30 ways to entertain the kids this Halloween

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Dust off your witches hats and vampire capes – there are stacks of spooky events taking place across Northern Ireland this Halloween. Discover Northern Ireland has put together 30 things to do for families during half-term (13 October – 5 November). Some events require booking and admission charges may apply, please check details at DiscoverNorthern Ireland.com

 Belfast

  1. Belfast Halloween Monster Mash and Fireworks Display, 29 October, 4-7pm. Belfast’s biggest and best Halloween event and fireworks display takes place at The Slipways, Titanic Belfast. Dust off your broomstick for an evening of carnival capers, spooky street theatre, macabre music, wicked workshops and fearsome fire juggling. This year’s theme is Day of the Dead and little ghouls and scary skeletons of all ages can come along in their creepy carnival outfits or monstrous magical ones.
  2. Jail of Horror and Ghost Hunt, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, 13-31 October. This year’s Halloween Programme is even bigger with both the ‘Jail of Horror’ and the ‘Paranormal Ghost Hunt’ taking place. The one-of-a-kind ‘Jail of Horror’ tour through Belfast’s oldest prison will offer a terrifying experience and is guaranteed to scare even the bravest of visitors. The Ghost Hunt is a chilling Halloween paranormal experience including real life experiments with paranormal investigating equipment. Book your ticket from CrumlinRoadGaol.com, if you dare.
  3. Monster Mash-Up, The MAC, Belfast, 28-31 October. Fun is freaky in the Monster Mash-Up at the MAC this Halloween. Create monster dolls, get messy with eerie eyeballs and monsters’ brains, as well as learning how to create zombie bites with a professional makeup and FX artist. This event is suitable for children aged 4-11 years. To book your place visit TheMacLive.com.
  4. Broomstick Belle Spooky Special, Belfast, 28 October. Dress up in your Halloween best for a spooktacular day out. Depart from Belfast Central Station and journey to Whitehead on the Broomstick Belle in a frightfully good steam train trip for all the family. Children with a ticket will receive a Halloween goody bag. To book your tickets phone 028 9024 6609.
  5. The Nightmare Before Christmas, Belfast Waterfront, 28 October. It’s all treats and no tricks as this spellbinding Halloween movie magic comes to the Waterfront’s big screen. Arrive early for ghoulish goodies and spooky surprises.
  6. Ghosts of Monster Manor, W5, until 5 November. Monster Manor is back, and the singing pumpkins, dancing skeletons, floating ghosts, witches and monsters have been joined by some new phantom friends this year. New rooms have been uncovered in the mansion where new scares await.
  7. Boo at the Zoo, Belfast Zoo, 28 October. Dust the cobwebs off your favourite costume and jump on your broomstick to Belfast Zoo for a fang-tastic day of fiendish fun. Your little witches and wizards can enjoy creepy crafts, Mr Hullabaloo’s interactive children’s theatre and the chance to meet a minion and goblin. You can even bring along your own carved pumpkins on the day and watch as the animals tuck into them during the ‘trick or treat’ feeding times.

Derry~Londonderry

  1. Derry Halloween, Derry~Londonderry, 28-31 October. On the 31st anniversary party supernatural beings and the souls of the dead flood into the City of Bones. Highlights include the fantastic ‘Awakening the Walls’ event – light, fire, sculpture, music and performers rouse the walls awake in a supernatural animation trail on and around the city walls, the largest Halloween street carnival parade and costume party in Europe and the marvellous firework finale over the River Foyle.
  2. Ghost Bus Tours, Derry~Londonderry, 27-30 October. Experience all types of ghouls and creepy characters as you are taken through the Walled City at the spookiest time of year. Tickets can be booked at the Visit Derry Tourist Information Centre on Foyle Street.
  3. Limavady Halloween Celebrations, Friday 27 October. A lantern parade will leave from the LCDI at 5pm, proceeding along the Ballyquin Road and down the Roemill Road to finish at the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Firework Display. Entertainment from 7pm and a fancy dress competition before the fireworks at 8.15pm.
  4. Halloween Happenings in Coleraine, Saturday 28 October, 3-9pm. There will be enjoyment for all the family when Rugby Avenue Playing Fields light up with a fun fair, outdoor concert from the group Curve and creepy characters mingling with the crowds. Fire Poi will amaze with their feats of daring and the children can compete in a fancy dress competition. The evening finishes with a spectacular fireworks display.

County Antrim

  1. Ghosts in the Glens Storytelling Festival, 19-22 October. A four-day celebration of the rich traditions of storytelling and music in the Glens of Antrim. Listeners of all ages will be welcome at venues in Glenariffe, Cushendall, Cushendun, Ballycastle and Rathlin Island. As well as evening concerts featuring fine storytelling and music there will be special highlights such as “Ghosts on the Coast”, a storytelling boat trip to the magical Rathlin Island.
  2. Howling Halloween Pool Party, Lisburn, 27 October, 6-9pm. Enjoy a spooktacular splash for all the family at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex, featuring Captain Jack Sparrow and Ariel, the Little Mermaid. Enjoy the thrills and spills of the water rides and frightful flumes or float along the mysterious lazy river. Bring your little mermaids and pirates in fancy dress and take part in face painting, games and giveaways.
  3. Ballymoney Halloween Extravaganza, Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre, 27 October, from 6.30pm. Dust off your broomstick and dress up your little monsters for a mini fun fair, creepy characters and spinning fire dancers, followed by an explosive fireworks display.
  4. Witches Walk, Dark Hedges Estate, Ballymoney, 27-31 October. Children 12 and under can join the Good Witches of Gracehill as they make their way along a trail around the enchanted Fairy Forest. Every participant will receive a food/drink voucher and a special prize at the end of their journey. £6 per child, book online.

