East Boldon Spooktacular 2026

Saturday 31 October 2026 | 12pm–4pm
Organised by East Boldon Scout Group

The East Boldon Spooktacular is a community Halloween event organised by East Boldon Scout Group as a fundraiser for the Group. The event includes a village-wide Halloween Display Trail, an optional family clue-finding mission and family activities at the Scout Hut.

1. Participation

1.1. The East Boldon Spooktacular event is open to everyone to attend.

1.2. The Halloween Display Trail is open to houses and businesses/organisations located in East Boldon.

1.3. Residential entries are for residents of East Boldon only.

1.4. Businesses and organisations entering the trail are responsible for ensuring they have permission to decorate the property or premises.

1.5. All entries are subject to acceptance by East Boldon Scout Group and the information provided on the registration form.

1.6. Entry onto the display trail does not require the entrant to allow members of the public inside their property or premises.

2. Halloween Display Requirements

2.1. Participating displays must be fully set up and ready by 11am on Saturday 31 October 2026.

2.2. Entrants are responsible for setting up, maintaining and removing their own decorations.

2.3. Entrants will choose their own display name, which will be used to identify their display on the official trail map.

2.4. Entrants are responsible for ensuring their chosen display name is clearly visible from the public pavement during the event.

2.5. Displays must be suitable for a family event and must not contain anything that could reasonably cause harm, distress or offence.

2.6. Decorations must be securely positioned and must not create a trip, slip, falling-object, electrical, fire or other safety hazard.

2.7. Displays must not obstruct:

• Public pavements

• Roads

• Driveways or access routes

• Entrances or exits

• Emergency access

• Other people's property

2.8. Entrants are responsible for ensuring that any electrical equipment, lighting or other equipment they use is suitable, safely installed and appropriately protected from weather where necessary.

2.9. Open flames, candles and other naked flames should be avoided wherever possible. Where used, they must be appropriately controlled and kept away from combustible materials and public access.

2.10. East Boldon Scout Group reserves the right to ask an entrant to alter or remove any part of a display where it is considered unsafe or unsuitable.
3. Residential Displays

3.1. Residential displays are intended to be viewed from the public pavement only.

3.2. Visitors must not:

• Enter private gardens or property.

• Knock on residential doors as part of the trail.

• Climb over or through barriers.

• Touch, move or interfere with decorations.

• Enter areas that are not publicly accessible.

3.3. Residential entrants should not create activities that require members of the public to enter their private property.

3.4. Entrants should consider neighbours, pedestrians and other local residents when setting up their display.

4. Business and Organisation Displays

4.1. Businesses and organisations may decorate their frontage, windows or other appropriate areas of their premises.

4.2. Businesses are not required to open their premises to the public as part of the trail.

4.3. Any business choosing to provide an additional activity or invite members of the public onto its premises is responsible for ensuring that the activity and area are appropriately managed and safe.

4.4. Businesses must ensure that decorations do not obstruct public footpaths, entrances, emergency routes or other public areas.
5. Halloween Trail Map

5.1. All accepted participating displays will appear on the official Halloween Trail map.

5.2. Each display will be identified using the display name provided by the entrant and its location.

5.3. Entrants are responsible for ensuring their display name is clearly visible from the public pavement.

5.4. The final map will be produced by East Boldon Scout Group following the closing date for entries.

5.5. East Boldon Scout Group reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the map where required for safety, accuracy or operational reasons.
6. Family Clue-Finding Mission

6.1. The Family Clue-Finding Mission is an optional activity within the main Halloween Trail.

6.2. The main trail will include all participating displays. The clue-finding mission will only use selected properties.

6.3. Entrants will be asked during registration whether they would be interested in being considered as a clue stop.

6.4. Indicating an interest in becoming a clue stop does not guarantee selection.

6.5. East Boldon Scout Group will select clue stops after entries close and will create the clue route based on the safest and most practical walking route.

6.6. Selected properties will be provided with information about the clue or challenge to be displayed.

6.7. Clues may include simple activities such as:

• Finding something within a display

• Counting items

• Identifying something

• Answering a visual Halloween question

6.8. Clues must be able to be completed without entering private property or touching the display.

6.9. East Boldon Scout Group may change or remove a clue stop if circumstances make it unsuitable or unsafe.
7. Trail Route and Road Safety

7.1. The Halloween Trail takes place around existing public roads and pavements.

7.2. There will be no road closures as part of the event.

7.3. The trail is a walking activity and is not a race.

7.4. Participants must use pavements wherever available and cross roads only when safe to do so.

7.5. Recommended crossing points will be identified on the trail information where appropriate.

7.6. Participants should follow the Highway Code and take particular care around moving traffic.

7.7. Parents, guardians and accompanying adults should keep children close and supervise them when walking and crossing roads.

7.8. Volunteers may be positioned at key locations where appropriate, but volunteers cannot stop or control traffic on public roads.

7.9. The organisers will carry out a final route check at approximately 11am on the morning of the event.

7.10. The route may be amended, restricted or closed if the organisers consider that any section has become unsafe.
8. Children and Supervision

8.1. The event is family-friendly, but children attending the public trail must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.

8.2. Adults accompanying children are responsible for supervising them throughout their participation in the public trail.

8.3. Adults should take particular care around:

• Roads and crossings

• Uneven pavements

• Crowded areas

• Decorations

• Weather conditions

• Other pedestrians and vehicles

8.4. The clue-finding mission does not provide childcare or supervision.
9. Accessibility

9.1. East Boldon Scout Group will consider accessibility when planning the trail route.

9.2. This will include consideration of:

• Pavement widths

• Kerbs

• Road crossings

• Uneven surfaces

• Obstructions

• Access to the Scout Hut

9.3. Because the trail takes place on existing public roads and pavements, we cannot guarantee that every part of the route will be suitable for every person or mobility aid.

