DIG out your most frightful fancy dress and get ready to enjoy the spookiest time of the year at a range of events in Bolton.

With venues including farms, hotels, clubs, libraries and shopping centres getting in on the action, there is something for all the family this Halloween.

As darkness falls on Smithills Open Farm, evening Halloween activities include a haunted tractor ride, spooky woodland walk, frightening farm trail, disco, fancy dress prizes and supper.

Suitable for ages four plus, tickets cost £8 and must be bought in advance for session times at 5.45pm, 6.15pm and 6.45pm tonight, tomorrow and Friday.

Bolton's libraries will play host to free children's activities, including spooky stories, creepy crafts and ghoulish games tomorrow.

Call into Blackrod Library from 10.30am to 11.30am; Breightmet or Farnworth Library , 2pm to 3pm or Bromley Cross Library, from 6.30pm to 7pm.

Children can also drop into High Street Library between 9am and 7.30pm to make their own dancing skeleton and, between 3pm and 3.30pm, take turns to wind up a walking skeleton and race it across a track.

From pumpkin carving to apple bobbing, enjoy all the fun of the farm this Halloween. The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth, is playing host to family-friendly fun with its two-hour Halloween experience, from 10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm, today, tomorrow and Friday.

Children can join in Halloween-inspired crafts and activities, as well as visit the farm's animals for an entry price of £12, including refreshments.

The farm is also offering Halloween-themed afternoon tea, between 2pm and 4pm, until Sunday. Pre-booking is required for both, call 01204 852113.

Inspired by Casper the Friendly Ghost, children can enjoy a spookily fun tour of Smithills Hall tomorrow at 6.30pm. Advance booking is required and admission is £4, call 01204 332377. Suitable for ages seven plus.

On Friday, a Bolton shopping centre will play host to a spooky spectacular, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

A Halloween Party will take place at Mezzo cafe, upper ground floor in Market Place, with games and activities, hosted by magician Philip Partridge. Nikki Wilson-Cook, centre manager, said: “It’s a great opportunity to invite children across Bolton to a fun-filled Halloween Party."

Entry is free and open to children aged five to eight and prizes will be awarded for the best fancy dress. Places are limited, call 01204 361 100 to book.

A hotel will throw a Halloween Party on Friday night, with prizes for the best fancy dress, entertainment, a hot buffet and disco until midnight. It will be held in the Village Pub, from 7pm, at Mercure Bolton Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa, Bromley Cross, and tickets cost £15 per adult and £7.50 per child. Phone 01204 873500.

Head down to a wildlife centre between 5pm and 8pm on Saturday for Bonween — an event that combines Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Circus Spooky will take over the Environmental Resource Centre, Bury Road, Breightmet, with pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, free face painting, arts and crafts, Lorenzo the magician, a virtual fireworks display, competitions and refreshments.

For grown-ups wanting some Halloween fun, the Blind Tiger, Nelson Square, is hosting a weekend of events, including a Halloween Monster Mash and fancy dress party on Friday night. The Venue, Churchgate, will also hold a Halloween Party Night on Friday, with live music from Route 66, and a Saturday Fright Night with prizes for the best costume.

A not so scary Halloween Parade will take place at Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park on Friday. Children can attend in fancy dress, have their face painted and make a Disney mask at the craft workshop. The Smyth Toys parade will take place between 1pm and 3pm.