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Everything you need to know about Halloween in Derry Carnival atmosphere for end of Halloween festival
(about 8 hours later)
Thousands of people are expected in Londonderry and Strabane for the finale of the annual Halloween festival. Around 30,000 watched the closing parade
Billed by organisers as the largest Halloween event in Europe, the four-day festival will culminate in a parade and fireworks display on Thursday. Thousands of people have taken part in the finale of the annual Halloween festival in Londonderry, with about 600 of them parading through the city.
Billed by organisers as the largest Halloween event in Europe, the four-day festival culminated in a parade and fireworks display on Thursday.
The festivities in Derry have grown to global renown since the first official Halloween celebrations in 1986 and it is now regarded as among the world's premier destinations for Halloween.The festivities in Derry have grown to global renown since the first official Halloween celebrations in 1986 and it is now regarded as among the world's premier destinations for Halloween.
Translink have added additional bus and rail services and a number of roads have been closed on Thursday as large crowds are expected later in the evening. Derry City and Strabane District Council say the festival draws tens of thousands of people to the city.
What time does the parade start? The event culimated in a riverfront fireworks display.
The main Halloween parade route leaves Queens Quay Car Park at 19:00 GMT on Thursday along Queens Quay to Strand Road, Harbour Square Roundabout, Foyle Embankment. Water Street, Harbour Square Roundabout, Queens Quay and back to the car park. The council's Aideen McCarter said the 2024 festival had been "bigger and better than ever".
Queens Quay and Upper Strand Road will also be closed from 18:00 to accommodate the parade. "We have had a fantastic few nights," she said.
The Peace Bridge will be closed from 19:00 in advance of the fireworks and will reopen shortly before 21:00. "It brings millions of pounds into the local economy and we see well over 100,000 visitors here if not more – these visitors are coming back year after year."
A full list of road closures can be found here, external. Organisers say the celebrations in Derry are the biggest in Europe
The main Halloween parade left Queens Quay Car Park at 19:00 GMT on Thursday along Queens Quay to Strand Road, Harbour Square roundabout, Foyle Embankment. Water Street, Harbour Square roundabout, Queens Quay and back to the car park.
Queens Quay, Upper Strand Road and the Peace Bridge closed to accommodate the parade.
The festival is billed by organisers as the largest Halloween event in EuropeThe festival is billed by organisers as the largest Halloween event in Europe
Additional bus and trains for HalloweenAdditional bus and trains for Halloween
Translink are putting on a number of additional bus and rail services on Halloween night. Translink put on additional bus and rail services on Halloween night.
They will be running a number of extra Foyle Metro, Ulsterbus and Goldliner services from Foyle Street Bus Station. These included extra Foyle Metro, Ulsterbus and Goldliner services from Foyle Street Bus Station.
At the North West Transport Hub train station, additional capacity has been added to the 21:38 train departure to Belfast Grand Central Station, followed by an additional rail service at 22:38 to Coleraine Station.At the North West Transport Hub train station, additional capacity has been added to the 21:38 train departure to Belfast Grand Central Station, followed by an additional rail service at 22:38 to Coleraine Station.
A special coach service will also operate from Belfast Grand Central Station on Halloween at 15:00, making its return journey from Foyle Street Bus Centre at 21:00. A special coach service also operated from Belfast Grand Central Station on Halloween at 15:00, making its return journey from Foyle Street Bus Centre at 21:00.
A full list of rail services for people to get to and from the parade can be found here, external.A full list of rail services for people to get to and from the parade can be found here, external.
Will the weather trick or treat us? The event last year was hailed as a huge success by organisers
Thankfully, it looks like revellers in the north west will be able to enjoy the parade and fireworks without an umbrella later. The celebrations featured the return of the Awakening the Walled City trail within Derry city centre from Monday until Wednesday.
The forecast is cloudy, but mainly dry as ghouls and ghosts take over the city. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme earlier this week, festival organiser Aisling McCallion said there was something on offer for everyone.
It will be suitably eerie with a bit of mist and it will be relatively mild throughout the day and evening.
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The celebrations so far have featured the return of the Awakening the Walled City trail within Derry city centre from Monday until Wednesday, and will climax with a 'Carnival of the Dead' themed Halloween parade and fireworks display on Thursday.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme earlier this week, festival organiser Aisling McCallion said there is something on offer for everyone.
"We have programming right across the four days for people of all ages," she said."We have programming right across the four days for people of all ages," she said.
"We have storytelling, arts and crafts, shows and loads of live performances."We have storytelling, arts and crafts, shows and loads of live performances.
"Personally, I am very excited we can welcome people back on the walls this year to see a variety of performances."Personally, I am very excited we can welcome people back on the walls this year to see a variety of performances.
"There will be a queuing and one-way system in operation for people to see the attractions on the walls in a safe and managed way.""There will be a queuing and one-way system in operation for people to see the attractions on the walls in a safe and managed way."
