Best Halloween Celebrations in the World

Halloween is not just an American event nor is it something new or recent in Ireland. Halloween actually began as an ancient festival over 3,000 years ago (Festival of Samhain) and was created to mark the beginning of winter. It has since been hijacked by people dressed as ghosts and ghouls some cities take their celebrations to another level.

in 2015 USA Today decided to start a quest to find the ‘Best Halloween Destination in the World’. Along with New York City, New Hampshire and New Orleans, my home town threw it’s hat in the ring and boy did we all show them how it was done! Every year about 100,000 people attend events all over the city in 9 days of superb events. It is that fantastic that USA Today awarded us the top spot in the competition and we aim to keep up the top spot for many years to come.

Over the last 30 odd years the Halloween celebrations in Derry has grown from a small Carnival with a band and local people coming on to the streets dressing up. Now it is on another level with events including ‘Awakening the Walls’, an illuminated animation featuring over 30 installations and performances by artists from all over the world. The locations of these stages include the City’s historic walls (Derry is the only Walled City in Ireland with the walls completely in tact), the Cathedral Quarter and the Craft Village – all located in the heart of this great City.

Other activities include a Harvest Market for you foodies out there, a fun fair over at the revitalised Ebrington site, the Playhouse being haunted by an evil Nun, Jack O’Lantern Festival, Spark (theatre show under the walls), Creepy creations workshops, face painting, a Zombie run and many many more.

The grand finale of the festival is a Carnival Parade through the city and a Fireworks Finale.

Video courtesy of Eye In The Sky

It is the prefect way to spend good quality family time together over the mid term break. There is literally something for everyone in Derry this week……… even our pets get in the spirit 🙂

For more information on what events are on you can visit the Carnival’s http://derryhalloween.com/