We were prepared to just skip Halloween with the rest of Switzerland, but then we met an English speaking couple when we were in Neuchatel a few weekends back and they invited us to celebrate Halloween at their village. They live right by the Valangin castle that Jack and I visited earlier this month and they told us that the castle was hosting a Halloween event for the kids. So I threw together a quick costume for Jack and we went.
Here is my little duct-tape Viking
Walking up to the castle:
Jack's battle cry:
Cute little Viking
At the castle there were several games for the kids and Jack was able to try most of them. Here he is shooting an arrow:
Attempting to throw horse shoes
Cheating at croquet:
At the entrance to the castle door was a huge hedge maze
The kids had a blast in here
Of course, you have to mind the 100 foot fall on the other side of that short wall
But I think these kids were used to it as no concerned parents were watching
Jack's friend Matthew
A band outside the castle door
A view of the city below
Inside the castle were more activities. Here are Luke and Jack painting a shield
Here is the entrance to the pumpkin carving room
Jack was frustrated that he couldn't use the knife to carve his own pumpkin
There was also a "search and find" game for the kids that eventually led you into this room where candy coins were hidden in front of the pumpkin:
Back outside there was more exploring to do:
Luke with the finished masterpieces.
Jack's pumpkin which was carved directly from his scribbles
Another view of the town
After the castle, we went back to our friends house for the afternoon. Jack loved having another boy to play with!
That evening the village organized trick-or-treating for all the kids. It was very Swiss. All of the kids showed up at 5:30 and then they all went as a group to each door. This way you don't have to spend all night going back and forth to answer the door. You open it once, and give candy to 20 kids and you're done. Jack loved it!
Jack was out within minutes into the drive home
Here is Jack's awesome pumpkin lit up. Who would have thought that the scribbles would look so cool...
And there you have it. Our first Halloween in Switzerland.
I LOVE the life you guys are getting to have over there. Thank you SO much for sharing pictures and descriptions.....it is so great to read.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you guys!
so cool! I'd rather have that Halloween, hang out in a castle
ReplyDelete