CARNIVAL PARADE & FIREWORKS
CARNIVAL PARADE
CITY CENTRE • FRI 31ST OCT • 7PM
The North West Carnival Initiative presents the Carnival Parade - the beating heart of Derry Halloween. A dazzling celebration of community, creativity and carnival spirit. Watch as floats, performers and extraordinary Samhain characters bring the story of Halloween to life, their costumes crafted with months of imagination, skill and dedication. All cheered on by tens of thousands in fancy dress.
FIREWORKS
CITY CENTRE • FRI 31ST OCT • 8.15PM
See the River Foyle and the city’s landmarks lit up in technicolour at Derry Halloween’s epic fireworks finale. Feel the magic in the air as these beauties erupt – from sparkling showers to massive showstoppers! A spectacular end to an unforgettable four days.
DERRY HALLOWEEN - THE HOME OF HALLOWEEN
Be part of Europe’s LARGEST Halloween Festival, from 28th - 31st October 2025. Witness ghosts, banshees and mystical Celtic creatures as they come out to play on our 400 year old walls. Marvel at stunning light shows, acrobats and circus performers. Feel the warmth of the ‘Derry’ welcome and dance alongside thousands of costumed revellers, under a sky filled with fireworks. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Samhain.
• AWAKENING THE WALLED CITY • HEART OF SAMHAIN •
• LITTLE HORRORS • TOURS & TRAILS •
• FREAKY FAMILY FUN • CARNIVAL PARADE •
• FIREWORKS FINALE • WITCHY WELLNESS • and much more!
AWAKENING THE WALLED CITY TRAIL
IN THE CITY OF BONES
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm • FREE. Suitable for all ages
Embark on a journey along the Awakening the Walled City Trail, where rich folklore, history, and heritage come to life in a truly unique experience. As Samhain approaches, and the veil separating the living and dead grows ever thinner, get ready for an otherworldly takeover of EPIC proportions...
Brace yourself for three nights of enchantment, mischief and spine tingles as a multitude of immortal creatures invade our ancient walls, cobbled streets and darkened alleyways.
New for 2025, the Awakening the Walled City Trail expands beyond your wildest nightmares with seven brand-new zones. From the fire-lit terrors of the Red Zone to the disco-dancing dead in the purple, each themed area brings its own unique brand of Halloween magic to Derry’s ancient streets. Whether you’re seeking spine-tingling scares, mystical transformations, harvest traditions, or immersive theatrical horror. Dare to explore them all, if you can handle what awaits in the shadows.
RED ZONE SHIPQUAY SHRIEK
Climb the haunted hill of Shipquay Shriek, where fire, smoke and a Samhain serpent set the scene. The red zone is alive with smoke, shadows and shivers.
SLIANTHA THE SAMHAIN SERPENT
SHIPQUAY STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Dare to walk the length of Shipquay
Shriek as a giant inhabitant creeps through the city centre? Fire pits and eerie ambience bring this immersive trail to life – a spine tingling spectacle for the brave.
Delivered by North West Carnival Initiative.
GHOULS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN
THE CAVERN, THE CRAFT VILLAGE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Take a step into the North West Regional College’s cavern to be entertained this Halloween 2025! An eclectic celebratory gathering of music and dance performances, with boo-tiful Halloween characters coming out to play!
PURPLE ZONE DISCO AT THE DIAMOND
Step into The Diamond, where light, colour and Halloween magic awaken the spirits of Samhain. From towering puppets to funky skeletons, get ready to dance, dazzle and join the spellbinding street party!
DAZZLING DIAMOND
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Step in to a dazzling world of colour and rhythm in this immersive lighting experience. Delivered by Guildhall Production Studio, part of Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
WALTER ON THE DANCEFLOOR
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Derry’s famous skeleton returns with a funky twist! Walter bursts back to life to throw a disco-fuelled party for ghosts, skeletons and other spooky beings. Inspired by 70s and 80s disco and funk, this high-energy performance will be bursting with colour, light and rhythm. Produced by City Dance.
DIAMOND DJ
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Derry Halloween is bringing back the much loved DJ of the Dead Skeleton to The Diamond. Dance to Resident DJ, Walter de Burgh and enjoy his spooktacular moves at the greatest Halloween celebration on the planet. Brought to you by In Your Space Circus.
FRIGHT NIGHT FUNK
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Fright Night Funk transforms the streets into an electrifying dance party with El Carromato’s spectacular 13-foot illuminated puppets. These towering luminous beings beckon spirits both living and dead to join their ritual – where mortals become one with the ancient dance of Samhain.
SWEET SKULL SPECTACLE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Feast your eyes on three towering Day of the Dead skulls bursting with colour, character and a touch of spooky sweetness. Standing tall in the heart of our Disco at the Diamond, these larger-than-life skulls blend sugary celebration with spine tingling style. Snap a selfie, strike a pose and get ready to party with the spirits!
GREEN ZONE BONES OF BISHOP STREET
Enter the Green Zone… where the restless dead roam and eerie spirits awaken. Step into the shadows, where werewolves, banshees, wailing nuns and zombies lurk.
THE BONEHEAD PRINTERS
MASK-ERADE
DERRY PRINT WORKSHOP
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Wander into the mysterious world of mask-making at Derry Print Workshop, where artists conjure Halloween faces before your eyes. Stop by, claim a mask of your own, and let the magic move with you on your Halloween journey.
SHERLOCK BONES & THE MAYOR’S MISSING CHAIN
VERBAL ARTS CENTRE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm, 7pm & 8pm Fri 31st Oct • 11am, 12noon, 1pm & 2pm
Duration: 1 hour • Adm: FREE
Suitable for 4 - 8 years
Step into the world of Sherlock Bones, our detective hero, to solve the case of the Mayor’s missing ceremonial chain. This is an immersive storytelling event where children become the detectives. Through a series of themed rooms and activities, they work in teams to complete creative challenges, earn clues and piece together the riddle of the missing chain.