County Armagh

  1. Ghostly Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh, 28 October. With the season of Halloween creeping over the Ring of Gullion the creatures of Slieve Gullion are beginning to awaken. Explore this magical forest trail if you dare as it is riddled with the Gullion’s witch, Calliagh Berra’s servants and underlings. Tours run from 12-4pm. Hotel Transylvania is also being shown from 12pm, tickets cost £5 and are available at the door.
  2. Little Spooks, Navan Centre and Fort, Armagh, 28-31 October. ‘Vera Courage’, Vampire Hunter, needs your help. She is looking for Dracula and thinks she has found the location of his Haunted Castle. Will you help her in her quest by joining in the adventure? Booking essential.
  3. Halloween Crafts & Games Club, Armagh, 30-31 October, 10am-4pm. Let children unleash their inner artist creating amazing Halloween crafts at the excellent Halloween Craft & Games Club at the Palace Stables. For 5-12-year-olds, with a fully supervised lunch.

County Down

  1. Ulster Folk & Transport Museum Halloween Family Festival, Cultra, 31 October. Celebrate the ancient festival of Halloween with a range of traditional activities. Come dressed to scare as you embark on a mysterious adventure through the museum’s misty rural dwellings and dark train carriages. Visitors can play traditional Halloween apple games, carve your own family turnip lantern, see the creepy crawlies show and sample seasonal traditional fayre.
  2. Phantom Flyer Ghost Train, Downpatrick, 28-31 October. There is something strange coming to the Downpatrick & County Down Railway this Halloween. If you are brave enough to visit a graveyard on Halloween, join Merlin the Great Wizard on his haunted grotto train. On Halloween night there will also be a fireworks display after the last train in Downpatrick Town Centre. Tickets available from DownRail.co.uk.
  3. Castle Espie Spellbound Festival, Comber, Co. Down, 29-31 October. Three days of monstrous fun this Halloween at Castle Espie. Events include Karl Mantella’s Zoo-2-You Roadshow, the Jump, Jiggle and Jive Broomstick Disco, face painting, the Halloween Horrors Trail on the reserve, Halloween crafts and storytelling.
  4. Hallowtides Carnival Parade, Newcastle, 31 October. Newcastle will be bustling with spooky characters as they prepare for the 2017 parade with creative costumes, floats and live music. The first floats leave the grounds of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa at 6.30pm, parading down Main Street towards the festival stage.
  5. Pirate Ghost Ship Party, Exploris Aquarium, Portaferry, 28-31 October. The sunken pirate ship has risen from its watery depths this Halloween and the pirate ghosts are running wild at Exploris Aquarium. Come dressed in your scariest costume and chase these pesky ghoulish pirates back on to their ship.

 

County Fermanagh

  1. Enniskillen Halloween Fireworks Display, 31 October. Enjoy a ‘Superhero Spooktacular’ with fancy dress, fireworks and superheroes at the OASIS Plaza, Omagh from 6pm and the Broadmeadow, Enniskillen from 7pm.
  2. Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on the Inishcruiser, Lisnaskea, 30 October, 2.30pm. Follow the White Rabbit to Share Discovery Village. Jump aboard the Inishcruiser for a mischievous tea party cruise with the Mad Hatter and his crew. Perfect for Little Hatters and Alice’s alike – under 12s recommended. Halloween games, fancy dress encouraged, balloon modelling. £10 per person, booking essential.
  3. Halloween Fest at Florence Court, Enniskillen, 30 October. Follow the spider’s trail around the estate, looking out for some creepy crawlies along the way. Pop by the Witches Brew to fill up on our magic potion to warm your bones and if you feel brave enough, take a spooky tour of the basement rooms at Florence Court to find out what kind of ghosts and ghouls are lurking. 12-4pm, normal admission rates apply.

 

County Tyrone

  1. Halloween Panto: Sleepy Hollow, Strabane, 26-28 October. The Arts Academy are proud to present to The Alley Arts & Conference Centre this year’s pantomime for a spooktacular Halloween. Arts academy students combine with talent from Tyrone, Derry and Donegal to produce a fantastic show of Sleepy Hollow fit for all ages. Tickets available from Alley-Theatre.com.
  2. Walking With Shadows, An Creagan, Omagh, 28 October. Family friendly arts and craft activities entail as part of this event. Discover light and shadow installations as you walk with your handmade lantern through An Creagan forest.
  3. Halloween Ghost Train at Peatlands Park, Dungannon, 28 October. Would you dare to ride the Peatlands Ghost Train? Just turn up on the night, tickets will be available at the Visitor Centre. Adults £3, little ghouls £2, under-5s go free.
  4. Half-term Halloween Fest, The Argory, Dungannon, 26 October – 1 November, 12-4pm. Dust off your broomsticks and capes and freaky faces to visit The Argory for a Halloween trail, magic wand making, pumpkin carving and face painting.

 

 

For more information on these events or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit  www.DiscoverNorthernIreland.com.

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