American-born Tauranga woman Melissa Cox with her son Aidan on Halloween.
American-born Tauranga woman Melissa Cox with her son Aidan on Halloween.
Bay of Plenty trick-or-treaters are set for a spooky night of Halloween celebrations including flash tattoos, homemade graveyards, snow storms, cauldrons and life-sized vampire skeletons on Tuesday. Michaela Pointon reports.
Flash pumpkin tattoos
Tauranga tattoo artist Caitlin Grimm’s flash design sheet includes “pumpkins, skulls and spookyanimals”.
Grimm said a tattoo on Halloween night was “more fun” to “remember the party” and friends attached the memory.
She had “plenty” of Halloween-themed tattoos herself including “two bat cats”.
She said the evening would provide “trick or treaters with a safe environment”.
“The kids put effort into getting dressed up ... and the community gets to enjoy each other’s company, which is massive.”
Address: 3 Hillcrest Avenue, Rotorua
Rotorua woman Gemma Duggan (middle) is hosting a Halloween event for trick-or-treaters this year.
TIPS AND TRICKS
We all know the basic Halloween tips - make sure your child’s costume fits and is non-flammable, don’t wear a mask, wear makeup instead and put reflective tape on your child’s costume so they can be seen if it’s dark. But there are several things most parents probably don’t think of.
Costumes should be loose enough around the body so warm clothing can be worn beneath it, without it being too loose that it snags on items.
Children should wear well-fitting, flat shoes, not high heels.
Wigs and beards should fit properly and should not cover ears, nose, or mouth
When buying makeup, make sure it is labelled non-toxic. Also, note some children break out in a rash when using some brands of makeup.
Someone in the group should carry a torch. Not all areas are well-lit and a torch will help light the way and illuminate any potholes, cracked footpaths, etc.
Remind children not to eat their lollies or any other treats until they return home and everything has been checked.
Remind your child to walk on the footpath.
Children should not enter the homes of strangers, but stay at the entrance outside. All children should be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.
Events on this weekend:
Beyond the (grave) Rave? - Tuesday, 5.30-8.30pm. A hand-building pottery workshop at The Arts Village Rotorua to make your own ghost mug. Buy tickets online.
