Brought to life by the people of the city over 35 years ago, Derry Halloween has become one of the world’s most famous Halloween and Samhain celebrations. Derry Halloween kicks off on Friday the 28th of October and runs until Monday the 31st of October.
From its simple beginnings as a simple fancy dress party in the city’s Castle Bar, the event has grown as each Halloween season ends, attracting visitors from all around the world and showcasing a programme of arts, food, and music as well as cultural and family events. Celebrations have included the magical Awakening of the Walls, the colourful Carnival Parade, Fireworks, the Legenderry Food Market, the fearsome Little Horrors Family Programme, and some stunning Samhain Sessions Music Programme. During the last on-street Halloween celebration Derry citizens were proud to welcome over 140,000 visitors to their city.
The vibrant city of Derry sits on the banks of the River Foyle in the North West of Ireland. Close to Strabane, a large rural area dominated by the Sperrin Mountains – a gateway to the famous Irish coastal routes of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast.
Derry is proudly the only completely walled city in Ireland and the UK, and recently celebrated the 400th birthday of its legendary fortifications. Home to 1450 years of history including the Siege of Derry, the surrender of the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the Bogside it also has strong musical, sporting, political, and cultural connections and is home to two Nobel Prize winners.
