{"id":12875,"date":"2016-10-27T20:15:50","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T19:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=12875"},"modified":"2016-10-27T20:16:33","modified_gmt":"2016-10-27T19:16:33","slug":"spark-spook-and-the-spectacular-%e2%80%93-30-years-on-and-city-of-bones-still-the-world%e2%80%99s-best-halloween-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2016\/10\/spark-spook-and-the-spectacular-%e2%80%93-30-years-on-and-city-of-bones-still-the-world%e2%80%99s-best-halloween-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Spark! Spook and the Spectacular \u2013 30 years on and City of Bones still the world\u2019s best Halloween party"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>The city and district is preparing for its most \u2018Out of this World\u2019 Halloween festivities and a rush of revellers all eager to join the big party celebrating thirty years of the most weird and wonderful Halloweens that has the city holding the acclaimed title of \u2018best Halloween Destination in the World\u2019.<\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/PicMonkey-Collage20.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-12876\" title=\"PicMonkey Collage\" src=\"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/PicMonkey-Collage20-1024x366.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"663\" height=\"238\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The public are warned to be prepared for the arrival of some unique visitors to the city this year as aliens have confirmed they\u2019ll be arriving in the city to join the truly \u2018Out of this World\u2019 celebrations! Residents and visitors have been advised by Derry City and Strabane District Council to not be alarmed with the sound of a World War II siren across to city on Halloween night as this is to prepare earth residents for their arrival.<\/p>\n<p>The brimming programme of events and activities for all ages is sure to make this the best year yet! The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, was speaking ahead of the City of Bones Hallowe\u2019en festivities which kick off this week and reminded residents and visitors that there is lots on offer.<\/p>\n<p>She said, \u2018The world knows no one throws a Halloween party like us. We already have the title of \u2018Best Halloween Destination in the World\u2019 as voted by US Today\u2019s readers, one which is not awarded too easily.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018For thirty years now, people from all over the world have visited our city and celebrated with us in our unique Halloween celebrations, making memories and great friends during their visit. To celebrate this, we\u2019ve some really exciting events and activities for families, groups, individuals \u2013 in fact everyone, including our alien visitors!<\/p>\n<p>The \u2018Out of This World\u2019 programme will include everything from the street walkabout creatures Saurus to Spark! the energetic street performers who will bring high impact drumming, dynamic choreography and beautiful lighting designs to the city centre during the festivities.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Do not forget to unleash your inner superhero in aid of my chosen charities for Mayor\u2019s \u2018Superhero Week\u2019 which began on Monday October 24<sup>th<\/sup> running through to Monday October 31<sup>st<\/sup> when I\u2019m urging local people to dress as your favourite super human idol in return for a donation to charity.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018With huge crowds expected in and around the city centre on Monday evening for the biggest Halloween parade and fireworks display in Europe. I would like to make everyone aware of Council\u2019s online advice for ensuring you all have a very enjoyable and safe evening, this can be found at the website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.derrystrabane.com\/halloween\">www.derrystrabane.com\/halloween<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The programme also includes street animation, storytelling, tours and trails, a city centre Harvest Market, the Castlederg Apple Fair and lots of spooky goings on, especially as we\u2019ll see the Awakening of the Walls where the City Walls come to life with music, animation and light, creating a realm of fantasy fire and flame from Friday 28<sup>th<\/sup> to Sunday 30<sup>th<\/sup> October from 6.00-8.00pm.<\/p>\n<p>Other events to note is a spooky gothic organ recital at the Guildhall on Sunday 30<sup>th<\/sup> October, haunted tours at the Tower Museum, the Weird and Wonderful Witches Tales at the Guildhall, a Spooky Halloween panto at Strabane\u2019s Alley Theatre, Monstrous Halloween workshops, storytelling at Strabane Community Library and family entertainment at the Craft Village.<\/p>\n<p>On Halloween night, Monday 31<sup>st<\/sup> October, both Derry and Strabane will host an evening of fun and entertainment when the City of Bones Street Carnival Parade will make its way along Derry\u2019s Queen\u2019s Quay from 7.00pm. This will be followed by a fabulous Fireworks Finale at 8.00pm. While in Strabane, the Upper Main Street car park will be transformed into a family friendly fun area from 7.00-8.30pm with a fireworks display over the River Mourne at 8.00pm.<\/p>\n<p>Jacqueline Whoriskey, Council\u2019s Festival and Events Manager commented ahead of the events, \u2018Preparations are well underway and we are delighted to have up to 600 carnival participants taking part in workshops and rehearsals for the main Carnival Parade.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Other highlights happening in and around the Council area over the Halloween holidays include the Halloween Fun Fair at Ebrington and a horror movie week at the Nerve Centre, as well as treasure hunts and spooky bat and ghost tours at Creggan Country Park. Riverwatch Aquarium will play host to a series of fantastic ghoulish events including a Shark Night and a Barn Owl Prowl. Gray\u2019s Printing Press in Strabane will be hosting a day of Bewitching Tales. They\u2019ll also be Trick or Treat tours from the Alley Theatre and a Halloween Pool Disco at Riversdale Leisure Centre.<\/p>\n<p>The public are advised to expect some disruptions to travel in and around the city centre and Strabane Town Centre ahead of this year\u2019s Derry~Strabane Halloween celebrations on Monday 31<sup>st<\/sup> October. Updates on travel arrangements will be made available via local radio stations such as Radio Foyle and Q102 throughout the day and on Council\u2019s social media and websites. Halloween carnival care information is available at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.derrystrabane.com\/care\">http:\/\/www.derrystrabane.com\/care<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To find out more on all the events taking place in the Derry and Strabane over the Halloween spell check out the full programme at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.derrystrabane.com\/halloween\">www.derrystrabane.com\/halloween<\/a> or visit the Facebook page halloweenderrystrabane. The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council and supported by Tourism NI.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The city and district is preparing for its most \u2018Out of this World\u2019 Halloween festivities and a rush of revellers all eager to join the big party celebrating thirty years of the most weird and wonderful Halloweens that has the city holding the acclaimed title of \u2018best Halloween Destination in the World\u2019. The public are &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2016\/10\/spark-spook-and-the-spectacular-%e2%80%93-30-years-on-and-city-of-bones-still-the-world%e2%80%99s-best-halloween-party\/\">Continued<\/a><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12875"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12875"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12879,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12875\/revisions\/12879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}