The event last year was hailed as a huge success by organisers Ms McCallion said there were many events on offer and people were able to go around three designated zones in Derry and also see a variety of attractions in Strabane this year.
Ms McCallion said there are many events on offer and people will be able to go around three designated zones in Derry and also be able to see a variety of attractions in Strabane this year. Thousands of people are taking to the streets for the parade and fireworks display
Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets for the parade and fireworks display She said highlights of the programme this year included a witchy wonderland on the City Walls, projections on the Austins building and Bishop Street courthouse and Rodafonio - a travelling street theatre act created by renowned American designer and musician Cesar Alvarez.
She said that some of the highlights of the programme this year include a witchy wonderland on the City Walls, projections on the Austins and Bishop Street Court House buildings, and Rodafonio - a travelling street theatre act created by renowned American designer and musician Cesar Alvarez.
A full list of events on offer this year can be found here, external.A full list of events on offer this year can be found here, external.
Business owners hoping for busy festivalBusiness owners hoping for busy festival
Emily McCorkell will be hoping to hear the sounds of a chiming cash register at her Lo & Slo food truck over the screams and fireworks this year. Emily McCorkell, from Lo & Slo food truck, fed hungry festival-goers with American BBQ style delicacies at the Haunted Harvest Halloween market at Guildhall Square.
Emily and her team are feeding hungry festival-goers with American BBQ style delicacies at the Haunted Harvest Halloween Market at Guildhall Square. She said she loved Halloween and that the festival was a "terrifyingly busy" time for traders involved in the Legenderry Food Network.
She said she loves Halloween and added the festival is a "terrifyingly busy" time for traders involved in the Legenderry Food Network.
Emily McCorkell will be at the Lo & Slo food truck in Guildhall SquareEmily McCorkell will be at the Lo & Slo food truck in Guildhall Square
Gary Moran from Umi restaurant in the city centre has said they have been “flat-out with bookings” throughout the Halloween festival this week. Gary Moran from Umi restaurant in the city centre said they had been “flat-out with bookings” throughout the festival.
“We’ve got loads of bookings, there's a lot of customers, but we do have some room for some walk-ins but it’s definitely very busy," he said.
“We have got people coming here for the very first time to try it, which is great to see and then from word of mouth we can then hopefully then get additional bookings from that."“We have got people coming here for the very first time to try it, which is great to see and then from word of mouth we can then hopefully then get additional bookings from that."
Longer opening hoursLonger opening hours
Mohamed Ali from Maiden Heaven Coffee and Ice Cream Parlour has said they have been really happy with the amount of footfall in the city centre throughout the week.Mohamed Ali from Maiden Heaven Coffee and Ice Cream Parlour has said they have been really happy with the amount of footfall in the city centre throughout the week.
“It’s been steadily busy throughout the day and then it’s been unbelievably busy in the evening," he said.“It’s been steadily busy throughout the day and then it’s been unbelievably busy in the evening," he said.
“We’ve had to increase our hours actually, we definitely had to increase them and we are working a bit longer over Halloween.“We’ve had to increase our hours actually, we definitely had to increase them and we are working a bit longer over Halloween.
“We usually open until six o’clock but we are now staying open until about ten in the evening now."“We usually open until six o’clock but we are now staying open until about ten in the evening now."
Many hotels fully bookedMany hotels fully booked
Selina Horshi, the managing director of White Horse Hotel in Campsie has said themselves and many other hotels are fully booked for Halloween. Selina Horshi, the managing director of White Horse Hotel in Campsie, said many of the city's hotels were fully booked for Halloween.
“Halloween is one of our busiest times and while a lot of our guests would be from the island of Ireland, we do get people travelling from all over the world to stay specifically to enjoy the sights and sounds of Derry Halloween,” Selina said. “Halloween is one of our busiest times and while a lot of our guests would be from the island of Ireland, we do get people travelling from all over the world to stay specifically to enjoy the sights and sounds of Derry Halloween,” she said.
“It really has become such a huge international event,” she added. “It really has become such a huge international event."
Many people from all over the world are staying in the White Horse Hotel in Campsie for Halloween, Selina Horshi saysMany people from all over the world are staying in the White Horse Hotel in Campsie for Halloween, Selina Horshi says
Selina said hotels, bars and restaurants all really benefit from the huge uplift in footfall and said the four-day festival is a massive boost to the local economy. Selina said hotels, bars and restaurants all really benefitted from the huge uplift in footfall and that the four-day festival was a massive boost to the local economy.
“Because we are based just on the outskirts of the city, we also benefit from a lot of people stopping on their way into and out of the city to get a bite to eat or drink for the Halloween festival,” she added.“Because we are based just on the outskirts of the city, we also benefit from a lot of people stopping on their way into and out of the city to get a bite to eat or drink for the Halloween festival,” she added.
“I was in the city last night and every bar and every restaurant was jam-packed and that is exactly why these council-run events are so important for so many business owners and traders.”“I was in the city last night and every bar and every restaurant was jam-packed and that is exactly why these council-run events are so important for so many business owners and traders.”