The Spookley Pumpkin Festival is back again at Apley Farm Shop this Autumn, 14-15 Oct & during the October half term week 21-29 Oct.

The festival provides a great, non-scary family day out. Perfect for all ages who are ready to get their wellies on & have some wholesome, earthy fun.

Lord Hamilton began “This year, due to the popularity of the event, we are offering a whopping 3300 places aboard the Pumpkin Express. Each Express train has 20 places & it runs 15 times a day for 11 days, giving customers plenty of choice. “ There will be masses for everyone to do - ride the Pumpkin Express, listen to the Spookley story, select a pumpkin, carve it in our Carving Cavern, get your face painted, hair braided & glitter tattoos, walk the free pumpkin nature trail, enjoy the daily pumpkin barbecue in the Apley Courtyard, taste pumpkin recipes in the Creamery Café & finally pick up a free, take-home pumpkin recipe card. Before heading home, pick up the Spookley book, DVD & toy.

“Since we began Spookley 5 years ago in 2013, hundreds of children have come to us & had hours of non-scary, pumpkin family fun. There’s also an anti-bullying message to hear in the Spookley story – he was the square pumpkin & when being different came in handy, he became the hero of the day“ explained John Wesley, General Manager.

Apley Farm Shop’s team will be dressed up to really get into the spirit of the pumpkin festival & we invite customers to do the same.

“The children love our Mrs Pumpkin who reads the Spookley story aboard the Pumpkin Express” added Charlotte Payton, Pigg’s Playbarn manager.

Customers are encouraged to post their photos of their fancy dress & carved pumpkins on the Pigg’s Playbarn Facebook page to have a chance to win two Spookley Little Pigg’s hampers, each worth £55. The hampers includes a year’s membership for Pigg’s Playbarn. The best fancy dress & best carved pumpkin winners will be selected & informed on Tuesday 31 October.

The Festival runs daily 9.30-5.30pm daily (Sunday 5pm).

To book, just go to the Apley Farm Shop website & click on Apley Ticket Office.

Turning up is fine, but booking is safer, to avoid disappointment.

Tickets start at £3. For the first time, there is a £24.50 Spooktacular ticket which includes Pumpkin Express, storytelling, 2 pumpkins (one to take home), the carving cavern, a carving kit, the Spookley book & Spookley DVD. Babies under the age of one can travel on the Pumpkin Express for free.

https://apleyfarmshop.digitickets.co.uk/tickets