A popular Halloween event will return to thrill guests and transform the centre of town later this month.

Hexham’s hugely popular Spook Night returns this year on Saturday, October 26.

It 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-9pm. 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 on Saturday for families.”

Free or low-cost activities include Skeletons in the Abbey; Scaredy Cat Crafts and Story Times 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 6s, 6-9 years old, 10-16 years old, adults and best-dressed family. The family competition involves total voucher prizes of £200. 

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 are offering an hour-long tour through Hexham’s gruesome past at 1pm; and Hexham’s Project Escape offers spooky escape rooms such as Sherlocked: The Case of the Hexham Heads and The Cursed Attic. Hexham Community Centre is hosting Pumpkin Carving and a Halloween Arty Party.

Deb 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.” 

Timings, locations and booking information for all of the above will be available on the Visit Hexham website leading up to the event. Advance booking is advised for ticketed events.

Spook Night is organised by M&C Funfairs with Hexham Community Partnership on behalf of Hexham Town Council.