Derry marks 40th anniversary of Europe's largest Halloween festival

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 07:08 · Archive

Derry's Halloween festival, now in its 40th year, is billed as Europe's largest and begins on Wednesday.

Derry's Halloween festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this week, with tens of thousands of people expected to attend events across the city. Billed by Derry City and Strabane District Council as Europe's largest Halloween festival, it has grown from humble beginnings in the mid-1980s to become, according to Mayor Grace Uí Niallais, 'one of Ireland's most famous cultural events'.

The festival's centrepiece is the Carnival Parade on 31 October at 19:00, which will feature more than 600 community performers along with floats, music and street theatre. The procession starts on Strand Road, makes its way to Harbour Square roundabout, then along the Foyle Embankment and back along Queen's Quay. A fireworks display will light up the skies over the Foyle at 20:15.

Beyond the headline events, the five-day festival programme includes aerial performances above the Diamond, giant installations around Guildhall Square and characters inspired by local folklore. The festival draws on themes of Samhain, the ancient festival from which Halloween's traditions originate.

Derry marks 40th anniversary of Europe's largest Halloween festival — Image: BBC Northern Ireland

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How it is being reported

Spook-tacular Derry Halloween festival turns 40Derry's annual Halloween festival, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, gets under way on Wednesday.BBC Northern Ireland · 25 Oct, 06:46
From SpongeBob to Sister Act Derry folk reveal their Halloween costumesAs Derry’s 40th Halloween festival approaches, the Journal spoke with people in the city about their plans, if they are dressing up and the scariest film they have ever seen.Derry Journal · 23 Oct, 16:03

In this story: Derry · Grace Uí Niallais · Derry City and Strabane District Council · River Foyle

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