Get set for a scare with Halloween celebrations across the Borough
Tue, October 17, 2017
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will celebrate Halloween with a packed programme of festivities and fireworks.
Spooky spectacles will be held in towns and villages across the area, including fancy dress competitions, live entertainment and fire juggling.
Looking ahead to the festivities, the Mayor, Councillor Joan Baird OBE said: “Halloween is a much anticipated time of year for many, especially for our young people who look forward to enjoying the school half-term break. This year, we lots of activities and fireworks displays to look forward to, making the Causeway Coast and Glens a popular destination for our local community and visitors alike. It’s always encouraging to see families who choose to spend their Halloween break here, as we continue to build on our reputation as a great place to go throughout the year.”
Halloween celebrations across the Borough are sponsored by The Tides Restaurant, Portrush and The Newbridge Restaurant, Coleraine. Owner Gareth Witherow said: “I’m delighted to be working in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to create memorable Halloween celebrations which the whole family can enjoy. Look out for us in Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Limavady where we’ll be contributing to the festival atmosphere with our goodie-bag giveaways.”
Ballymoney
Halloween celebrations get underway on Friday 27th October with frighteningly fabulous fun at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre.
The evening begins at 6.30pm with a live outdoor concert featuring a local DJ and music from Pure Blarney. There will be a fancy dress competition, fire poi performers, creepy characters and a spectacular fireworks display at 8.15pm.
The night will end with a Halloween-themed Pool Disco at 8.30pm. Admission is £3.50, to book a place ring 028 2766 0260.
Alongside this, there’s lots of other Halloween themed happenings taking place in the area. The Ullans Centre is hosting the Bloody Hutchinson Festival, a three day event featuring a range of activities. On Thursday 26th October there will be a talk by local historian Alex Blair at 7.30pm. On Friday (October 27th), the Centre will host arts and crafts from 10am – 12noon and flower arranging from 12noon – 3pm. From 6.30pm, join the Lantern Parade from Ballymoney High School to the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre. On Saturday (October 28th), activities move to the Castlecroft area where there will be a fun day and Halloween games from 11am – 4pm.
Limavady
The fun gets underway on Friday 27th October with a range of frighteningly fabulous attractions at Roe Mill Road Recreation Grounds.
The evening begins at 7pm with a fancy dress competition, fire poi and DJ entertainment before an impressive fireworks display from 8.15pm.
Following this, Roe Valley Leisure Centre will host a pool party from 9pm – 10pm. Admission costs £3. Call 028 7776 4009 to book.
Alongside this, there’s lots of Halloween themed happenings taking place across the Limavady area and beyond. On Saturday 28th October, Roe Valley Speciality Market returns to Drumceatt Square in Limavady town centre. The Market brings together an enticing range of local food producers, arts and crafts, and offers a unique shopping experience.
The Dry Arch Children's Centre is hosting a Halloween Festival from Monday 30th October until Wednesday 1st November. Starting off in Limavady, there will be a spooky spectacular family celebration including street performers, Halloween themed brews and food, children’s sensory play area, disco, haunted house, storytelling, face painting and displays on how other cultures celebrate Halloween. The Festival will end with a spooky event in Dungiven with food, a haunted trail and much more for all the family.
Coleraine
The spookily spectacular Halloween celebrations will be held on Saturday 28th October at Rugby Avenue Playing Fields.
The popular family fun fair opens at 3pm, followed by an evening of entertainment. From 6.30pm, look out for spooky characters, fire poi performers, fancy dress competition and an outdoor concert with live music from Curve before a fireworks extravaganza at 8.30pm.
Causeway Speciality Market returns to the town centre on Saturday 28th October. The market transforms the Diamond area with upwards of 50 stalls selling a high quality range of local produce, including food, arts and crafts.
Portballintrae
Portballintrae Residents Association hosts its annual Halloween Festival from Saturday 28th October - Sunday 29th October. On Saturday, there will be a fancy dress party for all the family, with children's entertainment and a lantern parade led by a Samba band from the Village Hall to The Bayview Hotel before the skies light up with a fireworks display. On Sunday 29th, the village will host a craft fair featuring a range of quality items.
Ballycastle
The town will host its annual Halloween Parade and Fireworks display on Tuesday 31st October.
The event has become a must-see attraction in recent years, as a scary selection of floats, spooky characters and fire-poi performers travel through the town from Dalriada Hospital to the seafront. Judging of the fancy dress competition will take place in the hospital’s lower car park at 6.45pm before the parade moves off. Entertainment will be provided by a DJ and local band 30 Mile Limit at the seafront before a spectacular fireworks display at 8.15pm.
Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market takes place in The Marine Hotel on Sunday 29th October. Stalls will be open from 11am – 4pm giving shoppers the chance to browse a great range of unique food, arts and crafts products.
Mother Goose Playgroup is bringing its popular Haunted House back to Sheskburn Community Centre. It will be open from Sunday 29th October – Tuesday 31st October with specific sessions for younger and older children. There will be a pumpkin patch with live pumpkins, spooky craft, puppet shows, and face-painting plus street food and a ghost walk through the enchanted garden. Inside, there’ll be a labyrinth of haunted corridors and rooms with live actors, darkened rooms, creaking floorboards, creepy crawlies and lots of special effects and scary surprises designed to keep you spellbound.
The Ghosts in the Glens storytelling and music festival
This four-day event runs from October 19th – October 22nd in Cushendall, Cushendun, Glenariffe, Ballycastle and Rathlin Island. The community experience celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the area. The festival will include storytellers and musicians from the local area and beyond and feature events, performances and sessions aimed at people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and interests.
For further information go to www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or click on the link below. On Facebook search for Causeway Coast Events or follow us on Twitter. You can also avail of additional information from Visitor Information Centres in Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Limavady.
Spooky characters set the scene as the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird OBE, and sponsors Gareth Witherow and Ruth Owen from The Newbridge Restaurant, Coleraine, and The Tides Restaurant, Portrush, look ahead to this year’s Halloween events across the Borough.