Life

What's On: Spooktacular happenings all over the north

Jacqueline McGonigle of whatsonni.com shares her pick of what’s on this Halloween across Northern Ireland

If you go down to the woods today... there'll be plenty of spooky goings on to scare the life out of you
If you go down to the woods today... there'll be plenty of spooky goings on to scare the life out of you If you go down to the woods today... there'll be plenty of spooky goings on to scare the life out of you

DOWN

Get spooked this Halloween at Castle Espie and bring your little monsters along for a frightfully fun family event, October 27 to November 4. Enjoy Jump, Jiggle and Jive's Broomstick Disco, enter our fancy dress competition and have a close encounter with mini-beasts, reptiles and more.

ARMAGH

Enjoy some spooktacular family Halloween fun at the Navan Centre, Armagh, October 28-31. Are you brave enough to pass through the Bone Taker’s garden and see their Palace of Bones? Watch out for the Wicked Witch and don’t be tricked into joining Rapunzel in her tower. Booking is essential. Don’t forget to come in fancy dress – prizes in every show.

FERMANAGH

Put on your scariest fancy dress costume and journey underground on a nail-biting, spine-tingling guided tour of the fantastic Marble Arch Caves this Saturday and Sunday. Come and meet the ghost of Edouard Martel, the Wheathill Witch and their spooky friends. Booking essential. Please note Caves may close following periods of heavy rain.

TYRONE

The Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh host their Halloween Festival this weekend. Not for the faint hearted, booking is essential for these evening tours.

DERRY

This year’s Halloween celebrations in Derry and Strabane promise to be out of this world when the City and District throws a party like no other as it celebrates 30 years of being spooktacular. Among the highlights is the welcome return of the Awakening of the Walls when the ancient City Walls will come to life with music, animation and light, from Fridayto Sunday from 6-8pm each night.

ANTRIM

The Giant’s Causeway will be exploring how other cultures remember loved ones who have passed with its Mexican Day of the Dead. This event is suitable for families and will feature face-painting, a sugar skull trail and you can create floral headpieces out of tissue paper. The café will be serving tasty treats with a Mexican twist and will also have Latin music being played live in the Visitor Centre. There will be something for everyone to enjoy, all at no extra cost. This Saturday and Sunday.

BELFAST

Join Belfast Zoo for a packed day of eerie activities, including creepy crafts, face painting, bat talks and much more at Boo at the Zoo this Saturday. People under 18 can get in free if they come in fancy dress. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

:: For more details on these events and to add your events free go to whatsonni.com. Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni.com for news, competitions and what’s on near you.