As the days draw in, you may be starting to think about Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas.
Here are some ideas for spooky fun, for adults and children, in the Sudbury area:
•The Quay Theatre’s annual film ‘horrorthon’, Sudbury
Sudbury’s Quay Theatre are screening seven classic horror films - back to back - on Saturday October, 27.
Horrorthon starts at midday and features: Carrie, The Hills Have Eyes, Suspiria, Re-Animator, The Brood, Hellraiser and Phantasm.
Tickets are £20 for all seven films and can be bought from the Quay Theatre in Quay Lane.
If you can stomach it, call 01787 374745 or see here.
•Kentwell Hall’s School of Sorcery, Long Melford
During October half-term, Kentwell’s School of Sorcery and Magic will again be welcoming new students for the Halloween intake.
Families are invited for a fun-filled morning or afternoon of magical learning.
Witches, wizards, tutors and professors will pass on their knowledge in the Magic Class, the Potion Class, the Fairy Identification Class (and hunt) and the Illusion Class.
You get to make your own wand, and learn how to use it, and collect stamps to add to your report card for when you visit the headmaster.
Families are also invited to take part in the Sorcery Games - lots of Halloween -inspired challenges, including the Dragon Woods, Fear Alley, Tunnel of Light, Assault Course and the Broomstick Challenge.
Dress up in your favourite Halloween outfits, or come in outfits suitable for the School of Sorcery - but make sure you are wrapped up warm underneath them, and feel free to wear wellies as most of the activities will be outside.
The sessions take about two hours to complete so make sure you arrive in good time. The event closes at 4pm.
Advance booking is essential. Call 01787 310 207 or see here.
•Halloween craft workshops at Duck in Boots, Sudbury
Duck in Boots in King Street, Sudbury, are hosting a whole variety of kid-friendly Halloween craft activities.
Why not make vampire bath bombs on October 20 at 9.30am to add some frightening fizz to the tub?
Blood red and black, as well as scented, they are easy to make, though younger children may need some help from grown-ups.
All materials are included and it costs £5.50 per child.
The Halloween season is not complete without a glowing lantern.
At the workshop on Monday, October 22, at 10.30am there will be a choice of lanterns you can make and you should be able to make at least two over the length of the workshop (1.5 hours). It costs £7 per child.
The workshops include refreshments for up to one adult per child as well as drinks for the kids. They ask that only one adult per child attends due to space.
To book pop in, call 01787 882891 or see here.
•Scaresville at Kentwell Hall, Long Melford
The award-winning ‘Scaresville - the Haunted Village’ at Kentwell Hall, running until November 3, is designed to get you heart racing as you enjoy (or not!) an unsettling hour of thrills and spills.
Visitors enter in groups and traverse the woods, buildings, and parkland of the haunted village, where Scaresville residents might be encountered anywhere, at any time, en route.
While you wait to journey around Scaresville, you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy yourself in our Unfairground. Here you may find orphaned acrobats, a bearded lady, wandering magicians and fire displays to keep you entertained until your group is called into the Scarezone.
New for 2018, have a go at the witchcraft-themed rapid escape room. Can you beat the clock and exit before you are forever cursed?
Once you have returned from the ‘other side’ you can share your hair-raising accounts at the bar, BAR-baric, while the Halloween-inspired playlist sets the scene. Alcoholic drinks and bar snacks will be available here on most evenings during Scaresville.
You can arrive up to 15 minutes before your booked entry time band, and the group needs to be checked in by halfway through. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you will be let in.
Scaresville is a pre-booked, ticketed event. Timeslots have already started to sell out and almost all nights sell out in advance (any unsold tickets will be sold on the door for a £5 surcharge). Prices will generally increase towards the date.
For more information and tickets see here.
•Autumn colours at Daws Hall, Lamarsh, Bures
While not Halloween-related, it would be a shame to miss the beautiful autumn hues at Daws Hall, Lamarsh.
On Sunday October 28, from 12pm to 4pm, there is an autumn colours open afternoon.
Visitors can enjoy a stroll through the spectacular nature reserve and gardens. The Sanctuary gardens are “a blaze of colour”, when the collection of more than 50 different acers and several different nyssas can be seen at their best.
The entire garden is wheelchair accessible and has several benches to rest and take in the view, including the beautiful wildfowl.
On the reserve find the education team for family fireside-fun in the woods, and maybe a toasted marshmallow!
Complete the afternoon with a hot drink and slice of cake in the cosy classroom.
No pre-booking is necessary. Tickets, to be purchased on the gate, are £6 for adults, £1 for children (under 5s go free).
No dogs are allowed on site.
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