As the nights draw in and Halloween approaches, the supermarket shelves are bulging with pumpkins once more. From roast pumpkin soup to ward off the winter chill in Surrey, to pumpkin pie with lashings of cream in North Dakota, much of the English-speaking world goes mad for these tasty seasonal treats at this time of year.
Pumpkin carving is also a popular activity in both the UK and the US. In Surrey's Virginia Water, well-appointed doorsteps and tasteful windowpanes glimmer with the flickering of candles from within spookily carved creations as the 31st approaches. Local estate agent James Wyatt, partner at Barton Wyatt letting agents in Surrey, comments,
"The changing of the seasons is always a lovely time in Surrey. We have so much green space that you can really sense nature changing all around as autumn progresses. For me, Halloween always feels as though it is the turning point between autumn and winter - I know when I see the pumpkins in Waitrose that soon families will be carving pumpkins together and baking tasty treats with their rich flesh as they prepare to host glittering Halloween parties."
One house that would make a perfect Halloween party venue is Crossland House in Surrey's prestigious Virginia Park gated community. On the market for £1.6 million, the beautifully constructed, four storey home has a drawing room, dining/family room and generously proportioned private garden, providing flexible entertaining space that is perfect for anything from a formal dinner to a more relaxed Halloween party. With five bedrooms, the townhouse has ample space for overnight guests.
Virginia Park is also a wonderful place for younger family members to enjoy Halloween. Each year, the great and the good of the community organise a Halloween event that sees every participating house put a poster up in the window. Children from the neighbourhood then roam the park dressed as ghouls, goblins and ghosts (with parents lurking discreetly in the background), trick or treating from door to door within a wonderfully safe environment.
On the other side of the pond, pumpkin pie recipes from Texas to North Dakota are being dusted off for another year. As a largely agricultural state, North Dakota is no stranger to pumpkin patches. Many are open to the public during late October and early November, and one county even hosts an annual giant pumpkin festival.
Though the influx of tens of thousands of workers due to the state's oil boom has begun to change the makeup of North Dakota's population, family values and holiday traditions are still important and this year pumpkins will be dotting many a stoop. Pumpkin pie will be making an appearance on the menu at the Great American Lodge sites, created by oil worker accommodation specialists North Dakota Developments. Group CEO Robert Gavin comments,
"We offer a home from home with our workforce accommodation and hotels here in North Dakota and appreciate that holiday times can feel lonely for those workers whose families are yet to move out here to join them. We do what we can to celebrate occasions such as Halloween and our chefs will be whipping up some delicious pumpkin recipes in honour of the holiday."
North Dakota Developments' latest venture, the three storey Transhudson Hotel - Parshall won't be quite ready for decoration with carved pumpkins this year, as groundworks have just begun, but investors wishing to be part of the action in North Dakota can pick up a suite from $89,950, with assured net yields of 15.55% per year provide a total net return on investment of 56.66%, following compulsory buy back after year three for the sale price plus 10%.
From North Dakota's oil workers to Surrey housewives, let the celebration of all things pumpkin commence!
For more information on the properties detailed above, please contact:
Barton Wyatt
Barton Wyatt provide luxury and select Property in Sunningdale. James Wyatt MNAEA, MARLA, TRC, REALTOR ® is a partner at Barton Wyatt Letting Agents Surrey. Tel: 01344 843000
