A SPOOKTACULAR event took place in the Culver Room at Farnham library on All Hallows’ Eve.

The Friends of Farnham Library had transformed the room into a witch’s cottage with pumpkins, bats and dangling cobwebs. In pride of place stood a cauldron on a pile of sparkling twigs.

Young wacky witches, scary spectres and ghostly ghouls were entertained by Redwitch, the Friends’ own Gilly Stewart, resplendent in a striking red, pointed hat and long red cape.

The children were told the story of Hallowe’en from Celtic times, 2,000 years ago to a more modern era when people carved scary faces on turnips and put candles inside to frighten away evil spirits.

During the l850s emigrating Irish people took these traditions to America where pumpkins were more plentiful than turnips and were easier to carve and it’s from America too that we now enjoy playing trick-or-treat.

Many of the children came in fancy dress and they were all kept busy making masks and lanterns to take home.

Redwitch kept the children enthralled with a spooky story, then taught them a game of spiders and toads before leading them, dancing around the cauldron to the music of Saint Saens’ Dance Macabre.

“The children all told us how much they had enjoyed the event and asked when they could visit us again”, said Gilly.

“We always aim to make our events both educational and entertaining. They learnt a little of the history of Hallowe’en, before the craft session, then enjoyed some drama, dance and music.”

The Friends are already preparing for their Christmas event, to be held on the morning of Saturday, December 19. Details of this will shortly be put up on the notice board at Farnham library in West Street.