The Downpatrick & County Down Railway’s first trains to operate since the devastating floods of November 2023 are selling out fast, with fans of the local heritage railway eager to return to the tracks.

Following the successful relaunch of the DCDR’s flagship Halloween event as an immersive on-board theatre performance last year, the “Phantom Flyer” returns to the tracks once more.

As the time to board draws near, there’s something strange a-coming at the railway this Halloween. An ill wind is brewing, and it’s getting spookier by the day. As Halloween approaches, whispers of ghostly happenings and strange encounters are spreading through Downpatrick, like a deathly cold breeze on a chilly night, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Railway Chairman Robert Gardiner explained, “Since the vanquishing of Count Magnus twelve months ago, the railway has been as quiet as the grave. But all of that is about to change. The veil between worlds will be torn apart as ancient spirits set their sights on Downpatrick once again. Malevolent monsters, zombies, spooks, and apparitions will walk the tracks and carriages.”

He adds, “This year, a team of seasoned local ghost hunters has uncovered a horrifying truth – ancient spirits have stirred within the heart of Downpatrick, endeavouring to breach the divide between realms and our world. To bolster its sinister forces, they’ve conjured a legion of malevolent monsters and apparitions, including a malevolent witch and a zombie railway worker.

“But don’t worry,” he says reassuringly, “we’re not scared! We know just who to call – legendary ghost and vampire hunting expert Van Helsing, but he can’t do it alone.”

Mr Gardiner appeals to all ghostbusters, “Can you join us to take back our railway from these ghostly fiends? Hop on the Phantom Flyer, our special Halloween Scream Train, if you’re a brave spook hunter, and help our guardian chase away this ancient mischief from our tracks. But be careful; the line between being a hero and becoming a ghost’s snack is very thin! Don your darkest Halloween outfits to fit in with your mysterious fellow passengers, and together, we shall face the darkness that lurks in Downpatrick’s historic railway.”

The Phantom Flyer is pulling out of the station this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 26th and 27th October. Adult and child tickets cost £13.50, while a Family Saver ticket (2 adults + 2 kids) is £50.00.

To book, log on to the DCDR’s website at www.downrail.co.uk/halloween

Here are ten exciting things to do 21 – 27 October

1. Fultons Pumpkin Patch, Strabane, County Tyrone, 12 – 30 October. With over 22 types of pumpkins, come along, grab a wheelbarrow and roam through their colorful pumpkin patch. They also have additional attractions, including indoor spook tunnel – enter if you dare, indoor animal corner and witch house.
2. Halloween at Glenpark Estate, Omagh, County Tyrone, 19 – 31 October. Walk the estate and enjoy new fun and frights, fresh for 2024. With so much on offer from spooky karaoke, marshmallow toasting, scary stories and a tractor ride to facepainting, arts and crafts and an obstacle course including their mega hay slide, they have all you need for a fun family-friendly day out.
3. Todds Leap: Get Out! (Part V) Descent into Distortion, Ballygawley, County Tyrone, 25 – 30 October. From the bone-chilling twists of their haunted maze to the adrenaline-pumping off-road ghost ride, they are serving up a unique blend of frightful fun for the brave-hearted. Gather your mates, muster your courage, and embark on an adventure that will haunt your memories.
4. Little Spooks at Navan Centre and Fort, Armagh, County Armagh, 26 – 31 October. Navan Centre and Fort is set to be the spookiest place in town for all ghosts, goblins, witches and wizards. With bewitching stage performances, a mysterious trail and themed games, Little Spooks is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween.
5. Halloween at Hillsborough, Royal Hillsborough, County Down, 26 October – 3 November. Let the kids run free in 100 acres of spectacular gardens, beautifully decorated for the Halloween season. Get closer to nature with special family workshops, navigate the twisty maze, go on a storytelling walk, and hunt for scarecrows designed by talented artists and local communities.
6. Halloween at Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down, 12 – 28 October. Montalto Estate has been overtaken by dark forces, transforming the landscape with eerie sounds and sights, creating an unforgettable experience for all who dare to explore. If you’ve had the courage to navigate the spooky Halloween Adventure Walk, your experience will end in their haunted Pumpkin Patch. The Halloween experience is suitable for kids and families of all ages.
7. Monsters & Magic, A Halloween Family Adventure at Marble Arch Caves, Florencecourt, County Fermanagh, 26 – 31 October. Come along for an enchanting outdoor Halloween adventure where monsters meet magic. Wander through the enchanted woodland on an interactive guided quest, encounter magical creatures and uncover hidden treasures. Prepare for thrills and chills in a safe, family-friendly atmosphere.
8. Fright Night at the Jungle NI, Moneymore, County Londonderry, 17 – 31 October. Whether you’re a seasoned Fright Night survivor or a fearless newcomer, prepare yourself for an experience that will haunt your dreams. This year, they’re pushing the boundaries of fear with an all-new Woodland Trail, six spine-chilling scare attractions, and a twisted ensemble of Street Theatre characters.  Fright Night is divided into different terrifying experiences, so you can customise your night of horror.
9. Carrick-a-Rede Halloween Fun Fest, Ballintoy, County Antrim, 26 – 27 October. At Carrick-a-Rede, visitors with a fear of heights are often scared, but the team are taking frights to a whole new level at their Halloween Fun Fest. Up for a challenge? Get into the Halloween spirit by getting creative and making your own mysterious Halloween mask to take home. Cross the rope bridge zombie-style for a chance to win a prize or solve the riddles and decipher clues on an Interactive Horror Trail.
10. The Halloween Experience at Glenarm Castle and Garden, Glenarm, County Antrim, 25 – 27 October. Come join the fun at Glenarm Castle over the Halloween holidays for a bewitching concoction of activities. See the castle grounds transform into a school of magic and mystery where your little ones can learn how to make their own wands and receive special wand training, while helping the resident Potions Master create the most preposterous potions.

