Ready to be scared?
This year’s ‘Banks of the Foyle ( the river at its heart) Halloween Carnival’ takes place from 26 October – 03 November and events include: catwalk capers; The Shapeshifters’ ball, the Very Curious Carnival and a huge firework display. There is also the Out Of This World Parade, market madness, the eery ghostly gallon tall ship tours, haunted treasure hunts, creepy Tall ship tours, a haunted treasure trail as well as a variety of community- led events across the city. This all culminates with a spectacular Halloween Parade on 31 October followed by a spectacular fireworks display along the River Foyle.
As always this year’s festival has a real family focus with a range of fun children’s activities scheduled throughout the festival with spooky goings-on and scary adventures in venues across the city to ensure the kids are involved in the magic and mystery of the festival. There is plenty to keep the adults entertained too with Halloween themed bus tours of Derry or on foot with a Walking Tours of the city. All these activities making you peckish, well nip down to the seasonal country market and not forgetting the ever popular continental market.
Derry may have gotten a lot of back press in The Troubles, but peace has transformed the city – it is the only completely walled city in Ireland or the UK – so expect a certain bohemian feel in the air in a city bursting with enthusiasm at this time of year. Every adult, child and pensioner you meet as you walk around Derry will be in full Halloween garb – this is not something created articifially for tourist – this event dates back to celtic and pagan times in Ireland and is true to the soul of every man, woman and child living in Derry – so come join in!
All Aboard!!
If you still need more scaring, then jump aboard The Derry Ghost Bus Tour, its a theatrical sightseeing tour, showing you the darker side of Derry while providing a piece of comical horror theatre onboard a classic 1960s Routemaster bus. Enjoy the thrills and meet the characters that make up this wonderful and exciting journey for kids of all ages,n a tour of what used to lurk in the haunts of our City at Halloween. Colourful actors from Derry’s Grove Theatre Group bring the gruesome characters to life. It is a guided bus tour of Derry you’ll never forget.