Visit the home of Halloween as Derry gets set to awaken!

Europe’s LARGEST Halloween Festival is back! For four nights from October 28th – 31st the worlds of past and present collide to create a dazzling street celebration of all things spooky showcasing the folklore, history and heritage that makes the city so special.

This year the festivities will focus on Derry’s City Centre and historic City Walls, as the spirits stalk the streets for three nights from October 28th – 30th when they Awaken the Walled City, before gathering once again for the grand finale event on Halloween night itself, October 31st. Be prepared to be mesmerised by an array of ethereal beings and garish ghouls out to bring magic and mischief to the city, with fire performance, aerial feats, light projections and even a zombie circus.

The Derry Halloween programme will feature a whole host of spellbinding events for people of all ages, including ghoulish ghost tours, spooky story-telling, creepy arts and crafts and spine chilling haunted houses to get you in the Samhain spirit. Embark on a magical journey along the Awakening the Walled City Trail, where you will encounter some of the many weird and the wonderful characters who bring Halloween to life, including the infamous skeleton Walter DeBurgh!

On Halloween night itself the carnival comes to town, with a thrilling spectacle of illuminations, aerial performance, pyrotechnics and music followed by a dazzling display of fireworks over the River Foyle. Over 600 performers will take part in the traditional parade drawn from community groups, sports clubs, and local schools making it a huge cross-community celebration. 

Full details of this year’s Derry Halloween programme are yet to be revealed, but as final preparations get underway, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Cllr Lilian Barr, said it promises to be a sensational event.

“When it comes to celebrating Halloween, Derry has set the bar high in terms of expectations, and I know this year’s event will not disappoint. Our team in Derry City and Strabane District Council has been working on the programme for months now, exploring new and unique experiences for our visitors that really capture the essence of Halloween. 

“We want to create something authentic that gives people a sense of the historic roots of this celebration and why it means so much to us here in Derry. It’s not just an excuse for a great night out, Halloween is very much part of our cultural and spiritual DNA and we look forward to sharing that with our visitors.”

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With a growing international market, the event attracts over 100,000 people over the four days, and is hugely important for the local tourism industry, providing the perfect platform to showcase the hospitality Derry has become renowned for around the world.

Early booking is recommended with much demand for hotel beds throughout the course of the festival.

You can find out more about Derry Halloween and plan your visit by checking out all the information at derryhalloween.com