For more information on what’s on, or to plan your next giant adventure in Northern Ireland, visit discovernorthernireland.com. Keep a look out for additional dates of the above events throughout the year.

Northern Ireland’s premier outlet destination, The Boulevard, is hosting a series of events this October for all the family to enjoy.

The Boulevard has a spooktacular weekend planned with lots of Halloween themed activities, beginning on 26th October 2024.

Pumpkin Patch – 26th – 31st October (1-3pm daily)
Wizz around with our wheelbarrows and pick up a pumpkin at our complimentary Pumpkin Patch, just outside Clarks.

Scavenger Hunt – 26th – 31st October
Collect your worksheet from Guest Services and find the Pumpkin clues. Return your completed sheet to Guest Services for a Trick or Treat.

Carnival Rides – 26th October – 3rd November
Big Wheel & traditional carousel.

Paint a Pumpkin Workshop – Saturday 26th – Wednesday 31st| 1-4pm
Paint a Pumpkin with the friendly scarecrow and take it home to decorate your home for Halloween.

S’Mores – Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October
Enjoy complimentary S’mores (for the first 200 customers).

Fancy Dress Parade with Pixie Pinecone – Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th| 3pm
Fancy Dress Parade led by Pixie Pinecone with a competition. The Parade will begin at the Pumpkin Patch at Clarks and finish at Guest Services.

The Hallowqueen – Thursday 31st October | 1-4pm
Meet & Greet and take a spooky selfie with the Hallowqueen.

Join Ballymoney Museum on Thursday, October 24th at 7:30pm for a special free screening of ‘The Lion Game’, a fascinating documentary that relives the vibrant days of the Causeway Safari Park.

This captivating film offers a nostalgic journey into one of the region’s most cherished attractions, showcasing the wildlife, adventures, and memories that made the Safari Park a beloved destination for families and nature lovers alike.

Causeway Safari Park was located at Benvarden just outside Ballymoney and was developed in 1970 by Pat and Louise Stephenson. It was the first National Safari Park on the island of Ireland and its success saw the team welcome 6,000 people during its first 3 days of opening.

This is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with cherished memories and share stories over some refreshments.

Bookings for the free screening can be made via an Eventbrite link available on our Causeway Coast and Glens Museum services Facebook page.

For more information on how to book your free place, email museums@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or phone 028 276 60230.

What artistic responses can we invent in the face of climate collapse to inspire alternative visions to the dominant apocalyptic climate discourse?

How can we collectively tune into the sonorities of socio-political change and ecology? Acoustics of Resistance is a multi-media project comprising of works that collectively tune into the sonorities of socio-political change and ecology. It rejoices in the transformative and healing powers of listening and sound-making while declaring that changing the course of climate change is in our hands and lies on humans learning the language of nature.

Surging Seas and The Weather Orchestra are two installations that approach the theme of climate change from the perspectives of scientific data, collective and individual emotional response, speculative thinking and sounding.  They are an ode to the elements, expressing our deep relationship and entanglement with the weather and celebrating our connection to the atmosphere and the earth. Surging Seas comprises video, a textile work references thermal maps and a display of placards with futurological flood maps.

