As it’s now October it means the countdown to Halloween has officially begun. Helpfully the guys at the tourist board have stepped up with this great list of 30 spooky things to do Northern Ireland this Halloween!
Derry~Londonderry
- Derry Halloween, 26 October – 3 November
Over the last 32 years, the Walled City has become synonymous with hosting one of the world’s richest Halloween festivals that has made its way on to bucket lists across the globe mainly via word of mouth recommendations. A welcome like no other awaits you, as the division between this world and the other world is at its thinnest, as supernatural beings and the souls of the dead flood into the city. Highlights include Awakening the Walls, Haunted Harvest Market, Museum of the Moon, Little Horrors shows and entertainment, Monster Fun Fair, Samhain Sessions, tours and trails, carnival parade, fireworks plus lots more.
- Fright Night, Magherafelt, 12 October – 3 November
This year’s Fright Night is going to be bigger, scarier and full of twists. Fright Night will see the return of the horrid and harrowing “Woodland Trail”. Unveiling two amazing new sets, a brand new haunting story, coupled with special effects, atmospheric lighting throughout and a creepy cast of wicked creatures. On top of this, four of last year’s scare attractions will also be returning with a few extra dimensions and a brand new attraction; The Slaughterhouse.
- Field of Screams, Limavady, 19 – 29 October
Visit the Limavady area and enjoy the scary experiences on offer at Carrowmena Activity Centre. This is a physical activity and not for the faint-hearted. Field of Screams runs in a 13 acre field, where you will be navigating around in the dark with lots of scary creatures jumping out when you least expect. If you want to make a long weekend out of it and enjoy more of the Causeway Coast, why not stay at one of the available Glamping Pods or Bell Tents on site.
- Limavady Halloween Fireworks and Entertainment, 30 October
Taking place in Roemill Road Recreation Grounds from 19:00 – 20:30, Limavady will celebrate Halloween in ‘spooktacular’ style. DJ Ned will provide great family entertainment and there will be entertainment in the format of hula hoop walkabouts with LED glow hoop from entertainers Parah and Cozm. A fancy dress competition with prizes will also be held before the main firework display at 8:15pm.
- Zombie Run, Magherafelt, 6 – 7 October.
Zombie Run is a 6K obstacle run with a fiendish Halloween twist whereby you will cover treacherous terrain in your mission to evade the insatiable zombies. This year’s obstacles are bigger than ever before, with new obstacles including the exhilarating giant water slide. 2k and 5k kid’s runs are now also available.
- The Dark Tower, Derry~Londonderry, 26 October
Ascend the Dark Tower for an adults-only night of music, drink, and scares. Come to the darkest reaches of the Tower Museum and meet the ghosts and ghouls of the city’s past. Prepare to be scared witless and afterwards pull yourself together, grab a drink at the bar, and explore the upper levels of the Tower – and expect the unexpected.
Belfast
- W5 Late, 20 October
W5 Late is a strictly adults-only, after-hours evening at Northern Ireland’s award-winning science and discovery centre! Don your scariest costume for chills and thrills and explore over 250 interactive exhibits in four incredible exhibition areas. Discover what lurks within their haunted mansion ‘Monster Manor’ but beware you might meet some unexpected characters along the way! Get up close to some creepy crawlies and engage with the experts in their spooktacular series of lecture theatre talks as you explore the science of fear, plus so much more!
- Belfast Horror Con, 27 October
Taking place at the Clayton Hotel, this event will feature eight media guests including David Warner (The Omen), Barbara Nedeljakova (Hostel), Shauna MacDonald (The Descent) and Belfast’s own Patricia Quinn who played Magenta in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Two films, including locally produced Braxton Butcher, will be screened in the Hotel’s Titanic Suite followed by Q&A’s with the films creative teams. Other attractions include a Gaming Lounge where attendees can test PlayStation 4 VR games including Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and LOC-Down Events will be providing a number of Horror themed costumed characters. The Olympic Suite will host a number of traders, novelists, independent comic creators and a SFX make-up artist.
- Wireless Mystery Theatre Presents Frankenstein, 30 October
On the 200th anniversary of the publication of the great Gothic novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’s Monster will be reanimated, piece-by-piece. Join Wireless Mystery Theatre – Ireland’s longest-running audio theatre company – as they bring the creature to life with galvanisation, harnessed lightning, and their usual mix of live music, sound foley, and horror at the Crescent Arts Centre.
- Murder Mystery at Belfast Castle, 12 October
The event involves all of your guests acting as teams of Detectives. They must attempt to solve a deadly whodunit by answering three simple questions: who committed the crime, how and why? Accompanied by a delicious meal, the night begins with the audience witnessing scripted scenes featuring events that took place in the run-up to the ghastly crime. You will meet each of the suspects as they join you at your table to be interrogated. ‘Have you ever had an affair? How much money do you have? Have you ever been blackmailed?’, these are the questions asked the most – and after all, who wouldn’t want to ask them?
Antrim
- Halloween Events in Ballycastle, 31 October
Prepare for tricks and treats at the Ballycastle Halloween events, a spooky night not to be missed for all the family. Come and participate in the fancy dress parade with Fire Poi leaving from Dalriada Hospital car park at 6.45pm through the town to the seafront. Competitions and prizes will take place for children along with floats and plenty of spooky characters. The annual fireworks display will take place at the sea front at 8.15pm.
- Purple Turnip Festival, Lisburn 27 October
Enjoy kids’ entertainment including animal encounters, creative craft workshops, face painting and outdoor games. Join in the hunt; find the turnips and be in with a chance of winning a great prize. Lisburn City Centre Management is encouraging everyone to come dressed in their best fancy dress costume as there will be spot prizes for the best dressed. Get up close and personal with a wide range of “spooky” exotic animals, if you’re brave enough and experience an “enchanted” autumn market where you will find fresh produce from local suppliers and hand-crafted goods.
- Twilight Night, Lisburn, 26 October
Set amid the illuminated, meandering pathways of Wallace Park Lisburn, Twilight Night by Fairy Light is renowned for its use of enchanting visuals, carnivalesque atmosphere, lighting, sound and superb fireworks display. Halloween revellers and families can follow the illuminated trail through Wallace Park. Rhythms of light and sound installations will breathe myth and magic into the atmospheric Victorian Park.
- Ghosts in the Glens Storytelling Festival, Various Locations, 25 – 28 October
The Ghosts in the Glens Storytelling Festival, organised by Antrim Glens Tourism, aims to attract both tourists and local people for a four-day celebration of the rich traditions of storytelling and music in the Glens of Antrim. This is a storytelling and music festival with sessions being held from Ballycastle and Rathlin Island to Carnlough, Cushendun, Cushendall and Glenariff. It includes workshops for those looking to develop their story telling skills along with special children’s activities such as quizzes, crafts and fancy dress.
- Halloween Spooktacular, Antrim, 25 October
This year’s theme is Day of the Dead and little ghosts, goblins and ghouls are invited to come along in their scariest costumes. Join Stephen, Cate and the Q Radio roadshow to see who picks up the bag full of tricks and treats for the best dressed. Be mesmerised by the Wicked Wonder boxes and watch real-life mannequins come to life. Visitors can have a shriek of a time on the ghost train, mingle with scary street performers and enjoy the end of the night as an explosion of colour illuminates the night sky in a spectacular fireworks extravaganza at the Junction Shopping Complex.
