City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival is the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year outside Asia. The inaugural Chinese New Year Twilight Parade in 2009 attracted a record crowd of approximately 100,000 people.

The manager of Carnival and Toy Wholesale in Glebe, James Stringer, said children have been bitten hard by the vampire craze – he has sold about 6000 sets of fangs compared with 3000 last year. “Vampires are always popular – every Halloween vampires, witches and reapers are the most popular items,” Mr Stringer said.

Transformed for Halloween with an impressive display of balloons, gory props and accessories, alongside unbelievably friendly staff and cheap prices, the Carnival and Toy Wholesaler is your one-stop shop for just about anything you might need to add a splash of colour. Favourite costume The too-cute kids’ ninja and the beautiful range of burlesque masks.

“What goes on when you work at one of the fun-nest shops in the world?”

Bring your little princess or devil to Carnival & Toy’s costume shop to keep them from raiding your closet. The shop has been in business over 70 years and has built a collection of more than 7,000 items. Let your nipper choose from 50-plus colours of helium-filled latex balloons for the next birthday party, or surprise the guests with a Barbie piñata.

At any level of examination stillbirth is a personal tragedy. There is no doubt that the death of a baby in utero, during birth or immediately after birth raises enormous medical and personal questions.

Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is not an American phenomenon – at least not all American anyway. Samantha Stringer, manager of Carnival and Toy in Glebe, says while the red, white and blue adopted and commercialised it, the origins of Halloween are altogether green.

A big thank-you to Carnival & Toy Wholesaler-the Party Makers in Glebe (www.carnivalandtoy.com) for donating balloons for the Jeanelle of Five Dock Dinner Dance. Orange Grove Public School in Leichhardt donated $1,000 in February after winning an award presented by Wests Ashfield. Many thanks also to Balmain Office Supplies for donating some office materials.

“Step right up, folks, to wigs and wands, trinkets and tooters, balloons, beads and bubbles. In this fun palace, you’ll not only step into party time, but also into carnival history.”