Halloween fun without a frightening price tag in St Austell town centre

TWO weeks of spooky family fun is being organised in the centre of St Austell to celebrate Halloween. 

St Austell Town Team has been working with local businesses and community partners to bring together a programme of Halloween-themed activities for local families, including a free town-wide trick or treat trail, between October 19 and November 1. 

A spokesperson for St Austell Town Team, a group of volunteers working to bring the community together, support town centre activity and make St Austell a welcoming place to live, work and visit, said: “With plenty of free activities alongside a small number of bookable sessions, there’s something for families to enjoy without the frightening price tag. 

“One of the highlights is the free town-wide trick or treat trail, with participating businesses across St Austell town centre welcoming children inside to collect a little treat. 

“Look out for pumpkin-themed trick or treat station stickers in participating shop windows. Whether it’s sweets, something homemade or another little surprise, there’ll be plenty of reasons to explore the town. And don’t worry, this is one occasion when being caught lurking around shop doorways is positively encouraged! 

“Families are encouraged to bring their little monsters along in their Halloween fancy dress, too. After all, those costumes cost enough, so why not get another outing out of them before the children outgrow them? Dressing up is entirely optional, of course. 

“Participants so far include Into The Realm, NatWest, The Works, Grape Tree, Jake's Bakes, It's Mini Things, Rosie Clay, 6 Roots Barber Club, Kernow Darts, Springfield Pantry, Hamilton Tanning, Tebes African, Lang Llewellyn, Tanya's Courage and Sew & Fabric. 

“The wider programme features activities delivered by local partners, including creative crafting at the Market House, crazy golf and ping pong supported by St Austell BID (Business Improvement District), children’s storytelling sessions and a creative writing workshop. The final weekend brings even more Halloween fun, including a pumpkin carving competition and St Austell's annual Zombie Walk and Halloween Party. 

“The events form part of St Austell Town Team's ongoing work to make the town a more vibrant, welcoming and inclusive place for residents and visitors.” 

Jake Richards, chair of St Austell Town Team, said: “There’s so much going on in St Austell, but one of the biggest challenges we face is making sure people know about it. We regularly hear from people who didn’t realise an event was happening until it was too late, so we’re really keen to spread the word and encourage families to come into town. 

“We want to show families that there’s plenty happening right here in St Austell. We’ve been working with local businesses and organisations to pull together a varied programme of activities, with lots of opportunities for children to have fun without families needing to spend a fortune. 

“The free trick or treat trail is something we're particularly excited about. It’s a lovely way for children to enjoy Halloween while discovering local shops and businesses, and hopefully encouraging families to spend a little more time in our town centre.”