A usual highlight of the festival is the turnip barn where children can carve and decorate a turnip lantern. Thousands of turnips are usually harvested at Cregneash for children to celebrate the festival but this summer's bad weather has badly affected the growth of our turnip crop, and it seems the turnip shortage is widespread across all farms on the Island! Anita Hogarth, Site Manager for Cregneash; "We have the tools but just no turnips, so we are urging visitors to get creative this year and turn up with their own turnips or vegetable to carve into a lantern - squashes, fodder beets or potatoes, anything goes this year! But don't worry if you don't find your own alternative vegetable to carve, local green grocers have sourced turnips from neighbouring Ireland and we will have them to sell for £1.25 each." There will also be live music, the Hop tu Naa song and dance, cookery demonstrations, storytelling and craft activities undercover at Cregneash. The grand lantern parade is led by the musicians through the village at 4pm and is a magical way to celebrate the end of the day's events. A hog roast will be on offer both days as will a Hop tu Naa Shop. Apple Orphanage and the Farmer's Market will be joining Saturday's events as well as Cast a Spell face paints. Join us to celebrate Traditional Hop tu Naa on 27th and 28th October, open 10am to 5pm. Entry is £5 to adults, £2.50 to FMNH, pass holders and children. Local school children and students go free with their ACE card, kindly supported by Conister Bank. Due to weather conditions overflow parking will be in the car park at Scoill Phurt le Moirrey, with limited roadside parking available. But we have arranged shuttle bus transport to get our visitors to Cregneash! Hop tu Naa Express packages include train, bus transfer and entry to Cregneash for £15 per adult and £5 per child. Tickets are available from the Welcome Centre (662525). Alternatively visitors can take a spooky ride on the Open Top Bus with Mann Sightseeing Tours, tickets are £6 per adult or £4 per child (entry to Cregneash not included) call 464017 or email mst@manx.net for further information. Contemporary Hop tu Naa events also take place across the Island including Ghost Trains to the Castle of the Cursed in Castletown on 26th and 27th October, tickets £22 available from the Welcome Centre call 600555. A new Giant's Trail launches for children at the Manx Museum on 27th October. On 31st October enjoy Hop tu Naa games and crafts at the House of Manannan's Hop tu Naa Party 2pm - 5pm, standard admission applies, spooky costumes go free. While just down the coast at Niarbyl there will be a free Hop tu Naa fun day with bouncy castle, toffee apples and dunking apples and in the evening will host a Mhelliah Supper with musical entertainment from Shenanigans Banned and hearty three-course menu for £30, call 843300 to book or for more information. Find all the events on www.manxnationalheritage.im