The Weather Orchestra was created with diverse performers from different climes and takes the form of multi-channel video installation with surround sound. The installation transforms the gallery space into an indoor weather system generated through sound vibration and singing. Three projections feature Iberian female musicians performing on instruments and analogue noise machines designed to imitate the sounds of natural phenomena.

From the old wind machine to the ancient Latin American ceremonial rain stick, ocean drums, aqua-phones and thunder sheets generate sounds that allude to the forces and magnificence of nature. In the middle of this soundscape and swept up by the noise, human voices burst with folk songs from different cultures as a reservoir of knowledge and connection with nature, expressing joy, respect, fear and wonder toward all elements surrounding us. In his mourning song, a Syrian refugee asks the rain to become ‘mute’ in his dedication to friends and family he lost at sea on their way to Greece. A Danish folk singer recalls an ancient nordic song asking the sun to come and warm the seeds to sprout. A Madeiran islander begs the fog to clear because it threatens his life. A Portuguese singer sings an ancient pagan-christian prayer to Santa Barbara requesting her to calm the tempest at sea.

Mikhail Karikis is a Greek-British artist working with moving image, sound, performance and other media. Through collaborations with individuals and/or communities located beyond the circles of contemporary art, and in recent years with children, refugees, support workers and people with disabilities, he develops socially embedded projects that prompt an activist imaginary and rouse the potential to invent hopeful and sustainable futures. Focusing on listening as an artistic methodology, and the voice as a socio-political agent he centers on themes of environmental and social justice. His projects highlight alternative modes of action and solidarity, while nurturing critical attention, dignity and care.

Karikis exhibits internationally. In his most recent work for the stage, ‘Universe of Solutions’, he was artistic director for UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network inaugural cultural event for which he created a performance with 150 young people. Group exhibitions include 54th Venice Biennale, (2011), IT; Manifesta 9, Ghenk, (2012); 19th Biennale of Sydney, (2014); Kochi-Muziris Biennale, IN, (2016); MediaCity Seoul, KR (2015); British Art Show 8 (2016-7); 2nd Riga International Biennale of Contemporary Art, LV (2020), 2nd Saitama Triennale (2024), JP and others.

The MAC Belfast is thrilled to announce an exclusive night of music, soul, and fundraising with the legendary DJ Pete Brady on 12 October titled, Art on the Floor. The Northern Soul Fundraiser promises an unforgettable evening celebrating the iconic sounds of Northern Soul while raising crucial funds to support the MAC’s arts and community programmes.

In a rare and intimate setting, DJ Pete Brady will bring his extensive collection of soul classics to the Belfast venue for a one-of-a-kind dance night. Known for his passion for Northern Soul, Pete Brady has been a key figure in the scene since the 1970s, spinning records at iconic venues across the UK and internationally. His carefully curated set will transport guests back to the iconic era of Northern Soul, with a soundtrack guaranteed to keep the dance floor moving all night long.

The event aims to raise funds for the MAC’s vital outreach programmes, which provide creative opportunities and support for underrepresented communities in Northern Ireland. Guests will have the opportunity to dance the night away while directly contributing to these initiatives, ensuring the MAC continues to be a beacon for the arts in Belfast.

Speaking on the event, Pete Brady said: “Northern Soul has always been about the love of music and the energy of the dance floor. I’m delighted to bring this special night to the MAC, not just to celebrate the music but also to support such an important cause. It’s going to be a night to remember!”

Guests attending the Northern Soul Fundraiser will experience an authentic night of rare soul tracks, a lively dance floor, and the chance to mingle with fellow soul enthusiasts. The event is part of the MAC’s ongoing fundraising efforts to support its creative programmes, which range from world-class exhibitions and performances to impactful community-led initiatives.

Lisa McGinley, Interim Director at the MAC, adds: “We’re excited to host this fantastic night, bringing the magic of Northern Soul to Belfast. Events like these are crucial in helping us continue to deliver high-quality, accessible arts experiences to our local community and we appreciate every ticket booking for this special event – it truly makes a difference.”

Tickets for the Art on the Floor: Northern Soul Fundraiser are available now via the MAC website and priced at £15. Early booking is advised, as space is limited, with high demand for this special event.

For more information or to book tickets, visit www.themaclive.com.

Join us at the MAC for a night of music, dancing, and supporting the arts—don’t miss out on this Northern Soul spectacular!