There are plenty of events on over the half-term week to help celebrate Hop Tu Naa and give the family a spooky and fun-filled time.

All across the island, there will be monsters lurking in dark and creepy tunnels, ghosts and horrifying creatures stalking through the night and zombies walking the streets, in preparation for the night of Hop Tu Naa, which takes place next Saturday, October 31.

Manx National Heritage are expanding their annual Hop Tu Naa celebrations and are taking their turnips on tour.

There will be the chance to carve a turnip at four different locations throughout the week, at the Grove Museum, in Ramsey, on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, at the Manx Museum, Douglas, on Monday and Tuesday, October 26 and 27, the House of Manannan in Peel on Wednesday and Thursday, October 28 and 29 and at Rushen Abbey on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.

The events will feature folk dancing and music from Skeddan Jiarg, Ny Fennee, Perree Bane and Scran.

There will also be a children’s activity workshop to make Hop Tu Naa bunting on Thursday, October 28 and herbs and potions on Friday, October 30 at Cregneash.

More information and booking details can be found at manxnationalheritage.com

trains

One regular terrifying event will see the small trains of the Great Laxey Mines Railway journey through a section of haunted railway an into the dark tunnels, where all manner of ghosts, monsters and scary spooks will be waiting to give you a fright.

The trains will be running on Sunday, October 25, Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, from 1pm to 7pm.

Also running in Laxey will be a spooky window and turnip lantern-spotting competition and a ghost walk through the Laxey valley gardens on Sunday, October 25 and on Hop Tu Naa night itself.

More details are on garff.im

Scarefest will return to Milntown house and gardens between Wednesday and Saturday, with scary, family friendly fun between 6pm and 7.30pm and adults-only terrifying antics between 9pm and 11pm.

More information can be found at scarefest.im

Elsewhere in Douglas, there will the chance to get made up, dressed down and join with the rotting hoards in the March of the Zombies.

The undead will be marauding through the town centre from 1pm and details of how to join in can be found at the ’March of the Zombies’ Facebook page.

Also in Douglas will be a special ’Monster Mash’ party at the Manx Legion for children and families.

Fancy dress is a must for this free event, with details of how to attend at dtcm.im

The children’s theatre group Hello Little people will be holding a kids Hop Tu Naa show at the Children’s Centre, Wallbery Farm, Port Soderick on Friday, October 30, with two shows at 3pm and an extra spooky one at 6pm.

Also taking place is a Hop Tu Naa party at Ebeneezer Hall, in Kirk Michael, where children are invited to take part in turnip-carving and fancy dress competitions, on Friday, October 30,from 6.30pm.

The Hop Tu Naa bus will be at Jurby Transport museum, where kids can take part in various Hop Tu Naa events from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, October 31, and the main event of the weekend is the huge Oie Houney celebrations, with bonfires and fireworks, on Peel Beach from 7pm onwards.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers