* Belvedere will host its Halloween Events including:

    *  Belvedere Scarecrow Festival 26th to 29th October 2012

    * Trick or Treat Tails & Yeti Attack on 28th & 29th October 2012 (Bank Holiday Weekend)

    * Halloween Bat Walk on Friday 26th October 2012 at 7.00pm

    * Belvedere Spook on Saturday 27th & Wednesday 31st October 2012 from 7pm (not suitable for young children)

    * Read on for more details of above events:-

 

A former owner of Belvedere House Lt Col. Charles Howard-Bury led the first Everest Reconnaissance in 1921 which included George Mallory who disappeared on a later climb in 1924 on the mountain. During the first expedition Howard-Bury was shown footprints in the snow by the locals who told him about the hairy man of the mountain, the "Yeti". Howard-Bury was sceptical but included in his report to the Daily Telegraph who were a sponsor on the expedition and included several exclamation marks on his telegraph but these were not printed and the story was printed as fact. The legend of the Yeti was born. Howard-Bury had brought a bear cub back to Belvedere from his earlier travels and un be knownst to any one else smuggled a Yeti cub also back to Belvedere where it was let loose on the estate after his death in 1963. The Yeti survives to this day and is normally sighted around Hallowe'en on the estate and is particularly fond of chasing the red Belvedere Tram through the woods. He has also attracted some horrible friends who following his bad example has led to the wood being referred to as "The Forest of Fear"

 

On Hallowe'en Weekend Belvedere hosts it's second Scarecrow Festival with local schools, groups and indiviuals competing for great prizes. The Scarecrows are on public display from Fri 26th until Monday 29th and there is a peoples choice prize. (see sepetate entry is 'whats on' section of this website)
Creatures of the Night  - Friday 26th October 2012

Scarecrow making tips 

 

On Friday 26th October at 7.00pm "Creatures of the Night"is a special Hallowe'en Bat Walk with Bat Conservation Ireland where after a talk on Bram Stoker, Dracula and Vampire Bats you venture out for a night time walk with Bat Detectors to listen and identify the echo location signals of the Bats on the estate. Belvedere is home to 7 out of 9 native bat species.

 

NEW EVENT; Guided walks through ghostly scenarios along a 1.5km trail trough the ancient whispering woods, including ScareCrow Garden, Crashed Tram, The Fog, Terrifying Tree House, Bad Fairy Garden , Victorian Warped Garden and finally the Haunted Belvedere House where the Wicked Earl has returned from the otherworld at the feast of Samhain.Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for an outdoor walk and bring a torch. Booking essential as numbers on walks limited.

Earlier walks most suited for Children over 8 only.
Adults: €12 Children: €6.  Family Rate: 2 Adults 2 Children €30 .
Season Ticket Holders  Adults €10 Children €5. STH Family Rate  2 adults 2 children €25.
Book from 1st September on Box Office (044) 9349060.

FAQ for SPOOK WALKS
 
Is it outdoors?
Yes it is a 1.5km walk along hard surface trails through the Belvedere Estate.
 
What should I wear?
Wear warm comfortable clothes and footwear suitable for an outdoor walk in October.
 
Do I have to book in advance?
It is advised to book in advance to secure your preferred time slot and if you are in a group to keep you together.
 
Can I pay on the night?
Only if not sold out earlier and may have long delay
 
How Scary is it?
It is not suitable for children under 8 and has a moderate to high scare factor.
 
Are there refreshments available on the night?
No the cafe is not open for this event.
 
What time do the walks start?
The event starts at 7pm each night and you can book into 15 minute slots between 7pm and 11pm.
 
How long does the Walk last?
Approx one hour.

 

 


Enteries into the Scarecrow competition are invited from schools, groups and individuals.  See below and attached for more information and entry form.

Entry:
Fill out an entry form and return to Belvedere House Gardens & Park by 19th October 20112 A written description of your entry and title must accompany your official scarecrow competition entry form. Belvedere House Gardens & Park reserves the right to refuse to display any scarecrow entry we feel may be offensive to the general public.

Categories:
Traditional Harvest Figures: These scarecrows will be typically old-fashioned figures constructed from throw-aways from the farm/home: - e.g. clothing, hay, stuffing, farm implements, or farm produce (vegetables, pumpkins, etc.)

Humorous Scarecrows: These scarecrows should evoke smiles, if not belly laughs. Current events, storybook characters, cartoon figures, crazy characters, or out of the ordinary situations are just a few of the ideas for humorous scarecrows. These characters would be fictional.

Celebrity Scarecrows: Use your imagination! This scarecrow can depict a modern day celebrity, or one from your past. A celebrity is a real person. (Hint: consider movie or tv stars, book characters, famous people in the news, famous historical figures.)

Scary-Horror Category Scarecrow: Designed to scare more than crows!  You can use famous characters from movies or gothic novels or you imagination.

