the prize draw.

Halloweenfest has been funded by the Herefordshire County BID and has received £14,309 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s Events and Festivals Grant Scheme. The festival is part funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information click below 

For further information about Halloweenfest and what’s on in each town click the link below – 

How Can Your Business Get Involved And Prepare For Halloweenfest  

Get that scary feeling going!

Whether your business is online or offline, you should definitely dress your shop/website up accordingly! Halloween is that one day of the year where it is acceptable to act foolishly, childishly and have fun being someone else. Sometimes carving a pumpkin is enough, but why wouldn’t you take it that one step further?! Why not add some creepy music when people enter your business or dress your frontage up to encourage visitors enjoying half term to come in and enjoy the festivities. 

Dress to impress… the dead!

Each year, we see many witches, devils, vampires and of course our favourite characters like Batman, Scooby Doo and Alice in Wonderland skipping through the leaves on Halloween, and although these people will be going out trick or treating or to spooky events it doesn’t mean that those in your business can’t take part. For businesses in retail and hospitality dressing up themed to your guest can be a winner. When it comes to customer services, show them that your business is fun and ready for Halloween especially during the Halloweenfest activities in the Market Towns. 

Blood-tastic treats!

Again, another one for those in retail and hospitality, offering things which are themed on Halloween can be a real crowd pleaser. Things like smoky drinks, or perhaps attaching fangs to a meal or glass can add to the atmosphere of Halloween and again it shows that your business is taking it seriously. It can work for both adults and children and is amazing on your socials. 

Throw a deadly party!

Halloween is a very good occasion to bring money into your business, especially if you host a themed party making it a lot easier for others to say yes to. Halloweenfest is an event outside of your business but why not bring it inside adding value to your business. Getting your businesses name out there is an extremely good way of getting publicity, which then broadens your brands name which ultimately invites new customers to your business.

If you have any special offers, activities or a spectacular window display let us know so we can promote it for you leading up to and during the Halloweenfest event