THE HOWLING WOLF AWAKENS
BISHOP STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
In the shadowed depths of Bishop Street, the haunting She-Wolf emerges from the darkness, her amber eyes fixed longingly on the glowing Samhain Moon. With each desperate attempt to reach the sacred light, she is pulled back by the restless spirits and ghostly bones that guard this cursed cobblestone path. Witness her eternal struggle as she prowls between worlds, forever trapped by the vengeful dead who refuse to let her pass.
Brought to you by North West Carnival Initiative in partnership with Macnas.
SOCIETY STREET INDOOR MARKET
TUES 28TH - THURS 30TH OCT • 10AM - 10PM
FRI 31ST OCT • 10AM - 5.30PM
Providing artisan foods. quirky antiques and locally hand crafted products along with a number of other unique stalls.
GREEN ZONE BONES OF BISHOP STREET
THRILLIE & HENDERSONS
HOLYWELL TRUST
TUES 28TH - THURS 30TH OCT • 6pm - 9pm
The Nun at the Window is beckoning! Let the shapeshifters at the façade entice you into the Cathedral Quarter’s “UnHolywell,” where the in-house unliving will assist you as you follow the call of the Factory horn. With performers from Rainbow School of Dance and featuring original sounds by local musician, Kai, be sure to hold onto your shirt and no “dragon” your feet!
IN YOUR SPACE CIRCUS PRESENTS ZOMBIE CIRCUS
CATHEDRAL QUARTER
TUES 28TH - THURS 30TH OCT • 6pm - 9pm
WATCH OUT! This talented group of undead circus kids will be roaming the Cathedral Quarter with skills that will wow the crowds, and dance moves to mesmerise the masses. But beware... if they get under your skin, you may just end up running away with the Circus!
GREEN ZONE BONES OF BISHOP STREET
THE WAILING NUNS
BISHOP STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
The Sisters of Mercy, our Wailing Nuns will roam this cobbled path. Brace yourself for their haunting cries and beware encountering one lest you leap out of your skin!
BUTCHER’S BANSHEE
UPPER MAGAZINE STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Encounter Bean Chaointe - the keening woman of Irish folklore. This ghost-like figure of beauty and foreboding emerges with a chilling, haunting song, accompanied by live musicians who respond to the sounds and shadows of the city. A mesmerizing, immersive performance that conjures the beauty and mystery of the unseen world.
THE MYTHICAL ESCAPE
BISHOP STREET COURTHOUSE
TUES 28TH - THURS 30TH OCT • 6PM - 9PM
The Courthouse cells confine not historic figures, but creatures of myth and legend. Bound by ancient magic, these imprisoned beings await the arrival of Samhain when the courthouse’s enchanted barriers weaken, allowing them to break free.
Delivered by Guildhall Production Studio, part of Guildhall School of Music & Drama in collaboration with locally acclaimed ghost-storyteller and author Madeline McCully.
THE MORRIGAN’S CALL
SOCIETY STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Directed by Giuliano Campo, featuring Ulster University Drama students, this Samhain-inspired performance brings Irish myths to life - from the Morrígan and phantom warriors, to mischievous fairy folk, the Headless Horseman, and Fionn mac Cumhaill facing the restless dead.
A magical, interactive Halloween experience for all ages.
ORANGE ZONE PUMP’KIN STREET
Welcome to Pump’kin Street, where autumn magic fills every corner. From harvest markets and photo opps, to whimsical shows and puppets, there’s fun, colour, and festive Halloween charm for all ages!
THE HARVEST MARKET
PUMP STREET
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT • 12 NOON - 9pm SAT 1st NOV • 12 NOON - 6pm
Love a toffee apple?
Fancy a Hot Chocolate? Celebrate the flavours of the season with local produce, artisan treats, crafts and antiques in the stalls and shops of Derry’s beautiful Cathedral Quarter. With facepainting, just-for-fun fortune telling, live music bandstand until 5pm, pumpkin patch, picnic area and lots more to do, the Harvest Market is a perfect stop for all the family. Nestled within the Derry Walls and home to St. Columb’s Cathedral, the little streets of the Cathedral Quarter are filled with churches, museums, galleries and historic buildings at the heart of the Samhain celebrations.
THE PYSCHOPUMP OF PUMP STREET
PUMP STREET
TUES 28TH - FRI 31ST OCT • 6PM - 9PM
The Pyschopump invites you to draw a card to reveal the tales of legenderry figures from the City of Bones, told in the Psychopump’s own captivating style!
DAIRE CALGAICH
SMART SWAG, LONDON STREET
TUES 28TH – THURS 30TH • 10AM-9PM FRI 31ST OCT - SAT 1ST NOV • 10AM-6PM
Celebrating Samhain, artist Pauric Lawne weaves handmade magic, rooted in the old ways, to transform this art and design haven in to a world between worlds, invoking the spirits of our Ancestors and welcoming all to the City of Bones.
ORANGE ZONE PUMP’KIN STREET
THE MOONWALKERS’COURT
ST. COLUMB’S CATHEDRAL
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT
Stelzen’s majestic and serene Moon Lady Stilt Walkers move ethereal grace that captivates all who behold them. Towering above the crowd they bring celestial warmth and smiles wherever they roam. By their sides is the Moon Man. The elegant companion to the Moon Queens and sovereign master of shining nights and twinkling star lights.
FANG GOGH
CATHEDRAL QUARTER
TUES 28TH - THURS 30TH OCT • 6PM - 9PM
A whimsical portrait puppet artist brings a delightful spooky twist to the art world this Halloween. Prepare to be charmed (and maybe a little spooked) by this utterly unique act. Halloween magic unfolds as this artist brings your likeness to life. A Halloween treasure to take home… drawn by Fang Gogh’s own hand.
Brought to you by In Your Space Circus and Banyan Theatre.
PATH OF LIGHT
ST COLUMB’S CATHEDRAL
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
As dusk falls and the night awakens, journey through an illuminated dreamscape designed to enchant and inspire. Explore a world bathed in gentle glows, soft shadows and shimmering tones. Thoughtfully crafted to evoke wonder, this immersive experience offers a moment of calm, reflection and awe beneath the autumn sky.
