Halloween in the U.K

13329 Views 178 Replies 50 Participants Last post by hallorenescene, Nov 7, 2011

thatguycraig

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2009

hey guys - new the the forums..... OMGdan had me join who is a bit of a regular on here....

i gotta say, im excited as hell.... I want to be making stuff for halloween.... thinkin of custumes and such.... and thinkin of what cool stuff we can make for the TOT and the party at OMGdan's house. Last year i had a big party with load of ppl there, but we are going to "combine forces" this year and make summot big.... I'll put pic of on last year when i remember...

but it would be nice to see how many u.k forum members are out there and would be better if you would post pics of your parties/ TOT set ups etc... not excluding any other nationalities, of course.... just like to see... as we are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy behand the americans in this holiday get up!

1 - 20 of 179 Posts

digbugsgirl

· #2 · Jul 27, 2009

Welcome, thatguycraig!

OMGDan

· #3 · Jul 27, 2009

Bit of name dropping there craig haha.

I know of at least 5 that come to mind i think,

Spelling might be off but i am going from memory here,

magikbean, baron samedi, halloweensucksintheuk (wasn't hard to remember that one), scry, and i think there's someone else but i can't recall the username.

There's also pheonix_uk or something like that, but only ever really seen him in the props section.

Would be interested to get a bit of a head count and see their set-ups tho.

KATZILLA

· #4 · Jul 27, 2009

Welcome TGC !

freudstein

· #5 · Jul 27, 2009

Any friend of Dan is a friend of ours! Glad to have you aboard.

Hold up a min......

OMGDan said:
I know of at least 5 that come to mind i think,

magikbean, baron samedi, halloweensucksintheuk (wasn't hard to remember that one), scry, and i think there's someone else but i can't recall the username.

There's also pheonix_uk

You......forgot..........MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

here are 2 links of Halloween 2008. Link to the preperation

and here's one for the party pics.

ruggerz

· #6 · Jul 27, 2009

OMGDan said:
Bit of name dropping there craig haha.

I know of at least 5 that come to mind i think,

Spelling might be off but i am going from memory here,

magikbean, baron samedi, halloweensucksintheuk (wasn't hard to remember that one), scry, and i think there's someone else but i can't recall the username.

There's also pheonix_uk or something like that, but only ever really seen him in the props section.

Would be interested to get a bit of a head count and see their set-ups tho.

And Meee......LOL

Heres the setup from last year....but this year will be my first haunt....

Halloween Forum - ruggerz's Album: Halloween 2008

Nice to see the UK haunters rising from their graves...

Ruggerz

Britishwitch

· #7 · Jul 27, 2009

And MEEEEEEE!!! LOL

Can't post any pics at the moment tho' having techinical problems.

Welcome though to our happy haunt!!!!!

BW

Skulkin

· #8 · Jul 28, 2009

Welcome, thatguycraig. I love to see what the haunters 'across the pond' come up with for their Halloween bashes. Look forward to your input.

midnightdreary

· #9 · Jul 28, 2009

I'm very curious to know how Halloween is celebrated in the UK as well. I would imagine the landscape and long history of some gory events (Tower of London, Jack the Ripper, feuding clans etc) would add to the atmosphere for the holiday. I would love to walk the foggy streets of London in a Victorian Gothic costume...

Magickbean

· #10 · Jul 28, 2009

Hello! Yes indeedy, I am a UK Halloweenie

(I seem to be rhyming a lot today....hmm)
Welcome to the forum!! I usually do 2 parties a year, there's pics of my main ones from 2008 and 2007 up on my profile page if you fancy a look. We're getting there slowly, at least the Halloween stuff is coming out in the stores earlier and people are getting more enthusiastic about the idea of celebrating it, but it's still got a long way to go to catch up to the US, if that's even possible! ^_^

Ruggerz, you're in Portslade, right? I'm in Brighton! Not too far from you

thatguycraig

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 28, 2009

wow - nice to see all the replies!!

I'll have fun lookin through your picures! and hopefully me and dan can get some pics on soon of anything we make

karenlyn

· #12 · Jul 28, 2009

I'm glad to hear that Halloween is getting bigger and bigger in the UK. It's my favorite holiday, and I'm planning a move to the UK in about a year or so. I was actually worried about how much they do/don't celebrate Halloween there-- it was on my "pros and cons of moving to London" list. Talk about having your priorities out of whack.

I know that no country will probably catch up to the US, Halloween-wise, but I'm glad to know it's catching on in the UK. And that my UK friends and neighbors won't think I'm a weirdo if I go all out for a Halloween party every year!

-Karen

Marc-UK

· #13 · Jul 28, 2009

Hey All,

Another UK'er here. I love Halloween but am finding it difficult to get enough cash together to do what I want

Had a blast year before last on Halloween.. unfortunately last year was very quiet with only about 5 or so trick or treaters.

Got a video of my haunt, although the camcorder really does not do it justice as it's too damn dark (after I sabotaged the street light... ahem) and most of the props don't show up (there are loads of static props there.. honest.)

Looking to go even bigger and better this year, but am finding it hard to justify the expense.. also really worried about the weather.

There never seems to be enough time...

Halloween Last year..

YouTube - Halloween 2008

And my Home made lightening generator for anyone interested with the soundtrack I put together.

YouTube - Halloween Lightning Generator

See less See more

thatguycraig

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 28, 2009

Marc-UK said:
Hey All,

Another UK'er here. I love Halloween but am finding it difficult to get enough cash together to do what I want

Had a blast year before last on Halloween.. unfortunately last year was very quiet with only about 5 or so trick or treaters.

