Welcome

This week we've got some local Halloween and Bonfire Night options to keep you busy.

Plus...Paddington Bear of course.

🔥🎆👻Fires Roar, Ghosts Soar

people taking images of fireworks outsidee — Image source: Alex Jones

It’s Halloween!

Finchley and the surrounding area is spooky central this year.

There’s Spooktacular Crafts at East Finchley Library on Saturday, 26th Oct 2024 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Avenue House has a reputation of unexplained occurrences; sinister footsteps have been heard coming from locked rooms and ghostly shadows have been witnessed in the chilling cellar. Join the waiting list for the Halloween Ghost Hunt at Avenue House on Saturday 26th October 2024 9.00 pm - 2.30 am, or book for Sat 7 Dec or Sat 2 Feb.

Elephant Inn's Halloween Party is an evening of thrills, spills and plenty of squeals! Free to join, children welcome until 8:00 pm. Early evening games (bobbing for apples, donut on a string and pumpkin decorating) kick off at 6:00 pm. Signature cocktail, fancy dress and Conor Clark performing live from 9:00 pm. Sunday 27 Oct 23 6:00 PM to 28 Oct 23 1:00 AM

Younger kids? Check out Spook-Fest 2024 at Aldenham Country Park. From 12th October to 3rd November - Geared to families it is 'Spooky' rather than 'terrifying' and suitable for all ages.

It’s Bonfire Night!

Remember remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and – great local fireworks. Here’s a list of where to soak up the atmosphere (and noise):

Moss Hall Schools Association Fireworks in North Finchley. Sunday 10 November 4:00 p.m. Advance tickets only. Doors Open at 16:00, doors close at 17.30. Music by DJ Ramos, Neons. Hot food, Mulled wine, hot chocolate, bar and restaurant, tuck shop. Fireworks start at 18:45.

Ally Pally’s Fireworks Festival - the Glastonbury of fireworks - is on Fri 1 and Sat 2 November. Fireworks, drone display, great live music, huge bonfire. Tickets from £5.50.

StoneX stadium is home to the Saracens. Their fireworks evening is on Sat 9 November.

Down the road, Highgate School hosts its Autumn Lights Festival on Sat 9 November. Two shows – 3:00 -6:00 pm and 6.30 pm – 9.30 pm. Tickets from £19, under 3s free.

Kings Alfred’s School in Golders Green hosts its KAS Fireworks on Sat 9 November, gates 4:30 pm , bonfire 6:30 pm, fireworks 7:00 pm. Bars, food stalls and entertainment. Tickets from £10/kids, £15 adults.

Have spooky firework fun, Finchley. 🔥🎆👻

Events

KIDS

Thursday 31st October

Saturday 2nd November

ARTS

Tuesday 29th October

Mary Seacole: The Real Angel of the Crimea Film Screening | Tue, Oct. 29 | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | Room C219-20, 2nd Floor, Middlesex University, NW4 4BT | Free | A docu-drama film screening with an Introduction from Producer, Paul Kerr. The piece is about feisty, fearless Victorian heroine, Mary Seacole, a Jamaican doctress who saved the lives of dozens and tended to the dying during the Crimean War.

Poetry And Spoken Word | Tue, Oct. 29 | Roundhouse Studios, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH | Are you interested in poetry and spoken word? In this one-day workshop, you’ll explore writing and performing and come away with an original piece. Whether you’re new to the art form or have some experience already, prefer writing over performing or vice versa - the brilliant tutor and poet Kat François will help you build confidence and skills in writing and performing.

Saturday 2nd November

COMMUNITY

Saturday 26th October

Halloween in High Barnet: a guided walk | Thu, Oct. 31 | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Meet outside High Barnet tube station. | £15, £5 under 12s | Explore the ghostly history of High Barnet and Monken Hadley, the second most haunted village in England. The walk takes place on Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th, Wednesday 30th, and Thursday 31st October. Email pbaker54@hotmail.co.uk

Monday 28th October

Zero-Waste In Barnet Webinar | Mon, Oct. 28 | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | Online | Free | Join Eco Show and Tell to learn how to reduce consumption and waste in Barnet, and why it's crucial we do so. You can also ask questions you may have about waste prevention and recycling in the borough.

