There’s no escaping the spooky vibe in York this Halloween.
Even the simplest things, like catching a train or walking through the park, just got that little bit more… sinister.
Keen to boost York’s reputation as one of the ghostliest cities around, the York BID (Business Improvement District) has added a couple of its own eerie exhibits to this year’s bumper Halloween fun.
The first opened today (Thursday, 21 October) on the concourse at York Station.
What used to be a Cornish pasty shop has been transformed into a surreal Hansel and Gretel forest – complete with giant cobweb-covered lollipops and a gingerbread house.
Doesn’t sound too creepy… until you spot the skulls, a demonic wolf and, most frightening of all, glowing gummy bears!
The BID has again partnered with Event Prop Hire of Wetherby to create the surreal scenes. Last year, they teamed up to turn a couple of empty city centre shops into a Fantastic Fiction display, with windows dedicated to superheroes, Alice in Wonderland and The Jungle Book.
It proved to be really popular, with families taking a lockdown walk to see the stories and take selfies with the amazing props.
Sinister side
This year’s display, supported by LNER, is called Through The Window: Dark Fiction, and even boasts a full-size tree with Alfred Hitchcock-style crows.
Carl Alsop, operations manager the York BID, said: “This year we’ve chosen Hansel and Gretel as our theme. And we’ve looked at the sinister side of the story because it ties in perfectly with Halloween.
“It’s an alternative way to get to the trains and the platforms. We’re daring people to take the spooky route rather than just go down the concourse.
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“See if you can get past the gingerbread house and the witch!”
For visitors to York coming by train it’s a perfect introduction to the city’s Halloween offering. And there’ll soon be a giant Halloween deckchair in the station concourse as another great Instagram opportunity!