With the UK on an inexorable path towards American-levels of excitement and consumption around Halloween, those who love expressing their creativity in the medium of pumpkin are truly spoilt for choice.
Pumpkin High Tea Workshop at The Skip Garden
First up is an event at the fantastic Skip Garden in King’s Cross, the portable and sustainable urban allotment that featured on the cover of last month’s Gasholder magazine. They launch their autumn season of family events (see here for full details of the programme) with two workshops offering you a chance to produce, then eat a variety of pumpkin-based dishes at a ‘high tea’. The events are in association with This Is Rubbish, the organisation that campaigns to reduce the UK’s shocking amount of food waste. So while others are busy thoughtlessly chucking out the centre of their pumpkins just to stick a candle in the middle, you will be eating a delicious spread of orange-tinged treats. Thurs 29th October, 3pm and 5.30pm. £5 in advance, book tickets here
Creative Pumpkin Painting Workshop
Local estate agent Greene & Co are turning their swish Kentish Town office over to an all-day oversized fruit painting bonanza on Saturday. Head down there for free with the kids in tow, and you can grab a pumpkin plus a selection of paints and create a spooky, funny or simply ridiculous seasonal work of art to take home. We hear there will also be plenty of sweets for the trick or treat brigade too, which should, hopefully, keep the branch from getting too covered in rogue splashes of paint. They do suggest kids wear suitably old clothes though, despite providing disposable aprons, and there will be a face painter on hand for those that actively wish to get covered in the stuff. Sat 31st October, 11am – 3pm, Greene & Co Kentish Town branch, 12 Highgate Road, NW5. More info here.
Spooky Stables at Camden Market
Pumpkin art gets an urban twist all this week down in Camden, where a selection of street artists will be carving and painting the things for a huge art installation. Tomorrow (Wednesday 28th) is the day to go and see artists Captain Kris, SPZero76, Mr Christa and Tommy Fiendish at work, and if one particular pumpkin catches your eye, they’ll be available for sale later. Then Thursday is the day to get stuck in spraying and carving yourself with a workshop from Positive Arts and Friday is all about face painting. Meanwhile the Cereal Killer Café are dishing up ‘terrifying’ cocktails served by ‘walking dead’ staff throughout, and you can win cereal-themed prizes too. Wed 28th to Sat 31st October, midday – 6pm. Full info here.