Got a video of my haunt, although the camcorder really does not do it justice as it's too damn dark (after I sabotaged the street light... ahem) and most of the props don't show up (there are loads of static props there.. honest.)

Looking to go even bigger and better this year, but am finding it hard to justify the expense.. also really worried about the weather.

There never seems to be enough time...

Halloween Last year..

YouTube - Halloween 2008

And my Home made lightening generator for anyone interested with the soundtrack I put together.

YouTube - Halloween Lightning Generator

thats realy good - liek that idea, and i like that there are other poeple making an effort!!

we have some big plans for this year - get some cash - and the time!! and shud be good

and karenlyn, you shouldn't worry!! go all out and every one will love it!!

other wise, come up to manchester and party with us! lol

Baron Samedi

· #15 · Jul 28, 2009

Greetings all.
There are another few UK members that I can think of..There's Frosty in liverpool, Memamu in North Wales, and Iffy49 is down in Hampshire. (I'm in Wiltshire btw..)

We had a few new UK members join the forum fairly recently, but they seemed to have returned to their coffins after one or two posts. Maybe they may resurface a little closer to Halloween...

Halloween does seem to be getting bigger over here, although we still have a long, long way to go before we are anywhere near on a par with our friends across the Atlantic. personally I don't think we ever will be. At least not until the big corporates decide that there is money to be made out of it.

I would love to walk the foggy streets of London in a Victorian Gothic costume...

Sorry midnightdreary..Owing to clean air policies and emissions regulations, Londoners don't see too many "pea soupers" nowadays..they have to use fog machines like everybody else..

theworstwitch

· #16 · Jul 28, 2009

Yes, I was just about to shed light on that topic, everyone here seems to think London is really foggy! It was just a temporary condition due to coal burning trains in the old days, and old films have left the image!

OMGDan

· #17 · Jul 28, 2009

Ahh can't believe i forgot you freudstein, my bad :/

And ruggerz you were the one whose name i couldn't recall.

Turns out there is more than you recall when we all join together in one thread.

karenlyn said:
I'm glad to hear that Halloween is getting bigger and bigger in the UK. It's my favorite holiday, and I'm planning a move to the UK in about a year or so. I was actually worried about how much they do/don't celebrate Halloween there-- it was on my "pros and cons of moving to London" list. Talk about having your priorities out of whack.

I know that no country will probably catch up to the US, Halloween-wise, but I'm glad to know it's catching on in the UK. And that my UK friends and neighbors won't think I'm a weirdo if I go all out for a Halloween party every year!

-Karen

Just to clarify and hopefully settle some of your worries, it's more than 'catching on' i know it's been celebrated in the typical US TOT'er and decorated house way since the late 80's.

I assume perhaps a bit longer than that but i'm only 21 so that's as far as my hands on knowledge goes haha.

But obviously it was never on the same grand scale as the US, but as everyone is saying, year and year it's bigger and bigger and i'd say we're about 75-80% of what it's like in the US, knowing the experience of both.

It's just the same in as in the states in that it's not as big in some parts of the country as others. I've heard UK members complaining that no one in their town acknowledges it and they have no TOT'ers.

Whereas around here in the city they have zombie parades and big halloween themed events, we have haunted hayrides and pumpkin patches and such throughout the county, and the bars and clubs decorate for halloween and do big themed halloween parties. And then i'd say last year we had around 100-200 TOT'ers.

Not as many as you'd get in the US, but that was our best turn out.

IMO you get out of it what you put into it.

I'll try and get some pics from 2008 up later, can't believe i never got around to it last year.

See less See more

Marc-UK

· #18 · Jul 28, 2009

I find the biggest problem getting a good haunt in the UK is the total lack of business selling stuff. Your pretty much forced to buy cheap looking tat from Asda or making your own.

Don't get me wrong.. I love making my own stuff, but finding good electronics etc for haunts is a nightmare. Although I did recently find a UK supplier for the Halloween Howler and some other great props, but because Halloween is not big in the UK... their prices are huge !!!

thatguycraig

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 28, 2009

i think that the bigegst problem is IMO, respect.

Ive never been to the U.S at halloween, but from what i hear, most people love it, and they respect other people properties.

Over here, especially where I live... most of the older teenages wouldent really leave your stuff alone when its all set up outside, thats why i have a problem with spending too much for outside scenary - which really makes a haunt...... I guess we will see this year. me and OMGdan gonna have flood lights, fog machines, projectors.... graves with (hopefulyl real) people coming out of it!

I think that if you have a good set up tho - then more people will respect it than usual.... maybe stand in awe!! lol

gettin me excited now!

Baron Samedi

· #20 · Jul 28, 2009

Marc-UK said:
I find the biggest problem getting a good haunt in the UK is the total lack of business selling stuff. Your pretty much forced to buy cheap looking tat from Asda or making your own.

Don't get me wrong.. I love making my own stuff, but finding good electronics etc for haunts is a nightmare. Although I did recently find a UK supplier for the Halloween Howler and some other great props, but because Halloween is not big in the UK... their prices are huge !!!

Agreed. The availability of decent quality props has improved over recent years with the advent of on-line stores etc, although Halloween remains a niche market and prices are high as a consequence.
I love to make my own props, and make probably 95% of the stuff in my haunt.
Making your own props means that your only limit is your own imagination, and even cheap tat from Asda can be made to look quite effective with a little "dressing" and some subtle lighting. Plus the sense of achievement in turning a pile of rubbish into something cool and scary is great. It's an awesome feeling when the TOT's are Oooh'ing and screaming at something you've created, rather than just thrown a few quid at.
(I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I find Maplin's a good source of electrical components...Good service and reasonable prices).

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