Entry Categories:
Primary School in Westmeath
Prize: Rosette, Stroll ‘n’ Bowl School Tour: including entry to Belvedere House Gardens & Park, Rock ’n’ Bowl Mullingar  & Lunch with coach supplied by Rover Coaches.

Youth Category 12 to 18 Years
Prize: Rosette, Belvedere Family Season Ticket; Bowling session at Rock ’n’ Bowl.
Runner up Prizes: Belvedere & Rock ’n’ Bowl Vouchers

Family/Adult: 18 Years and Older
Prize: Rosette, Belvedere Family Season Ticket; Bowling session at Rock ’n’ Bowl.
Runner up Prizes: Belvedere & Rock ’n’ Bowl Vouchers

Special Needs:  Reserved for entries from children/adults/groups with special needs.
Prize: Rosette, Belvedere Family Season Ticket; Bowling session at Rock ’n’ Bowl.
Runner up Prizes: Belvedere & Rock ’n’ Bowl Vouchers

People Choice Prize: Voted for by the general public over the weekend.
Prize: Rosette

Judging:  Judging begins at noon on Friday 26th October 2012, with awards presented at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 27th 2012. The judges are volunteers and are not employed by Belvedere House Gardens & Park. All judging decisions are final.  Public judging of ‘People’s Choice Award’ with be announced 4pm on Monday 29th October 2012.  The public may vote for the ‘People’s Choice Award’ from Friday 26th October until 3pm on Monday 29th October 20112  Ballots will be available Belvedere’s main reception and limit one ballot per person. Duplicate voter ballots, copies of ballots and incomplete ballots will not be counted. Encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to come out and vote for your entry! All winners will be posted on line on www.belvedere-house.ie by 1st November 2012.


Materials: As all scarecrow entries must remain on display outside, from October 26th until 29th October 2012, and may be subjected to severe weather such as wind and rain, their construction should be durable and all ornamentation securely attached. Belvedere House Gardens & Park reserves the right to remove any scarecrow that does not hold up to natural elements.

Structure: Each scarecrow must have a vertical support of wood for the body (2ins x 4ins post preferred.) This support is needed as each scarecrow will be wired to a fence post for display. The fence post will be provided as will the method of attachment.

Size Limitation: Scarecrows are to be Minimum height of 4 feet, Maximum height of 8 feet. Maximum circumference area 8 feet. The entire structure is considered to be the dimension of the scarecrow, not the dimension of the actual scarecrow within the exhibit. Your exhibit may include more than one figure (while still remaining within the size limitations stated above).

Delivery of Entries: Entrants are responsible for bringing their fully assembled scarecrow to Belvedere House Gardens & Park; entries can be delivered during from on Monday 22th until Thursday 25th October 2012 between the hours of 9.30am and 4.00pm.  NO EARLY CROWS & NO LATE CROWS PLEASE. Belvedere staff will be on hand to give you your official entry number, which also entitle you to two day passes to Belvedere.  Belvedere staff will direct you to your assigned scarecrow location. All entries must be completed and in place by 4pm on Thursday 25th October 2012.

Restrictions:
•    If children are under 16 years they must have permission to enter the competition from their parents or guardian etc and be supervised at all times during the making of the scarecrow, delivery, judging & prize-giving at Belvedere House Gardens & Park
•    All entries are subject to limitations of space availability as well as the standards of display as established by Belvedere’s management. Belvedere reserves the right to deny entry privileges of displays considered to be offensive.
•    Belvedere House Gardens & Park is not responsible for the security of scarecrows on display.
•    Neither Belvedere nor their agents will be held responsible for any injury or damage associated with the 2011 Scarecrow Festival Competition.
•    Your scarecrow must be a maximum height of 8ft, with max circumference of 8ft.
•    You are encouraged to use recycled materials
•    You can use props or accessories to enhance your scarecrow
•    You are encouraged to have fun and give your scarecrow a personality and name.
•    You must fill in and return your entry form by 4pm 19th October 2012
•    You must attached the title of your scarecrow, state the category and theme that you have entered, your full name and age securely to the rear of your scarecrow
•    Your scarecrow must solid and secure in construction and must be free standing and able to withstand all weather conditions where possible.
•    Please make sure that your scarecrow has no sharp edges, areas, or accessories
•    It is understood that Belvedere and it's agents may use photographs of, stories about, and the actual scarecrow entries themselves as well as all information contained on the entry form for publicity and promotion on the event. Photographs become the property of Belvedere House Gardens & Park.
•    Scarecrows may only be collected 4.30pm until 5pm on 29th October 2012 or 1st until 3rd of November 2012 from 9.30am until 4pm. Any scarecrows that are not claimed and whose creator(s) have not arranged for alternative pick-up by November 3rd will become the property of Belvedere House Gardens & Park.
•    Scarecrows free standing, in chairs, wheelbarrows, on bikes and connected to other solid props are all eligible for entry.