Brought to you by Sheila Byrne and NWCI
BLUE ZONE ECHOES OF THE WALLS
In the Blue Zone, the shadows of Derry’s past awaken. From towering skeletons to haunted streets, experience ghostly tales and spine-tingling encounters hidden within the city walls.
IN YOUR SPACE CIRCUS presents THE BONE YARD
ARTILLERY STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
An immersive street theatre experience. Since the 1600s, these creatures have toiled in the shadows of the city walls, their wretched lives and deaths a whispered history etched into the stone. Now, their eternal resting place is within the walls themselves. Watch, as the cursed bones are called back to their torturous labors, year after year, bound by a will they cannot escape. Trapped between life and death, between this world and the next, they are but hollow husks of their former selves - forced to endure an unending cycle of servitude at their master’s hand.
THE AWAKENING OF WALTER DE BURGH
NEWGATE ARTS & CULTURE CENTRE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
DURATION: 20mins
In the shadows, a legend stirs from centuries of slumber. The city’s resident skeleton, Walter de Burgh, emerge from the ethereal mist. His skeletal form towers against the night, eyes blazing as he calls forth his ghostly clan from the depths of history. Witness his phantom dancers, their glowing forms weaving tales of betrayal, power, and eternal vengeance through haunting choreography.
BLUE ZONE ECHOES OF THE WALLS
THE EXPERIENCE
ST COLUMB’S HALL
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 11pm
Duration: 15mins • Tickets: £12
This year, the doors open once again to reveal a twisted experience that leads you deep into the unseen corners of St Columb’s Hall. Prepare to descend into darkness as you’re pulled through a terrifying portal where nightmares come to life and nothing is as it seems.
Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
SCHOOL ON THE EDGE OF REALITY THE PLAYHOUSE
TUES 28th - WED 29th OCT • 5pm & 6pm THURS 30th OCT - SAT 1st NOV • 3pm, 5pm & 6pm
Duration: 30mins • Tickets £5
Step into The School on the Edge of Reality, where Derry’s haunted past meets a strange, magical future. Paranormal expert Professor Avery Spectra’s Reality Rift has unleashed ghoulish students into The Playhouse. Join fearless assistant Felix Phantom to face mischievous mayhem and save Derry Halloween from the spookiest class you’ll ever meet! Suitable for ages 6+
Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
PINK ZONE ENCHANTED EMBANKMENT
FIREWALL!!
FAHAN EMBANKMENT
Tues 28th - Thurs 30th Oct • 6pm - 9pm
(Blocking unauthorised access and malicious intent…) ‘FIREWALL !!’ by LUXE is a spectacular installation of fire and lantern, lighting up the historic City Walls that overlook the impressive night lights of Derry’s Bogside. Above and Below.
LUXE are prolific. As Ireland’s leading spectacle company
LUXE present brilliant work nationally and internationally, North and South, throughout the year.
“ UNMISSABLE! ” Inish Times
Supported by the Executive Office
YELLOW ZONE SPOOKY SQUARE
Where the Blue Guardian and the spirits of long-lost children rise to haunt, sing, and dance in a mesmerizing Halloween spectacle.
Fuse Arts presents THE BLUE GUARDIAN EBRINGTON
TUES 28TH - THURS 30TH OCT • 6PM - 9PM
This Halloween, magic stirs in the mute meadows below Ebrington Square. Join the Blue Guardian, a spirit from the old workhouse, on her enchanting return in search of the children she once cared for. As she arrives, ghostly children emerge from the shadows — lanterns glowing, voices singing, and feet dancing through the misty meadows in a magical, spooky procession.
A spellbinding experience for all ages, filled with music, mystery, and Halloween wonder!
Supported by The Executive Office.
GUILDHALL
At the eerie heart of our haunted festivities stands the majestic Guildhall, its gothic tower casting long shadows in the moonlight. This spellbinding landmark becomes the enchanted centrepiece of the festival, glowing under the otherworldly light of Luke Jerram’s Samhain Moon — a breathtaking lunar installation that brings ancient magic to life.
Step inside for a cauldron of chillingly delightful events: from our Witchy Wellness programme, where mystical self-care meets seasonal rituals, to spine-tingling children’s shows that spark imaginations and raise a few goosebumps. We’re also offering soothing sensory sessions — a peaceful sanctuary amidst the Halloween revelry, perfect for little monsters (and grown-up ghouls) who need a gentler touch.
THE SAMHAIN MOON
MON 27TH OCT - SAT 1ST NOV • 6-9PM
Fee: £1pp or max £5per family
(free viewing on Monday 27th Oct & Sat 1st November)
LITTLE HORRORS & HOWLERS
MON 27TH - FRI 31ST OCT • 10AM - 5.30PM
More detail to follow very soon.
HEART OF SAMHAIN
GUILDHALL SQUARE, WATERLOO PLACE & HARBOUR SQUARE
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT • 12noon - 9pm
The Heart of Samhain is brought to life with ghostly festivities under the glowing Samhain Moon. Join the supernatural celebration with live music on our Samhain stage, browse the mystical Haunted Harvest Market, and watch as spirits and ghouls feast on the sights, sounds and tastes of Halloween. This is where the magic of Samhain comes alive in the heart of our ancient walled city.
MORBID & SONS, by Curious State
GUILDHALL SQUARE & HARBOUR SQUARE
MON 28TH - TUES 29TH OCT • 4PM & 6PM
‘Morbid & Sons’ is an interactive, macabre street theatre show about death and the afterlife. The Morbid family business has been proudly passed down through the generations, until now that is. No one is dying anymore; a mix of yoga, new-fad diets, and e-numbers are extending life expectancy. The obituaries have been blank for weeks. Archibald Morbid finds himself at the helm of a dying trade and struggles to save the family business from going under. An emergency meeting is held and the family decides to take to the streets to drum up some much-needed trade.
