Shirley shopkeepers' Halloween trail returns with a map, treats and a disco

Shopkeepers on Oxhill Road in Shirley have joined forces to put on a Halloween trail for families this Saturday, complete with a map, a goody bag at every stop and a spooky disco to finish, all in aid of charity.

The Spooky Lodge Trail returns for a second year after its first outing raised more than £300. It costs £5 to take part, and all the money goes to charities close to the shopkeepers' hearts.

How the trail works

Families are invited to arrive in fancy dress, pick up a Spooky Lodge Trail goody bag from the local pub and visit each shop along the route for stickers and treats.

The trail runs from 4pm to 7pm on Saturday 31 October. It starts at The Lodge pub, then heads to the spookily decorated Bubbles Laundrette and on to Sage Coffee House for some live music. Marshals will guide families as they collect treats from Hey Baby 3D printing, Kids2Kids Preloved CIC, Gatsby's hairdressers and the One Stop shop, and the evening ends with a disco at the community centre. Local residents get involved by decorating their houses too.

"Neighbours helping neighbours"

Amy from Bubbles Laundrette, who helped organise the event, said: "Last year, we watched our little corner of the community come alive.

"But what made it so special wasn't the costumes or the sweets, it was you. It was neighbours helping neighbours, local businesses getting behind it, families bringing their children along and everyone coming together to create something really special right here in our own community."

"That's exactly why we couldn't let it be a one-off," she added.

Fellow organiser Jenny Charman, from Kids2Kids Preloved CIC, said last year's trail was so popular that more than 200 completed maps went into a raffle. "It was so busy, we were running out of maps and stickers!" she said.

"All the kids had lots of fun and made new friends, and the adults did too. It's a safe way to do Halloween and trick-and-treating."

Where the money goes

This year's money will go to three charities: Leo's Legacy Foundation, Solihull Lodge Community Centre and Harvey and the Brave Little Soldiers, which raises funds for children with the rare condition Niemann-Pick Type C.

A model for other streets

Trails like this one turn a high street into a place where neighbours meet, and give small businesses a chance to welcome families through their doors. They also offer parents an organised, well-lit and marshalled alternative to knocking on doors after dark.

For families looking for something to do on Halloween, Oxhill Road looks hard to beat. Anyone who wants to join in just needs to turn up at The Lodge in costume from 4pm on Saturday.