PUMPKINS, parades and parties are just some of the trick-or-treats in store in Sunderland as the city prepares for its spookiest ever Halloween.
From 25 October to 3 November the city is holding a Lights Out festival celebrating all things sinister and scary.
And organisers Sunderland BID and Sunderland City Council, supported by the Bridges, Gentoo, University of Sunderland and Sunderland College, have unveiled their packed programme for 10 days of activities, parades, workshops and trails.
The festival will begin on 25 October at Club Upside Down, Vine Place, which is getting the ball rolling with The Happedaze Horror Show with clubbers invited to turn up in Halloween costumes.
Then, on Saturday 26, National Glass Centre will host a Halloween Family Fun Day, while Bonded Warehouse, at Fish Quay, will be the setting for a Spooktacular Bingo Revolution – with comedy and a variety of prizes up for grabs.
Runners of all ages can let off steam at a spooky park run at Sunderland’s Mowbray Park on Sunday 27 and, on 28 October, the Empire Theatre will hold an Ugly Sisters’ Trick or Treat Trail.
Experts at National Glass Centre will be demonstrating how to blow glass pumpkins on 28, 29 and 30 October and on 31 October the topic will be lanterns – traditionally lit on Halloween to ward off evil spirits.
Also, on 31 October, Seaburn’s Roker Hotel will throw a Not So Scary Halloween Party, while Sunderland Museum will host the first of two spooky science parties – the second being held the following evening.
And horror fans can attend supper and a special screening of Ballet with Dracula at Sunderland Empire Cinemas.
Bowling fans can try their hand at Monster Bowls at Sunderland Bowl from 31 October to 3 November and, on Friday 1 November, there will be a community costume parade throughout the city centre – in which everyone is welcome to take part.
That evening The Albert, at Fawcett Street, is holding a Halloween party, while, on 2 and 3 November families can take part in a Halloween creatures-themed trail at Sunderland Museum.
Throughout the festival there will be family friendly activities in the specially-dressed the Bridges shopping centre and events will draw to a close, on Sunday 3 November, with an alternative night market Halloween special at The Roker Hotel.
“We really believe that Sunderland will be the place to be this Halloween, with something for everyone,” said Sharon Appleby, Head of Business Operations at Sunderland BID.
“Businesses and organisations across the city have really got behind the Lights Out festival to make sure that it’s really special and we hope people will come from across the region to enjoy what we have in store for them.”
For full details of each day’s events visit www.sunderlandbid.co.uk.