9.4. Entrants should notify the organisers of any known access issue associated with their property that could affect the trail route.
10. Weather and Changes to the Event

10.1. The trail is an outdoor event and may be affected by weather conditions.

10.2. East Boldon Scout Group reserves the right to:

• Change the trail route.

• Remove individual displays from the route.

• Remove or change clue stops.

• Close part of the trail.

• Change activities.

• Delay or cancel the event.

10.3. Such changes may be necessary because of severe weather, flooding, unsafe conditions, emergency situations or other circumstances outside the organisers' control.

10.4. Where reasonably possible, significant changes will be communicated through the Group's usual communication channels.
11. First Aid and Emergencies

11.1. The Scout Hut is the main event base and first aid provision will be available there.

11.2. In the event of a serious emergency, participants should call 999.

11.3. Any accident, injury or significant incident should be reported to an event volunteer as soon as possible.

11.4. Emergency access routes must remain clear at all times.

11.5. The organisers will liaise with the emergency services where necessary.
12. Safeguarding and Lost Children

12.1. East Boldon Scout Group will operate appropriate safeguarding arrangements during the event.

12.2. If a child becomes separated from their accompanying adult, this should be reported immediately to an event volunteer or the Scout Hut team.

12.3. Volunteers should follow the Group's safeguarding procedures and should not transport children away from the event.
13. Photography and Publicity

13.1. Photographs and video may be taken during the event for East Boldon Scout Group publicity, social media and fundraising purposes.

13.2. Entrants will be asked separately for permission for photographs of their display and use of their display name/business name in promotional material.

13.3. Visitors should be considerate when taking photographs and should avoid photographing identifiable children who are not part of their own group.
14. Behaviour

14.1. Everyone attending the event is expected to behave respectfully towards residents, businesses, volunteers, participants and other members of the public.

14.2. Visitors must not:

• Damage or interfere with displays.

• Enter private property.

• Block pavements or roads.

• Behave aggressively or abusively.

• Harass residents or businesses.

• Ignore reasonable safety instructions from event volunteers.

14.3. East Boldon Scout Group reserves the right to ask anyone behaving in an unsafe, abusive or disruptive manner to leave the event.

15. Entry Fees and Donations

15.1. Residential entry to the Halloween Display Trail is £5.

15.2. Business/organisation participation is by a suggested donation of £15.

15.3. Entry fees and donations support East Boldon Scout Group and its activities.

15.4. Payment does not automatically guarantee acceptance onto the trail.

15.5. Once an entry has been accepted and incorporated into the event planning, the entry fee/donation will generally be non-refundable, except where the organisers determine otherwise or the event is cancelled in circumstances where a refund is appropriate.
16. Cancellation or Removal of an Entry

16.1. East Boldon Scout Group reserves the right to refuse or remove an entry where:

• The display presents an unacceptable safety risk.

• The display obstructs public access.

• The information provided is inaccurate.

• The entrant does not comply with these Terms & Conditions.

• Circumstances change and the location can no longer safely form part of the trail.

16.2. Where possible, the organisers will discuss concerns with the entrant before removing an entry.
17. Final Event Arrangements

17.1. The final trail route and clue-finding route will be determined after entries close.

17.2. The route will be planned with safety, practicality and accessibility in mind.

17.3. A final route and safety check will take place on the morning of the event.

17.4. Reasonable changes may be made on the day in response to weather, traffic, hazards, access issues or other unforeseen circumstances.

17.5. By entering the trail, participants agree to follow these Terms & Conditions and reasonable instructions given by East Boldon Scout Group and its event volunteers.

In 2015, we proudly completed a £100,000 refurbishment of our Scout Hut, transforming it into the vibrant and welcoming building it is today. Since then, our dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to maintain it — not just for our Scout Group, but as a space for the whole community.

Now, we are ready to take the next step: making our Scout Hut sustainable for the future.

Why We Need Your Support

With the rising costs of running community facilities, the last thing we want is to reduce what we can offer to our Scouts. That’s why sustainability is at the heart of our next project.

We’ve already taken important steps by upgrading our lighting to LED and installing a new electric heating system, both of which help to lower running costs. But now, we want to go further and invest in green energy to protect our hut, reduce bills, and care for our environment.

Our proposed project will install a 10.44 kW solar PV system with battery storage, generating over 7,200 kWh of clean electricity every year. This will:

✅ Save our Scout Group around £1,445 a year on energy bills
✅ Cut our carbon emissions by 1,497 kg of CO₂ annually — the same as planting 69 trees each year!
✅ Provide over half of our electricity needs directly from the sun
✅ Allow us to store energy for evening use, reducing reliance on the grid

This isn’t just about cost savings — it’s about ensuring the Scout Hut remains a sustainable, affordable, and environmentally-friendly resource for generations to come.

How You Can Help

We can’t achieve this without the support of our friends, neighbours, and local businesses. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Join our fundraising events – Every ticket bought or cake sold makes a difference!

• Business sponsorships – Partner with us and show your commitment to sustainability.

• Community donations – Every contribution, big or small, helps us reach our goal.
  
  

Together, we can make our Scout Hut greener, more sustainable, and ready for the future — without reducing the opportunities we provide to young people.

Get in touch:
If you’d like to support us, sponsor part of the project, or find out more, please email us at: eastboldonscouts@gmail.com