Awakening the Walled City Trail map launches this weekend

The map provides visitors with a guide to all the highlights taking place across the city over the three-night event, running from Wednesday October 28th to Friday October 30th, 6pm-9pm each evening. The Trail showcases the various installations and experiences that will transform the city into a dazzling celebration of light and spectacle as part of the milestone 40th anniversary of Derry Halloween.

Paper copies of the map will be available from a range of locations throughout the city from October 24th, including Council buildings, Visit Derry and participating hospitality venues, making it easy for residents and visitors to plan their journey and make the most of everything on offer.

Organisers have also confirmed that a second release of tickets for the enhanced Awakening the Walled City experience will be made available online during the festival. A further 2,500 tickets per evening will be released at 12noon October 28th, 29th and 30th, offering visitors another opportunity to enjoy access to the city's historic Walls as part of the enhanced trail experience.

The enhanced experience will once again allow audiences to enjoy the city's iconic landmark, while taking in specially created performances and installations along the route.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, encouraged people to pick up a trail map and plan their visit. "The Awakening the Walled City Trail promises to be one of the standout experiences of our milestone Derry Halloween celebration and the new trail map will help visitors discover every corner of what is on offer across the city centre. As we mark the 40th anniversary of Derry Halloween, we are looking forward to welcoming local people and visitors alike to enjoy three unforgettable evenings filled with magic.

"The return of access to our historic City Walls as part of the enhanced experience is particularly exciting. The Walls are one of our most treasured landmarks and offer a unique way to experience the sights of the city. I would encourage everyone planning to attend to pick up a map, explore the trail and make the most of this special anniversary year."

This year's Awakening the Walled City Trail will feature a host of spectacular attractions inspired by folklore, myth and the spirit of Samhain. Highlights include the enchanting Witchy Wonderland experience along the historic City Walls, the breathtaking aerial performance Through the Veil above the Diamond, the lively and immersive Walter's Wake on Bishop Street and the striking visual installation Descent, where ancient mythology and cutting-edge projection combine to transform the Walls into a portal between worlds. Visitors can also expect dazzling light displays, circus performances, music, street theatre and larger-than-life characters throughout the trail.

Council's Festival and Events Manager, Aisling McCallion, said the trail map would be an essential guide for visitors navigating the three-night experience. "The Awakening the Walled City event has evolved into a key part of the Derry Halloween programme and this year's event promises to be bigger and more ambitious than ever as we celebrate 40 years of the festival. The trail map has been designed to help visitors easily navigate the experience and ensure they don't miss any of the spectacular installations, performances and moments that have been created for the event.

"We are delighted to once again incorporate the historic City Walls into the enhanced experience. The additional ticket release of 2,500 places per evening will provide more opportunities for people to enjoy this element of the festival while helping us manage visitor flow and ensure the best possible experience for everyone attending. Just a reminder that the rest of the Trail is not ticketed and also free so there is plenty of entertainment to enjoy throughout the city centre for anyone who hasn’t booked."

Visitors are encouraged to collect a trail map in advance from participating venues and to visit the official Derry Halloween website for further information, ticket details and event updates – derryhalloween.com

Derry Halloween is delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism N. Ireland and The Executive Office.