It has become quite a tradition in our family the last two years to go to a Halloween event each year. The last two years we drove out to County Meath to attend Kennedy’s Pumpkin Patch. However this year we wanted to try out something different. I had heard only good things about the Christmas events Luggwoods was doing each year.
This year they decided to add on a Halloween event. Traditionally everyone goes out to a field filled with a lot of pumpkins to take home. Luggwoods Halloween was going to be a twist. On top of that it is less than half an hour drive from Naas. We attended the first day of the Halloween event. It is still going to be on the whole week but because we are working during the week, we thought to book it first time at the weekend. I have to say fair play to the team at Luggwoods. You know the way first time mistakes are bound to happen but they put the whole thing off very smoothly.
As you leave the town of Saggart there are plenty of signs that lead you to Luggwoods which is located in the Dublin Mountains. We were then guided to the car park by one of the staff member. Outside the entrance is a little coffee shop where you can fuel up with drinks or snacks. Hubby decided to grab a quick tea because one, it was chilly and two, we still had plenty of time.
We checked in a little shed and sat down waiting to be called for the 2pm train. There was a good few kids dressed up. It was encouraged to do so but our kids were happy enough to stay in their own clothes. As it hit 2pm we all gathered together and walked up a little hill to board the train. When I say train, this was actually a tractor pulling a carriage, as Matthew pointed out to us. I think this was much nicer though because it was warm and we sat up higher to see the woods.
On our way to the barn we had to spot the ingredients to make the potion which will entitle the kids to some sweets. We found pigs tail, frog legs, spider web etc. As well as that they set up a little fairy village. Two of the main fairies, the Tooth Fairy and Tinkerbell lived there. We also got a lovely view over Dublin up there. Chloe loved seeing all the horses. When we arrived at the barn, we were greeted by the wizard. He invited us into the barn.
Inside the barn all the boys and girls had to practice a little dance. We then headed onto the friendly witches house. When the wizard knocked on her door, everybody had to shout “trick or treat”. This is where everyone had to shout the ingredients we found on the way to the barn to make the potion. We queued up in the line to pick up the kids sweets and have a photo taken with the witch. To make it all more enjoyable and fun for the little ones, we all had to perform another dance. Matthew ended up dancing with one of the staff members.
The next and last room was the Pumpkin Patch. Here we got to pick the pumpkin for each child and have another photo taken. This was the photo I also bought in the end.. saved me the hassle of setting up the camera for a family photo. Once we had the pumpkins, we found a spot and a bucket to decorate the pumpkins. Instead of carving it, we drew faces on it. I gave the kids the option to put eyes and stickers on it too but they were quite happy with their pumpkins as is.
It was time to head back on the train through the Enchanted Forest. The whole experience was approximately sixty minutes long. The kids enjoyed it which is the main thing. The pumpkins now happily sit in our front door.