They sing humorous songs about gruesome accidents, hideous deaths and possible in-laws that might need a little help finding their way to the after-life. As the Morbid family pass through the streets with their ornate Victorian hearse, they might choose you to try on a coffin or to avail of their “buy now, die later” offer. Be careful they don’t “kill you with kindness” or “embalm you while you wait”. Remember, “death comes to us all in the end”.
Brought to you by In Your Space Circus
SAMHAIN STAGE
GUILDHALL SQUARE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 12noon - 9pm FRI 31st OCT • 12noon - 10pm
Let local artists bewitch you with live music in the very heart of the city. Unwind, dance, and embrace the Halloween spirit.
HEART OF SAMHAIN
UNCLE DOOM & HIS ORGAN OF GLOOM
GUILDHALL SQUARE/HARBOUR SQUARE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 4pm - 8pm FRI 31st OCT • 4pm
Out of the mist, Uncle Doom emerges, gliding through the night on his hauntingly majestic Organ of Gloom. His eerie, bone-chilling tunes ooze from every crevice, filling the air with an unsettling melody. Trapped between worlds and lost in time, Uncle Doom seeks escape by luring the living to join his ghostly choir. Will you dare to sing along and help him break free, or become part of his otherworldly orchestra?
WALTER’S PET SNOUT
WALLS OVERLOOKING GUILDHALL SQUARE
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT • 12noon - 9pm
Tread cautiously as you near the Walls, for Walter’s monstrous pet sees and hears everything!
SIT AT THE IRON THRONE
GUILDHALL SQUARE
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT • 12noon - 9pm
Channel your inner Targaryen or Stark as you take a seat upon the iconic Game of Thrones throne. Strike your fiercest royal pose for an unforgettable photo opp amidst the haunting atmosphere of Derry Halloween.
HEART OF SAMHAIN
CONSUELA THE LIVING DOLL
O’NEILL’S, WATERLOO PLACE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Dressed to impress, our beautiful Consuela reigns supreme as she surveys all from her candlelit shrine.
ARCHAEO SCREAM
HARBOUR SQUARE
WED 29th - FRI 31st OCT • 1pm - 9pm
WELL TO HELL GUILDHALL
STREET
TUES 28th OCT - FRI 31st OCT • 3pm-10pm AGES 14+
This Halloween, dive into The Well to Hell and immerse yourself in an 8D auditory experience that sharpens your remaining senses when you have no light to rely on. As you sit in complete darkness, the whispers from the other side grow louder and the knocks draw closer.
Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
Step back in time and experience the traditional crafts once practiced by our ancestors. Explore ancient techniques in a fun and interactive way. Our stand also offers the chance to handle real archaeological artefacts, some thousands of years old, and learn directly from professional archaeologists. It’s a unique opportunity to uncover the stories behind the objects, discover how materials were used in the past and see how archaeology helps us piece together the lives of those who came before us.
LEGENDERRY BITES OF TERROR
LEGENDERRY BITES OF TERROR
WATERLOO PLACE
TUES 28th – FRI 31st OCT • 12NOON – 10pm
Dare to enter a haunted haven of taste as the LegenDerry Bites of Terror creeps into Derry Halloween for the very first time — a frightfully delicious four-day feast of eerie eats, devilish drinks, and ghostly good times!
Waterloo Place will be transformed into a spine-tingling street food spooktacle, where ghoulish gourmets can feast on wickedly good bites, sip potions brewed by award-winning local witches and warlocks (a.k.a. brewers and distillers), and dance under the moonlight to bone-rattling beats.
With bold flavours from fang-tastic local traders and a monster mash of festival vibes, this open-air food fright-fest promises a truly spooktacular experience for creatures of all cravings!
FREAKY FAMILY FUN
FIRST LIGHT
SAT 1ST NOV • 7PM
Join us for a peaceful and inspiring Walking Service as you visit several churches and denominations across the city. At each stop, you’ll share moments of song, prayer, and reflection. Whether you come with faith, questions, or simply a curious heart, you are welcome to walk with us. Carry lanterns, torches, or mobile lights as we bring a gentle glow to the streets — a symbol of hope and encouragement for everyone we meet along the way. Through heartfelt prayers, uplifting readings, and soulstirring singing, you’ll experience light, joy, and comfort. Along the journey, you can also take a Prayer Card, carrying a word of peace or inspiration with you whenever you need it most. Walk with us and help shine a little light into the darkness
SCHOOL OF BONES
GLASSWORKS, GREAT JAMES STREET
FRI 31st OCT • 1pm - 4pm
Join In Your Space Circus for School of Bones! IYSC’s brilliant skeleton youth troupe will put you through your paces and see if you have what it takes to join the school of bones! Drop-in participative circus workshop! Venue TBC.
MONSTER HALLOWEEN FUNFAIR
EBRINGTON SQUARE WED 22nd - FRI 31st OCT • 2pm - 10pm
Spooky funfair with all your favourite attractions for all the family. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from the Big Wheel and get into the Halloween spirit on the Ghost Train.
Supported by The Executive Office.
FREAKY FAMILY FUN FÉILE NA SAMHNA
CULTÚRLANN UÍ CHANÁIN, GREAT JAMES STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 31st OCT
ARÁN AGUS ARRACHTAIGH
BREAD AND BEASTS
DÉ MÁIRT 28Ú DEIREADH FÓMHAIR
TUES 28th OCT • 3pm - 5pm
ADM: £6 • https://tinyurl.com/mpd9ufe4
Foghlaim faoinár nósanna ársa
Samhna agus tú ag bácáil arán traidisiúnta torthaí Éireannach de do chuid féin, báirín breac. Sa cheardlann réchúiseach seo meascfar le chéile béaloideas Gaelach le deis phraiticiúil do phíosa staire féin a bhácáil. Cuir áit in áirithe anois lena fháil amach cad é mar a shamhlaímid anois an tSamhain le milseáin, cad é mar a d’fhorbairt feistis ó phisreoga, agus faoi chríoch le domhan na marbh, ar caoile í an t-am seo bliana. Ná lig don phúca do bhuilín aráin a ghoid ar an bhealach amach! Imeacht dátheangach.