Thursday 31st October

The Arnos Arms Halloween Quiz | Thu, Oct. 31 | 8:00 pm | 338 Bowes Rd, Arnos Grove, N11 1AN | A Special Halloween quiz with £100 tab for the winning team and £30 to the best dressed person.

Sunday 3rd November

THEATRE

Monday 28th October

Wicked: West End Masterclass | Mon, Oct. 28 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | Hornsey Vale Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, N8 9LP | £55 | Guest Tutor, Michelle Pentecost (West End Elphaba) from the Smash Hit Musical ‘Wicked' will put students through their paces in an ‘Acting Through Song' workshop. They will work on Wicked material, followed by a Q&A. For ages 7+.

Events - Book Ahead

Tuesday 19th November

Mens' Health | Tue, Nov. 19 | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm | Watling Community Centre, 145 Orange Hill Road, HA8 0TR | Free | Join for an inspiring morning packed with practical tips on prevention and wellbeing tailored for men over 55. From staying active to mental health, Age UK is giving people the tools to stay well in older age.

Thursday 12th December

Sunday 26th January

Race The Neighbours - Winter Edition | Sun, Jan. 26 | to | Cherry Tree Wood, 88 Summerlee Avenue, N2 9QH | £20 | North London Hospice is excited to be launching the first-ever winter edition of Race the Neighbours. Following the success of the inaugural summer edition, join an adapted, equally scenic 10K run through East Finchley and Muswell Hill, with incredible views over London.

Local Lowdown

Paddington Bear statue — Paddington in London Westfield | Image from Londonist

Local history

Step back in time. Dive into the spirit of wartime London with NG Stories at the National Gallery. This free immersive exhibition revisits local legend Dame Myra Hess's iconic concerts that once echoed through the halls. It's a cultural throwback not to be missed.

Cold plunge

Hampstead Heath's Ladies' Pond will be closed for maintenance tomorrow (Tuesday, October 22nd). Season ticket holders can head to the Lido instead. It'll be back up and running on Wednesday.

Fitness forward

Haringey's hitting the refresh button. Tottenham Green Leisure Centre is back under Council control. Watch out for new upgrades and a solid "Active Wellbeing" plan. It reopened with a fresh start earlier this month.

On yer bike

Roll out the bikes. Our cycling scene got a major upgrade three new cycleways. These include one from Chalk Farm to Hampstead, now from Chalk Farm to Swiss Cottage, one and from Kentish Town to Hampstead Heath. Check out the details here.

Bear spotting

A trail of Paddington Bear statues stretches from John O’Groats to Land's End to celebrate the upcoming release of Paddington In Peru. Catch a glimpse of two London Paddington Bears. One is sitting pretty not at his namesake station, but at Connaught Square, and the other is at Westfield White City.

The Finchleyite: Ron Corp OBE

middle aged white man conducting musicc — Ron Corp, image from his website

Conductor and composer Ronald Corp OBE is Musical Director of Highgate Choral Society and The London Chorus.

Ron has written a new cantata, Phoenix from the Ashes, premiering at Cadogan Hall on November 6th. This concert also celebrates his 40th year as Highgate’s musical director and coincides with anniversaries of composers Holst and Fauré.

The cantata was born from a collaboration between Corp and Mark, whose late wife, Sonja Roston Johnson, had personal experience as a Verdingkinder child.

Switzerland’s hidden history of child labour, known as Verdingkinder, saw children taken from families and exploited as cheap farm labour until 1960.

The libretto, crafted by poet Diana Jones, weaves works by Kipling, Dickinson, Graves, and others, creating a haunting yet triumphant narrative.

Renowned soloists Lucy Crowe and Roderick Williams, alongside Highgate Choral Society and London Chorus, will perform under Ron’s direction.

The performance will conclude with Fauré’s Requiem, but Corp emphasises that his cantata ends on a hopeful note, with the final line, “my life’s my own,” symbolizing resilience and renewal.

Tickets, 6 Nov 2024, from £15. Limited availability.

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Editors' Note - From Sasha

Birthday season round ours - the Look At The Chocolate Road cake (so named by a small boy many years ago) is having its annual outing.

Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

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Tessa Davis

Sasha Frieze

Finchley Now

🗞️ Find the best fireworks in North London