News release Drayton Manor Theme Park’s 2014 season set to end with a fang-tastic bang! Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, will end its action packed 2014 season with two weeks of spectacularly spooky half term fun which will be rounded off with one of the biggest and best fireworks display in the midlands. Taking place from Saturday 18th to Friday 31st October, you are in for a treat this Halloween at Europe’s only Thomas Land™. Thomas and his friends have been hard at work delivering pumpkins and decorating the attraction to make this the spookiest Halloween yet. Children can get involved with pumpkin carving in our Discovery Centre*, and will also get the chance to get up close and personal to some of the animals that take up residence there. Other activities such as arts and crafts in the Discovery Centre will also be on offer over the two weeks so children can be guaranteed more treat than trick this Halloween. The excitement does not end there; we will be finishing off this fun filled fortnight with one of the biggest fireworks extravaganzas in the midlands. Taking place on Saturday 1st November and Sunday 2nd November, the fireworks weekend will be hosted by presenters for Free Radio and will culminate in a 25 minute show, all set to music over the lake to give you a truly breathtaking experience. With the fireworks beginning at 7pm (last admission is 6pm), a whole host of rides will remain open until 9pm, so the thrills can continue into the evening. Europe’s only stand-up rollercoaster, Shockwave, and drop-tower Apocalypse, which was voted the UK’s scariest ride by Channel 5’s The Gadget Show, will be amongst those open until late. For the younger visitors there is Thomas Land, home to over 21 rides and attractions based on the ever popular Thomas & Friends™ series. Tickets for Halloween and the spectacular fireworks are now on sale, and Drayton Manor Theme Park recommends booking early to avoid disappointment. The reduced rate allows you to take advantage of a full day in the park before enjoying the fireworks, for only £25 for adults (12+) and £20 for children aged 4-11 and adults aged 60+, £5 for children aged 2-3 and free for children under 2.** Drayton Manor Theme Park also has a selection of packages available over the Halloween and Fireworks events at its 4 star hotel www.draytonmanorhotel.com To book tickets for either event, or for more information about the park, visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk or call 0844 472 1960. Reduced prices are available for tickets bought in advance. For regular updates and news about Drayton Manor Theme Park join us on Twitter www.twitter.com/Draytonmanor and Facebook www.facebook.com/DraytonManorPark *Pumpkin carving is an additional charge of £2 and is on a first come first served basis. ** Please note that these prices are not available on the gate and are only available if they are pre-purchased from the call centre or online. -ENDS- Notes to Editor About Drayton Manor Drayton Manor Theme Park is one of the UK’s most popular family attractions with over one million visitors a year. Drayton Manor was first opened to the public by the current owners, the Bryan family, in 1950 after husband and wife co-founders, George, OBE, and Vera Bryan, converted 80 acres of derelict land, which once belonged to the former British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel and his family, into a wonderful family attraction. Today, set in approximately 280 acres of beautiful woodland and countryside, the family owned and run Drayton Manor Theme Park features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around, including Shock-wave, G-force, Maelstrom, and Apocalypse, as well as a 15-acre zoo, the hugely popular Thomas Land™ attraction, and a 4D Cinema. The park also has an onsite hotel. The four-star 150 bedroom Drayton Manor Hotel features Executive rooms, Presidential Suites and 15 Thomas & Friends™ rooms, as well as two bars, two restaurants plus The Grill Inn adjacent to the Hotel. About HIT Entertainment HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading preschool entertainment companies, specializing in building powerful brands based on engaging stories. HIT Entertainment’s world-class portfolio includes Thomas & Friends®, Mike the Knight™, Fireman Sam®, Bob the Builder, Barney®, Angelina Ballerina®, Pingu® and Rainbow Magic®. HIT Entertainment excels at creating and building globally successful brands which capture the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families. This is achieved through exceptional storytelling in multiple formats, enhanced by creating high quality character-based products and experiences with best-in-class partners. HIT Entertainment’s lines of business span television and home entertainment production, content distribution, digital media, publishing, consumer products and live events and attractions. HIT Entertainment is a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. For more information visit www.hitentertainment.com About Thomas & Friends™ Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son 69 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages. The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS®, Sprout® and on Five’s Milkshake! and Nick Jr in the UK and on CCTV in China. Downloadable episodes are available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine™ and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com. .