Learn about our ancient Halloween customs while baking your own traditional Irish fruit bread, Báirín Breac (or Barmbrack)! This laidback workshop will whisk together celtic folklore with a hands-on chance to bake your own bit of history. Book now to find out how we’ve come to associate Halloween with sweets; how costumes evolved from superstitions, and about the boundary into the world of the dead which is thinnest at this time of the year… just don’t let the púca steal your loaf on the way out! Bilingual event.
FOINN SCANRÚLA
SPOOKY TUNES
DÉ CÉADAOIN 29Ú DEIREADH FÓMHAIR
WED 29th OCT • 5pm - 6pm
SAOR IN AISCE // FREE
Má tá tú cróga go leor bí mar chuid
dár seisiún ceoil thraidisiúnta, Foinn
Scanrúla, faoi stiúir ár bhfoghlaimeoirí
ón Acadamh! Agus duais ar fáil don chulaith is fearr a théann le teideal foinn, is fiú a bheith ag seinm. Imeacht é seo atá oscailte do chách.
If you dare, join our Spooky Tunes trad session, led by our Acadamh students! With a prize for the best costume that matches a tune’s title, there’s all to play for… This event is open to all.
FREAKY FAMILY FUN FÉILE NA SAMHNA
HALLOWEEN DISCO
DÉ CÉADAOIN 29 DEIRADH FÓMHAIR
WED 29th OCT • 6.30pm - 9pm
ADM: £3
Déan búgaí leis an bhadhb badhbh ag ár ndioscó óige dátheangach Dé Máirt an 29. Le dioscmharcach beo, duaiseanna ar son na bhfeisteas is fearr, agus díreach £3 an páiste, is cinnte gur scéinséir d’oíche a bheas ann. Beidh seisiún ar leith á reáchtáil againn do páistí rang 1 go dtí 4 (18:30-19:30) agus ansin páistí rang 5 go dtí 7 (19:30-21:00) ar an oíche. Rachaidh an t-airgead chun sochair dár gclub óige, Club Óige Setanta, ag cur seirbhísí óige Gaeilge ar fáil. Íocaíocht ag an doras.
Boogie with the Boogeyman at our bilingual youth disco on Tuesday the 29th! With a live DJ, prizes for best costumes, and at just £3 per childit’s bound to be a Thriller of a night. We will be running separate sessions for kids in primary 1-4 (6.30pm7.30pm) and kids in primary 5-7 (7.30pm - 9pm) on the night. The money will go to our youth club, Club Óige Setanta, in providing Irish language youth services. Payment is at the door. Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR
DÉARDAOIN 30Ú DEIREADH FÓMHAIR
THURS 30th OCT • 7pm
ADM: £5
Bí linn nuair a thaispeánfar an scannán clasaiceach a bhfuil cáil air, Nosferatu, le scór ceoil tumthach leis an ealaíontóir leictreach Vincent O’Callaghan. Cuirfear fáilte chroíúil romhat chuig an eispéireas ar leith seo le cur i láthair gairid dátheangach a chomhroinnfidh na naisc fhíorspéisiúla idir Bram Stoker, Éire, agus an scéinséir suaithinseach seo atá i ndiaidh mairtean fríd na cianta. Tá an t-imeacht seo 18+.
Join us for a screening of the renowned classic, Nosferatu, with an immersive live score by electronic music artist, Vincent O’Callaghan! You’ll be warmly welcomed to this unique experience with a brief and bilingual introduction that’ll share the fascinating links between Bram Stoker, Ireland, and this horror icon that has endured the ages… This event is 18+.
Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
FREAKY FAMILY FUN FÉILE NA SAMHNA
LÁ MÓR NA SAMHNA
HALLOWEEN FAMILY DAY
DÉ HAOINE 31Ú DEIREADH FÓMHAIR
FRI 31st OCT • 11am - 1pm
SÍNTIÚS AR AN DORAS // ENTRY IS BY DONATION
Mothaigh spiorad na Samhna lenár gceiliúradh atá fóirsteanach do theaghlaigh! Bí linn Lá Samhna ó 11am go 1pm nuair a bheas ceardlanna ealaíon agus ceardaíochta againn a mbeidh téama leo, seisiún beo ceoil thraidisiúnta, agus scéalaíocht bheo. Síntiús ar an doras agus ní gá clárú.
Get into the Samhain Spirit with our family-friendly festivities! Join us on Halloween day from 11am-1pm as we host themed arts and crafts workshops, a traditional live music session, and live storytelling… Entry is by donation and registration is not necessary.
MAKEY UPPERS GRANNY D’s HALLOWEEN
HOUSE PARTY
CULTÚRLANN UÍ CHANAIN
Wed 29th & Thurs 30th Oct • 12noon & 2pm Fri 31st Oct • 11.15am
DURATION: 30 MINS
Tá Móraí Uí Dhochartaigh ina cónaí thuas i gcrann i gCnoc na Rós, i dteachín crainn draíochta, lena gariníon an ghirseach bheag. Goitse agus bí linn agus iad ag déanamh réidh fá choinne Chóisir Tí na Samhna lán grinn gan eagla ar bith. Beidh siad ag foghlaim gach fá dtaobh de thradisiúin agus thús na Samhna trí scéalta, cluichí agus neart cuideachta. Foirsteanach don teaghlach ar fad. Taispeántas réchúiseach - Dé Máirt 28 Deireadh Fómhair.
Granny D(oherty) lives up a tree in Rosemount, in a magical tree-house, with her granddaughter wee girl. Come and join in as they prepare for a Halloween House Party that is all fun, no fright. They will be learning all about the traditions and origins of Samhain through stories, games and a whole lot of craic.
