Here are ten exciting things taking place 31 October – 6 November 2022
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Photo Courtesy of Mid-Ulster District Council. Halloween Happenings in Ballycastle, CountyAntrim, 31 October. Join the fun in Ballycastle to celebrate Halloween 2022. Enjoy Quiet Time for Children with Additional Needs from 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm, featuring a balloon modeller, amusements and Halloween crafts. From 6 pm, the parade will gather at Dalriada Hospital, Leyland Road where the fancy dress judging will take place at 6.15 pm prior to the procession departing at 6.30 pm to make its way through the town to The Seafront. Beatz Entertainments begin at 6.30 pm at The Seafront whilst waiting on the parade. Fireworks will light up the sky at 8.30 pm and then the Harry McGarrity Band will play until 9pm.
- Winter Wildlife Detective, Florencecourt, CountyFermanagh, 1 – 6 November. Meet your activity guide who will take you on an Animal Seek and Find Adventure. A fun opportunity for your children to discover what interesting native animals live in the landscape surrounding the Marble Arch Caves. Led by your guide you will then be taken on an adventure into the woodland where you will visit the Mini-Beast Camp. Enjoy a mini-beast scavenger hunt, finding creepy crawlies and learning more about the unique insects that live in these woods.
- Autumn Discovery Morning, Belfast, 4 November.Join rangers on a seasonal walk enjoying the splendour of the Regional Park. Meet at Lockview car park, Stranmillis at 11 am and book your spot by contacting the Park Office on 028 90491922 or email at admin@laganvalley.co.uk. This is a free event and booking is essential due to limited places.
- Fidelio Trioat the Portico of Ards, Portaferry, County Down, 6 November. Shortlisted for the 2016 Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, the Fidelio Trio are enthusiastic champions of the piano trio genre, performing the widest repertoire on concert stages across the world. They have an impressive list of commissions and first performances and have a large discography of highly acclaimed recordings. In this concert, the programme will include a new piece by Helen’s Bay-based composer, Simon Mawhinney entitled ‘In Three’.
- The Illegals at the Portico of Ards, Portaferry, CountyDown, 5 November. If you were here last year for this fabulous gig you know where you want to be this year – enjoying the best of The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Led by Niamh Kavanagh, The Illegals will take you on a journey of soulful harmonies, exciting riffs, blistering guitars and unforgettable songs. Songs like Take It Easy, Dreams, Life In The Fast Lane, Don’t Stop, One Of These Nights, Gold Dust Woman, Desperado, The Chain, Hotel California and many more – will be on the playlist to celebrate two of the greatest rock bands of all time.
- Legendary Navan Fort (EmainMacha), Armagh, County Armagh, multiple dates and times available, check the website. Explore the archaeology and history associated with the great temple of 95BC, as well as learn about some of the significant discoveries at the nearby sites of Loughnashade, Haughey’s Fort and the King’s Stables. The experienced tour guides will explain how and why it is believed the impressive ritual temple at Emain Macha was built, as well as how this site may have been what attracted Saint Patrick to the area. This tour lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, including a guided tour to Navan Fort (weather permitting) and a visit to the Iron Age dwelling area.
- Ghosts of Ulster – A Spooktacular Experience in Ghost Belief, Portrush, CountyAntrim, 1 November. Enjoy an evening of hair-raising tales of ghostly goings-on at Portrush Town Hall this Halloween. Ulster University lecturers in architecture, English, and social history will share their knowledge and stories of ghosts and hauntings. The first part will be a panel discussion on ghost belief over the centuries led by experts from social history, psychology and gothic literature from Ulster University. The second part of the evening will be an interactive discussion allowing the audience to share their oral histories and narratives of ghost stories from the local area.
- Crindle Stables– Halloween Activities, Limavady, County Londonderry, 31 October – 4 November. Enjoy a thrilling horse riding experience in Northern Ireland at Crindle With a range of wonderful horses and ponies to suit all riders and abilities, there is an array of activities and experiences to explore. During the allotted dates, enjoy their Halloween week of activities, perfect for the family. Monday 31 Oct – Group Countryside Trek and Halloween Adventure Ride; Tuesday 1 Nov – Day at the Stables and Own A Pony Day; Wednesday 2 Nov – Group Countryside Trek; Thursday 3 Nov – Day at the Stables; and Friday 4 Nov – Halloween Adventure Ride.
- Aurora Borealis with Martin McKennaat OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory, Omagh, County Tyrone, 6 November. Join astrophotographer Martin McKenna, best known as Night Sky Hunter, for a Northern Ireland specific guide on how to view one of the world’s most sought-after sights, the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a spectacular, colourful display of light commonly seen in the night sky in the northern hemisphere. During the evening, Martin will talk about the genesis of geomagnetic storms, aurora forecasting and online resources and observing t Booking is essential.
- Bona Palooza, Holywood, CountyDown, 5 November. Welcome to Bona Palooza, a new micro festival exploring LGBTQ+ rural stories from Ulster’s past and present. Throughout the day there’ll be a number of talks, screenings, workshops and interventions from a number of participants from rural areas. To access this event, you will need a general admission ticket, which you can purchase through the link. Please note, some events require additional booking due to limited capacity.
Booking is essential for most activities. Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Subject to availability.
For more information on what’s on or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit www.discovernorthernireland.com