Don't miss Derry Halloween, Europe's LARGEST Halloween Festival. From 28th October, the Walled City of Derry will come alive for four nights of spooky festivities. Check out our 5-day itinerary so you can make the most of your time in our world-famous Halloween destination and join us as we celebrate 40years of Derry Halloween!
DAY 1 – Wednesday 28th October
Getting Here:
There’s plenty of ways to get to the historic Walled City of Derry. Fly direct to the city from London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Birmingham into the City of Derry Airport. Or travel into Belfast International or Dublin Airport. Check out the Aircoach for transport from both airports, which will take you directly into the city centre. There are also Stena Line sailings into Belfast and Dublin.
3pm Check in at Accommodation
Experience a true LegenDerry welcome when you check into your accommodation. With a range of boutique hotels, self-catering options, and B&B accommodation in the city and region, you’ll feel right at home. Explore accommodation options here.
5pm Dinner at Coupe by The Dirty Souls
Set right inside the Derry Walls, you’ll find Coupe. Inspired by American smokehouses, neighbourhood restaurants and Southern food culture, the menus combine barbecue, Southern comfort and soul food with Irish produce.
6pm – 9pm Awakening the Walled City Trail
From Wednesday 28th – Friday 30th October, those who dare can embark on a journey along the Awakening the Walled City Trail, where rich folklore, history, and heritage come to life in a truly unique experience. Be sure to experience breathtaking street celebrations of all things eerie, right in the capital of Halloween. From a bit of Derry craic at the Witchy Wonderland on the city’s historic walls to the haunting cries of The Sisters of Mercy on Pump St, you’ll find a bit of Halloween on every corner along the Walled City Trail. Below are just some of the highlights of the trail! Check the official Awakening the Walled City Trail Here
Harlequin & The Ghosts of a Thousand Faces | Upper Shipquay St
Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th October | 6pm - 9pm
Wandering through a supernatural rift, Harlequin trades western slapstick and acrobatic physical comedy with eerie spectral archetypes: a formidable princess wielding flowing, light-as-air martial silk, and a shape-shifting demon whose face transforms in the blink of an eye. Presented by Ulster University.
Spark! | City Centre
Wednesday 28th – Friday 30th October | 6.30pm, 7.30pm & 8.30pm
This act certainly steal the show every year – Spark! return to Derry Halloween for another season of spellbinding performances. Prepare to be mesmerised by the captivating spectacle of Spark! Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of live music, graceful movement, and dazzling light that will leave you spellbound.
The Wailing Nuns | Pump Street & London Street – Cathedral Quarter
Wednesday 28th – Friday 30th October 6pm – 9pm
Roaming the cobbled streets of Cathedral Quarter, the Sisters of Mercy await your presence. However, brace yourself for their haunting cries and beware encountering one lest you leap out of your skin!
After Dark
Enjoying the buzz in Derry? Continue the night in a range of the city's bars and pubs. Let the haunting melodies of our talented local musicians extend your Halloween experience. Stop by the Guildhall Taphouse for a cocktail or two, or step into Peadar O’Donnell’s for some traditional Irish music and a bit of craic.
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DAY 2 – Thursday 29th October
12pm Brunch at The Cottage Craft Gallery & Coffee Shop
After your first day of sampling Derry at Halloween, you'll want to ensure you are fuelled and ready to go for day two - you haven't even scratched the surface yet! We suggest The Cottage in the Craft Village for delicious start to your day.
1pm Explore the Walled City with the Visit Derry Visitor Pass
Familiarise yourself with the city with a walking tour. While we’re a walkable, compact city, with a cosmopolitan vibe, there’s plenty to explore. For a start, check out Visit Derry’s Visitor Information Centre in Waterloo Place, where you can pick up literature, maps and speak with our helpful tourist assistants. There, you’ll also be able to purchase our great-value for money Visitor Pass (if you haven’t already bought this online). The pass includes two walking tours and entrance to a host of other visitor experiences, including The Derry Girls Experience.
5pm Fright Night at the Museum
Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th October | Various Times
The Foyle Valley Railway Museum has been transformed into a haunted wonderland, where every creaking carriage and shadowy platform hides a new thrill. Dare to explore the eerie platforms and abandoned train cars - but tread carefully, for some ghostly passengers have never left. Then if you dare... step on board Scary City Bus Tours spooky Ghost Bus for a haunted ride you won’t forget. Travel through the city’s creepiest corners, dive headfirst into haunted landmarks and dark secrets, all as your guide tells chilling tales of the past. Book Here
6:15pm Dinner at Cedar - A Taste of Lebanon | Carlise Road
Enjoy an authentic taste of Lebanon here in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle. Expect meals prepared freshly with only the best local ingredients and an atmosphere that is intimate and cosy with a warm and friendly service. Cedar is a firm favourite with many locals.