Suitable for the whole family. Relaxed performance - Tuesday 28th October
Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
FREAKY FAMILY FUN AT NERVE CENTRE
THE GOONIES
TUES 28th OCT • 4pm
An epic children’s adventure of subterranean caverns, sunken galleons and a fortune in lost pirate treasure waiting to be found by a group of friends known as ‘The Goonies’.
THE SURFER
TUES 28th OCT • 7pm
When a man (Nicolas Cage) returns to his beachside hometown in Australia, after many years building a life for himself in the U.S., he is humiliated in front of his teenage son by a local gang of surfers who claim strict ownership over the secluded beach of his childhood.
GREMLINS
WED 29th OCT • 4pm
Teenager Billy Peltzer receives an unusual present from his father with a specific set of instructions.
CORPSE BRIDE
THURS 30th OCT • 2pm
Tim Burton presents a hair-raising legend based on a 19th-century folktale in which a young man mistakenly weds a corpse.
WALLACE AND GROMIT: CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
FRIDAY 31st OCT • 2pm
Oscar®-winning claymation about the chase for a giant rabbit terrorising a town’s allotments and vegetable patches days before the annual vegetable-growing competition.
Nerve Cinema, Magazine Street
Admission: £6 + booking fee
Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
FREAKY FAMILY FUN AT NERVE CENTRE
CREATIVE LEARNING
Looking for some frightfully good fun? Join us for free drop-in activities for families of all ages. Tues 28th - Thurs 30th Oct • 4pm - 6pm
CRAFT YOUR OWN TRICK-OR-TREAT BAG
4pm - 4.30pm, 4.45pm - 5.15pm & 5.30pm - 6pm
Every participant will get their own blank tote bag - a blank canvas just waiting to be brought to life (or the afterlife!) this Halloween. Will you summon a swarm of bats, spin tangled cobwebs, or unleash a ghoulish grin? It’s your chance to conjure up the creepiest, quirkiest, or most fang-tastic design your imagination can dream up.
JOIN OUR SPOOKY HORROR ORCHESTRA
4pm - 4.30pm, 4.45pm - 5.15pm & 5.30pm - 6pm
This isn’t your average orchestrathere are no violins or flutes here! Instead, you’ll conjure up creepy soundscapes using weird and wonderful instruments (think chains, whispers, rattles, and eerie echoes). In this hands-on workshop, become a master of musical mayhem!
HALLOWEEN MINECRAFT BUILD CHALLENGES
4pm - 4.20pm, 4.30pm - 4.50pm, 5pm - 5.20pm & 5.30pm & 5.50pm
Think you’ve got what it takes to build the ultimate spooky creation in Minecraft? Step into our Halloween build arena and unleash your creepiest, crawliest, most bone-chilling ideas! Whether it’s a haunted mansion, a zombie-infested graveyard, or a pumpkin tower of terror - anything goes, as long as it’s SCARY.
BECOME A HALLOWEEN MOVIE STAR
4pm - 6pm
Ever dreamed of being in a Halloween movie? Now’s your chance to shine (or scream). Step in front of our green screen and get transported from the real world into a fright-filled fantasy. Whether you’re creeping through a haunted forest, flying with witches, or running from ghosts - the spooky spotlight is all yours. Drop in anytime between 4pm - 6pm.
FREAKY FAMILY FUN AT NERVE CENTRE
CREATE YOUR OWN RETRO-STYLE HALLOWEEN VIDEO GAME
4.15pm - 4.35pm, 4.45pm - 5.05pm & 5.15pm - 5.35pm
Step into the world of pixel-powered spookiness! You become the game designer, crafting your very own retro-style Halloween video game. Fill it with ghosts, goblins, pumpkins, potions - and whatever creepy characters your imagination can conjure. Will your game be spooky, silly, or totally terrifying?
GORE GALORE: SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKE-UP FOR HALLOWEEN with CHRISTIAN KOTEY
WED 29th OCT • 10am - 4pm
Suitable for 16 - 19 year-olds
Spend the day delving into the thrilling world of practical special effects make-up with industry expert Christian Kotey (The Walking Dead, Alien vs Predator). Learn the essentials of SFX make-up, from creating realistic cuts and bruises to mastering the art of fake blood— perfect for adding a frightful touch to any Halloween look!
Part of Nerve Centre’s VFX Academy. Sign up via website.
FREAKY FAMILY FUN
MAKING DUBH
ARAS COLMCILLE
In this hands-on, Halloween-themed experience, families are invited to dress up and join us in the cloister to witness the eerie making of oak gall ink — the ancient black potion used by monks to create illuminated manuscripts. Expect creepy crawlies, bubbling brews, bloody mixtures, sticky powders and rainwater collected from the crypt!
Hear spine-tingling tales of sea monsters, weeping horses, wild boars and Saint Columba himself, brought to life by renowned storyteller Peter Heaney. Kids can try their hand at medieval puzzles, veils, and creepy creatures from the Book of Kells — and if you’re brave enough, we dare you to try our Halloween gravy ring in the café...
A magical mix of history, myth, and hands-on fun — perfect for curious families looking for a cultural twist this Halloween.
DERRY GHOSTS
VARIOUS CITY CENTRE LOCATIONS
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm - 9pm
Three restless spirits roam Derry’s city centre this Halloween. Near the Guildhall, a ghostly Sea Captain gazes toward the Foyle, sharing tales of shipwrecks and miraculous survivals while hinting at his role in helping some escape watery graves. Behind Lizzie O’Farrell’s, the spirit of a murdered girl recounts her tragic death and the justice that befell her killers, brought back each Halloween by The Blue Light in this City of Bones. Meanwhile, on the ancient walls, Abhartach - Derry’s own vampire - prowls after escaping his rural tomb, revealing how he became undead while seeking fresh victims to satisfy his eternal thirst.
