Get on the pandemic pumpkin trail for an alternative way to mark Halloween! And here's how to do it

The Big Neighbourhood Pumpkin Trail was launched by Fiona Simpson as a ‘Covid-safe alternative to trick or treating for children and their families’.

Fiona explained: “The idea is that everyone puts a pumpkin in their window and, over the Halloween weekend, children can go out pumpkin spotting."

Children can still get treats along the way because every time they spot a pumpkin in the window, their own parents can give them a sweet.

To support the plan, the Big Neighbourhood Pumpkin Trail has created its own trail sheet so children can ‘tick pumpkins off as they find them!’

It has also come up with ideas on how people can make their own lanterns and wreaths.

The Trail, which has its own Facebook page, is free to join and Fiona explained why she launched it.

"One positive to come out of the pandemic is that people have re-found their creativity and resourcefulness so there's some really brilliant creative ideas sharing - things like making ghost lanterns from milk cartons, giant spiders from packaging and DIY Halloween wreaths from things collected in the garden.

“The usual Halloween discos and big parties are off this year and so people are celebrating with their households at home.

"The group has become a fantastic place for sharing food and game ideas for at-home parties as well as people sharing their amazing decorations.”

So far, 67,000 people have joined the Trail across the UK, and Fiona added: “We are hoping to hit 75,000 by Halloween.”

Fiona is the boss of the Sunderland-based business Artventurers, which has franchises including in Hartlepool, East Durham, South Tyneside and Wearside.

But she has created numerous free initiatives during the lockdown.

First, she set up the Big Neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt.

Children decorated an Easter egg shape and displayed it in their windows for others to spot.

Then, she created a free Festival pack for people to make their own VE Day decorations and props.

Now comes the Big Neighbourhood Pumpkin Trail and Fiona said it had taken off ‘across the UK really - right from the Highlands down to the south, with Wales and Northern Ireland joining in too.”

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