Blog

Strabane is set to sparkle this festive season as the town comes alive for its annual Christmas Lights Switch-On on Saturday 22nd November, promising a full day of family fun, festive markets, live entertainment and community cheer from 12 noon to 5:30pm.

Members of the public are being encouraged to join in the celebrations for Ulster-Scots Language Week 2025, taking place from 24–28 November, with a vibrant programme of events across the City and District.

The city and district’s festive campaign for 2025 will get off to a visually enticing start with the opening of the 2025 Guildhall Craft Fair next weekend. Coming just weeks after the hugely successful Halloween celebrations, the fair marks the official start of the Council's Christmas festivities.

The Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Ruairí McHugh welcomed the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, along with CEO of Tourism Ireland, Alice Mansergh, and CEO of Tourism NI, Laura McCorry, to the city yesterday for the opening night of the Derry Halloween festivities and the Awakening the Walled City Trail.

Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival is fast approaching and as final preparations are underway Derry City and Strabane District Council is encouraging people to plan ahead to ensure the very best experience at Derry Halloween.

Derry City and Strabane District Council have released details regarding Traffic and Travel precautions ahead of the Strabane Halloween celebrations this Friday.

This October, Europe’s largest Halloween celebration gets even more spellbinding as Derry launches its most exciting Awakening the Walled City Trail to date. From 28^th to 31^st October, the historic city transforms into the Home of Halloween - an immersive world of light, legend, and laughter,  and this year’s trail promises to be the beating heart of the festival.

As Derry Halloween 2025 casts its enchanting spell over the city, one iconic building will once again take centre stage in the celebrations as the historic Guildhall is transformed into a magical venue of mystery, magic and spooky surprises.

Get ready for five days of spine-tingling harmonies, global talent, and choral wonder – the 13th City of Derry International Choir Festival is back from 22 – 26 October, and it’s shaping up to be the most exhilarating edition yet.

Get ready for a Halloween celebration like no other as Strabane prepares to transform into a spooktacular hotspot of Samhain magic this October! The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, officially launched what promises to be the town’s biggest and most exciting Halloween programme yet, with an action-packed schedule designed to thrill ghosts and ghouls of all ages.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, has welcomed two significant developments that will enhance tourism and heritage appreciation in the district’s historic towns of Newtownstewart and Sion Mills

Ministers, local politicians and project partners joined the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, at Ebrington Square in Derry today to mark the official commencement of work on site at the much-anticipated DNA (Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic) Museum.