FREAKY FAMILY FUN
KABOODLE
STRAND ROAD
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT
TUES 28th • 1pm - 3pm BUBBLE WITCH
TUES 28th • 6pm - 8pm GLOW ARTIST
WED 29th • 1pm - 3pm SPOOKY LUKEY
WED 29th • 6pm - 8pm GLOW ARTIST
THURS 30th • 1pm - 3pm WITCH STORYTELLER
THURS 30th • 6pm - 8pm GLOW ARTIST
FRI 31st • 1pm - 3pm BUBBLE WITCH
FRI 31st • 5pm - 7pm FIRE ARTIST
SPOOKY PAWS ON THE WALLS
DERRY WALLS AT MAGAZINE STREET
THURS 23RD OCT • 7PM
Tickets £5
Join in the Derry Halloween celebrations by taking part in our charity dog walk around the Derry Walls. Free Halloween treats for every dog and human, and lots of prizes. Resignation opens at 7pm Walk starts at 7.30pm
FREAKY FAMILY FUN
FRIGHTFUL FUN AT FOYLESIDE
FOYLESIDE SHOPPING CENTRE
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT
Get ready for a week of spooktacular fun at Foyleside Shopping Centre!
Here’s what’s lined up:
SANDERSON SISTERS
TUES 28th OCT • 1pm-3pm
THURS 30th OCT • 4pm-6pm
BEETLEJUICE AND BOBS
SAT 25th OCT • 12NOON-2pm
MON 27th OCT • 12NOON-2pm
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
(WEDNESDAY, MORTICIA & GOMEZ)
WED 29th OCT • 1pm-3pm
HALLOWEEN DAY SPECIAL
FRI 31st OCT • 1pm-3pm
Don’t miss your chance to meet these spooky stars!
RICHMOND CENTRE
SAT 4TH OCT • 1-4PM
SAT 18TH OCT • 1-4PM
Meet Wednesday & Uncle Fester and enjoy our Creepy Crawly Petting Zoo
SAT 11TH OCT • 12 NOON TO 3PM
The Haunted Outpost - featuring heroes and villians from galaxies far, far away. In support of Foyle Search & Rescue
SAT 25TH OCT • 1-4PM
Meet Dr Acula and the Dearg Due Vampire Characters plus spooky Bathbomb Painting with Mermaid Cove
TUES 28TH OCT • 2-4PM
Evil Queens and Creepy Crafts
WED 29TH OCT • 1-4PM
The Ecto Encounter
THURS 30TH - FRI 31ST OCT • 1-4PM
Banshee Tales
LITTLE HORRORS
Join us for Little Horrors at Derry Halloween, where family fun takes centre stage! Unleash your creativity with arts and crafts, transform into your favourite Halloween character, be mesmerised by our spooky kids’ shows, and gather around for enchanting storytelling that sparks the imagination and tickles your funny bone!
FREDDIE LOST HIS FANGS - A HALLOWEEN TALE
ST. COLUMB’S HALL
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT • 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm • DURATION: 45mins • TICKETS: £8pp
Uh-oh! Vampire Freddy has lost his fangs, and he needs your help! Join us for a hilarious, interactive Halloween adventure filled with giggles, ghostly surprises, and spooky fun. Perfect for little monsters, and big monsters alike. Come for the fangs, stay for the fun!
Tickets: derryhalloween.com/Freddy’s
FREE SPOOKY FILM CAMP FOR 10-15 YEAR OLDS
THURS 30TH OCT • 10AM-4.30PM
Lights, camera… spooky action! Cinematic Arts students at Ulster University, Derry~Londonderry, are hosting a filmmaking camp for 10–15-year-olds. Join the crew to make a short film about a mysterious invasion at the Foyle Arts building!
Tickets: derryhalloween.com/tickets
LITTLE HORRORS
SHERLOCK BONES & THE MAYOR’S MISSING CHAIN
VERBAL ARTS CENTRE
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6pm, 7pm & 8pm Fri 31st Oct • 11am, 12noon, 1pm & 2pm
Duration: 1 hour • Adm: FREE
Suitable for 4 - 8 years
Step into the world of Sherlock Bones, our detective hero, to solve the case of the Mayor’s missing ceremonial chain. This is an immersive storytelling event where children become the detectives. Through a series of themed rooms and activities, they work in teams to complete creative challenges, earn clues and piece together the riddle of the missing chain.
SOUR POTIONS
VOID ART CENTRE
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCT • 11am - 4pm
Age: 8+ • Duration: 35 - 45min
Adm: Free
Unleash your inner witch at our Sour Potions workshop! Create fun fermented experiments using leftover pumpkins, turnips and apples, and take home your own spooky potion as a lasting flavour of Halloween. With quick, hands-on demos for kids and adults, each potion can be bottled, named and branded with a spinechilling twist.
MESSY-WEEN ART CAMP
MESSY ART, 64 SPENCER ROAD
MON 27TH - WED 29TH OCT • 10AM - 1PM
£45
Three days of spooky art fun for little ghouls. A spooktacular camp packed with creepy crafts, ghoulish giggles and messy masterpieces. Snack and drink included. Book on our social media page HERE
LITTLE HORRORS
SCHOOL ON THE EDGE OF REALITY
THE PLAYHOUSE
TUES 28TH - WED 29TH OCT • 5PM & 6PM THURS 30TH OCT - SAT 1ST NOV • 3PM, 5PM & 6PM
DURATION: 30MINS • TICKETS £5
Step into The School on the Edge of Reality this Halloween at The Playhouse – where Derry’s haunted past collides with its strangest future.
Once a real school, The Playhouse now hides a chilling secret: a ghostly academy beneath our reality. As a Reality Rift bursts open, ghouls, ghosts and magical mischief-makers are invading our world, transforming every room into their terrifying training ground.
Only Felix Phantom, daring paradimensional expert, can stop the chaos. With your help, he’ll battle monstrous mayhem and seal the Rift before Derry Halloween is overrun.
