Spines are chilling, blood is curdling and creepies are crawling
as the Peak District and Derbyshire get into their ghoulish guise
as Spookyshire during the autumn half-term break.
Nine days of magic, mirth and mayhem are promised as attractions
and accommodation providers across the area get into the spirit of
the countywide event, set to be staged from Saturday October 24 to
Sunday November 1.
Around 50 events - ranging from Hallowe'en high jinks at
Chatsworth to Derby's popular Ghost Walks - promise fun for all the
family during the new festival, co-ordinated by Visit Peak District
& Derbyshire (VPD&D) - the area's official tourist
board.
Other haunting happenings include a 'Hallowe'en Spooktacular'
with fireworks at Gulliver's Kingdom in Matlock Bath and Hallowe'en
activities at National Trust properties across the area.
Under-16s also have the chance to keep a colourful memento of
their eerie experiences thanks to a free Spookyshire Scrapbook from
VPD&D, which can be ordered now at
www.visitpeakdistrict.com/spookyshire and sent out by post or
picked up from local tourist information centres.
Youngsters can keep a record of what they do, including drawings
and photographs - and if they fill in and post a quick
questionnaire, they will have the chance to enter a prize draw to
win the very latest iPod nano (16 GB), which can download and play
videos as well as music.
The scrapbook also includes a handy pull-out events guide,
giving full details of the ghostly goings-on throughout the
week.
"There's a growing sense of excitement as attractions and
accommodation providers across the area get ready for action and
visitors prepare to be spellbound by Spookyshire," said David
Thornton, Deputy Chief Executive at VPD&D.
"We're encouraging young people to create their own Spookyshire
Scrapbook - and all they have to do is tell us what they did,
what they liked and didn't like, and what they would like to do in
the future - for the chance to win a state-of-the-art iPod nano in
cool Peak District purple.
"There's so much to do, at events from Sheffield in the north to
Swadlincote in the south, that we're encouraging visitors of all
ages to spread the fun over a longer stay, so they can make the
most of what's on offer across the area.
"And we're constantly updating the full range of activities and
accommodation deals on our website - at
www.visitpeakdistrict.com/spookyshire - so that anyone planning a
half-term holiday can keep checking out what's available right up
to the last minute."
Spookyshire is part of the 'Families Welcome' campaign funded by
East Midlands Tourism, and is being sponsored by Gulliver's
Kingdom, Chatsworth and the National Trust.