Spook Night set to return to Hexham with fairground rides

The event, which will take place on Saturday, October 26, promises families a mixture of fairground rides and 'old-fashioned Halloween fun'.

The centre of Hexham will be transformed by the Spook Night funfair that runs along Hexham’s Beaumont Street and into the Abbey Grounds from 2pm to 9pm.

There will be nearly 30 rides and stalls at the event (Image: Roger Clegg) Nearly 30 rides and stalls will be in town this year.

Deb Anderson, manager of Hexham Community Partnership, said: "We’re proud that Spook Night is very much a community effort with lots going on beyond the thrills of the fair.

"Organisations and businesses across Hexham work together and really embrace the spooky theme.

"Whatever your budget, there’ll be a brilliant variety of things to do."

A Spook Night 2023 fancy dress winner (Image: Hexham Community Partnership) Free or low-cost activities include Skeletons in the Abbey; Creepy Crafts and Slightly Scary Storytime at Hexham Library; a witch’s den and lantern making at the Queen’s Hall; Spooky Stories at Cogito Books; spooky face painting in the Forum Cinema café; and Halloween-inspired dance routines at the bandstand from Studio K.

Hexham Spook Night’s fancy dress competitions are free to enter and include categories for the under sixes, six-nine years old, 10-16 years old, adults and best-dressed family.

The family competition involves total cash prizes of £200.

A Spook Night Studio K routine (Image: Hexham Community Partnership) Ms Anderson said: "Once again, Hexham Community Partnership is running a Spookiest Window Competition for shops and businesses.

"Checking out the windows and deciding on your favourite is a fun way to explore Hexham.

"We’ve already got some strong contenders!"

Hexham Old Gaol will be running a Skull Trail and the Forum cinema is screening The Witches (PG), Beetlejuice (12A) and Young Frankenstein (12A).

Hidden Horrors Walking Tours will be offering an hour-long tour through Hexham's 'gruesome past', and Hexham's Project Escape is offering 'spooky' escape rooms.

Sarah Davidson and Bettina Newton at the 2023 Spook Night event (Image: Hexham Community Partnership)

Hexham Community Centre will play host to pumpkin carving and a Halloween Arty Party.

Timings, locations and booking information for all of the above will be available on the Visit Hexham website in the days leading up to the event.

Advance booking is advised for ticketed events.