City shines as Derry Halloween dazzles the crowds

The home of Halloween cast its spell over tens of thousands of visitors this week, as Derry Halloween’s 2025 celebrations transformed the city into a spectacle of myth, magic and mischief.

Despite one night of the Awakening the Walled City trail being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, spirits remained high, and the Halloween night finale saw bumper crowds out to enjoy the Carnival Parade and a spectacular fireworks display under clear autumn skies.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, paid tribute to everyone involved in making the festival another outstanding success.

“Derry Halloween continues to showcase the very best of our city – our creativity, our community spirit, and our warm welcome,” he said. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in bringing this year’s celebrations to life – from our local artists, performers and volunteers, to emergency services, council staff, and our visitors who travelled from near and far to be part of the magic.

“While we were disappointed to have to cancel one night of the Awakening the Walled City Trail due to weather conditions, the safety of the public must always come first. Thankfully, the sun shone on Halloween Day itself, and it was wonderful to see tens of thousands of people filling our streets once again to celebrate together in style.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh joined tens of thousands of people as they lined the streets of Derry and the banks of the River Foyle as the city hosted Europe's largest Halloween Carnival which culminated in a spectacular fireworks display. (Photos: Martin McKeown)

Council’s Head of Culture, Aeidin McCarter, highlighted the importance of the festival in promoting the city and district on the global stage.

“Derry Halloween is a cornerstone of our cultural calendar and one of the city’s proudest success stories,” she said. “Each year it brings an enormous boost to the local economy, drawing visitors from all over the world and generating invaluable international media coverage that raises the profile of the city as a leading destination for cultural tourism. Ireland is undoubtedly the Home of Halloween and we are front and centre in that story.

“The festival’s unique blend of myth, heritage and creativity continues to captivate audiences and reflects the incredible talent and energy of our local creative sector.”

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Derry Halloween is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism NI and The Executive Office.

This year’s Derry Halloween featured a vibrant mix of live music, storytelling, installations, and community events across the city and district. Planning is already underway for next year’s 40th anniversary of Derry Halloween, promising a truly unforgettable experiences for visitors and locals alike.