Make this unmissable, immersive experience the first stop on your Halloween Trail – and book your tickets now before the Rift grows stronger. Tickets: derrystrabane.com/tickets
TOURS & TRAILS
HALLOWEEN ORIGINS TOUR
MEETING AT NORTH WEST TRANSPORT HUB
THURS 30TH & FRI 31ST OCT • 9.30am - 5pm
TICKETS: £80 + booking fee
Experience a fascinating tour that delves into the deep history and traditions of Halloween. Discover the ancient roots of this dark holiday and how it evolved through time. This intriguing small group tour explores several prehistoric sites and primeval habitats that survive in the hinterlands of Derry City.
Tickets: derryhalloween.com/tickets
CEMETERY TOURS
DERRY CITY CEMETERY
TUES 28th - FRI 31st OCTOBER • 1pm
COST: £10pp
Meet at the top gate, no need to book. This is a serious historical tour of our customs heritage and history. Please dress for the weather.
To book contact Seamus on 07935 779 498.
TOURS & TRAILS
TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL
CITY CENTRE
FRI 31st OCT • 1pm - 3pm & 3pm-5pm
Adm: £3
Join us for a special trail around the city centre. Will it be a trick or a treat? Finish off with a fun Halloween Disco in the Guildhall with facepainting and shake your BOO-ty on the dancefloor!
All your Little Horrors must be accompanied by an adult and fancy dress is a must to creep it real!
Tickets: derryhalloween.com/tickets
CIRCUS OF HORRORS
OLD TOURIST INFORMATION BUILDING, FOYLE STREET
TUES 28th - THURS 30th OCT • 6.30pm-10.30pm
TICKETS: £5pp • Age: 12+
Step into your greatest fears this Halloween with The Circus of Horrors, a bone chilling and terrifying walk through experience which is sure to leave its mark on all those who dare to enter. GDI are back with their much anticipated haunted adventure, but beware, this attraction is not for the faint hearted. Are you brave enough to navigate the haunted labyrinth filled with ghastly apparitions, malevolent spirits and scenes you can only see in your deepest darkest nightmares? With a brand new layout and characters that promise to push your fears to breaking point, only the bravest survive. Tickets available by contacting GDI on 028 7126 8748
WITCHY WELLNESS
For the very first time, Derry Halloween invites you to slip into something a little more magical…
Step inside the majestic Guildhall, where stained glass windows shimmer with twilight hues and a giant Samhain moon hangs watchfully above. A serene space where the mystical and the mindful meet.
Introducing Witchy Wellness, a gentle blend of seasonal ritual and soul-soothing self-care: Move with intention in calming yoga sessions, bathed in the glow of the Samhain moon. Sink into healing sound baths, where ancient tones ripple like soft spells through the air.
This October, find your calm within the magic. Witchy Wellness awaits — just follow the moonlight.
AFTER DARK GHOSTLY GIGS
CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL
ST. COLUMB’S HALL 22nd - 26th OCT
The City of Derry International Choir Festival returns with a spectacularprogramme spanning opera favourites, groundbreaking vocal (and body) ensembles, thrilling competitions and so much more. www.derrychoirfest.com
DUFFY’S REUNION
BAR ZU
Fri 31st Oct, 7pm until late
30 Years in the Making - From Duffy’s Bar, Foyle Street (1995) to Bar Zu, it’s all back for one legendary night! With 12 DJs across two rooms, youwill be taken right back to 1995 with house and rave classics, amazing lighting, sound and visuals. Remember, dress code – 90’s vibes!
MUSIC CAPITAL presents KÍLA
SANDINOS
SAT 1st NOV • TIME: TICKETS £24.65
As the darkness now draws near, see the cycle of the year, As the light now goes within, let the hallows dance begin.
MICK FLANNERY & SUSAN O’NEILL
GUILDHALL
FRI 7th NOV • TIME: TICKETS: £33.50 + Booking Fee
Five years after that first performance, Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill return to the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Tickets: derryhalloween.com/tickets
AFTER DARK GHOSTLY GIGS
Messy Art Presents: NIGHT OF THE GATHERING
63 SPENCER ROAD
MON 27TH OCT • 7 - 9PM
TICKETS
£35
Where potions are brewed, candles are bewitched and enchantment are born, sworn sisters and seekers unite beneath the moon.
Together, on this night hands weave and hearts enchant - potion bottles brim with secrets, decorative candles burn with intent & wish jars whisper with love and light.
Book on our social media page
MS NOIR’S SEVEN DEADLY SINS
64 SPENCER ROAD
TUES 28TH OCT • 9PM
TICKETS
£20
Step inside Hotel Hell if you dare... At the check-in desk waits the deliciously wicked ms Noir - Demon, temptress and eternal keeper of the keys. For centuries, she’s welcomed the damned and tonight she’s ready to tell their stories. Seven souls. Seven sinful tales.
MACABRE. FILTHY. SCANDALOUS PREPARE FOR A NIGHT OF TWISTED STORYTELLING, BOUND IN A CORSET OF HORROR AND DRIPPING WITH DARK DELIGHT.
Book on our social media page
CARNIVAL PARADE
CITY OF BONES
CITY CENTRE • FRI 31st OCT • 7pm
In the City of Bones where its ancient walls shudder, The veil draws back between this world and the other, If on a halloween night by chance you meet a wild eyed goat, On a cobbled street, or hear the haunting cry of a lonely wolf, Beware it may be the Púca, a shapeshifter and mischief maker, Stay well clear it’s that time of year, when the spirit world is everywhere!
North West Carnival presents ‘City of Bones’ which will feature a host of spirits and otherworldly creatures that draw from the deep well of myth and legend associated with Samhain (Halloween). The parade will showcase the creative talent of our diverse communities and include arts, community, sports, music and performance based organisations from across the city, district and beyond. Expect a Halloween spooktacular like no other. Come join in the fun, and don’t forget to dawn your disguise and dance in the City of Bones carnival parade!
PARADE ROUTE
FIREWORKS FINALE
CITY CENTRE • FRI 31st OCT • 8.15PM
We are delighted that our breathtaking fireworks will return to Derry Hallowe’en 2024! Watch the Samhain skies come alive with colour as this decade old tradition returns with a BANG!
Delivered by Pains Ireland.
CARNIVAL CARE
