In Cornwall we have a lovely tourist attraction called the Eden Project. It is an educational charitable trust but the attraction for the masses is the two biomes, one mediterranean the other rainforest. It is a fascinating place and made even more so with the additional focus on the arts. So all the educational things there tend to be a real interesting mix....
They have found various ways of increasing the use of the site. In the Summer they have concerts and in the Winter, Ice Skating. And this Halloween they had a Skate and Scream.
We were kind of running a little late so we missed the beginning of our skating session. This was not a problem however. The skates are the solid moulded sort and not designed for those of chunky legs. I had to go up a size just to be able to do them up. I was so very, very uncomfortable, I managed one circuit, holding on to the side and gave up. My ankles still hurt today.
S managed a few more before giving up and F was the most enthusiastic.
The rink was a disappointment as well. It was not decorated for Halloween as advertised... It was beautiful but not what I was hoping for...
So on to the Scream...
This was fantastic. A walk through the rainforest biome in the pitch dark (nearly). In small groups forming a conga line we wended our way through, guided by tiny little orange flame lights. This was after we had been scared by actors as we queued. Oh and then someone puched a panic button inside and we had to wait with the actors for a while. Unfortunately we started and then got turned back to wait a little longer.....
Once in, people grabbed our ankles. A witch sat in a hut. A satyr talked to us in a clearing before we got doused in water. We were shut in a hut and then there was bangs and flashes. Dry ice bubbled in the pools of water. A head sat in a cube full of moths. And a man with a chainsaw chased us....
It was very good. S was soooo terrified! He could not get any closer to F if he tried.... And then on to the other biome where we had a drink, wandered through the plants in the half light before sitting and hearing the story of Les Lavandieres, the washers at the ford....
It was a good evening. I love the way paganism is woven into such events. I guess the Religuous Right might have something to say about such events but they are mercifully a quiet minority in the UK. Most people wouldn't even notice the pagan slant or see anything unusual there. Such things feed my soul.
There was an altar set up for Dia de los Muertos with pieces of text describing the different elements as well.... All good....
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