7.30pm Continue to explore the Awakening the Walled City Trail
The City Awakens... Who You Gonna Call? | New Gate Arts Centre
Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th October | 6.30pm, 7.30pm & 8.30pm
New Gate Arts & Culture Centre becomes the city's supernatural response station as 40years of Derry Halloween spirits begin to break free. Expect projections, ghostly dancers, rooftop surprises, slime, smoke, Puft and a very familiar response vehicle as the team battles to keep the city safe.
Path of Light | St Columb's Cathedral Grounds
Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th October | 6pm-9pm
As dusk falls and the night awakens, journey through an illuminated dreamscape designed to enchant and inspire. Explore a world bathed in gentle glows, soft shadows and shimmering tones. Thoughfully crafted to evoke wonder, this immersive experience offers a moment of calm, reflection and awe beneath the autumn sky.
The Samhain Sisters | Peace Garden
Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th October | 6pm-9pm
For Derry Halloween's 40th Anniversary, In Your Space Circus and London-based Levantes Dance Theatre conjure a spectacle the city has never seen before... two towering sway pole witches floating high above The Peace Garden, drifting between worlds. They swoop and bend against the night sky, their silhouettes whispering ancient stories into the night. A breathtaking apparation to mark forty years of fearless imagination.
9pm After Dark - Live Gigs at the Guildhall | Tickets £5
Step inside The Other World and experience the Guildhall after hours. Beneath Luke Jerram’s spectacular Gaia, settle in for an atmospheric evening of live music from Sheegus, under the Earth. A truly unique setting.
DAY 3 – Friday 30th October
10am Explore beyond the Walled City | Car Required
Escape the hustle & bustle of the City and spend the morning enjoying the Scenic Sperrins. Journey through the district and unearth a host of spooky characters along the Halloweeen Hay Trail. The scenic heartland offers a complete taste of rural Ireland, featuring some of Ireland’s most stunning landscapes and is just a short drive from Derry city. Be sure to check out the Giants of the Sperrin's Sculpture Trail
1pm Lunch at the Rocking Chair
Located in the shadow of the City Walls, overlooking the Bogside - the 'Rocker' is a popular choice with tourists and locals alike. Their extensive menu includes Light Bites, Sandwiches & Wraps, Burgers & Classic Mains plus Street Food & Taco options with a South East Asian twist.
2:30pm Haunted Inishowen Tour | Departs Guildhall | £59pp
We are lucky to be situated right on the border with the beautiful Co. Donegal and this year you can join North West Scenic Tours to explore Inishowen's ghosts and spirits and you visit an ancient fort where warriors once stood, and discover a graveyard and monastry honoring a 7th century Saint. There will also be a mystery stop! Full Halloween Costume encouraged! Book Here
8pm Monster Halloween Fun Fair | Ebrington Square
Ebrington Square transforms into a spooky wonderland packed with screams, thrills and terrifyingly good fun as Cullens return with their Monster Fun Fair. Over 16 spine-tingling attractions for all ageswith wandering ghouls and spooky surprises around every corner! Quiet space cabin available.
DAY 4 – Saturday 31st October
Today's the day. The Derry Halloween festivities will be in full swing today as All Hallows' Eve has arrived.
10am Breakfast at Crann Beatha
Crann Beatha is all about warmth, comfort and great food. Start your day the right way with hearty Irish breakfasts, fresh pastries, fluffy pancakes, breakfast rolls and barista made coffee.
11am Discover Little Acorn's Bookstore
Located just a short walk from Crann Beatha you will find the Little Acorn's Bookstore; a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered. With shelves full of books to spark the imagination of readers of all ages. A perfect little stop to browse, find a new favourite and take home a story or two from your Derry adventure!
11.30am Haunted Halloween Tour | Society Street | £10pp
Experience the eerie charm of Derry with the Society Street Haunted Halloween Tour, and engaging journey through the haunted history of Northern Ireland's second city. Explore some of the cities haunted sites, and hear tales of murder and intrigue during the day from local historian's Trevor Temple and Seamus Breslin.
1pm Warm up at Sandwich Co.
After your tour, call into The Sandwich Co for a cosy pick-me-up! Warm up with a hot drink, and treat yourself to something sweet before heading back out to explore the spooky sights and sounds.
3pm Get costume ready!
Be sure to dawn your best guises for Halloween night. Costumes are a huge part of the Derry Halloween traditions. In fact, Derry Halloween traditions are said to have started in 1985 when a local pub, now Lizzie O'Farrell's, decided to throw a Halloween costume party. Around 50-60 people showed up and the Halloween party was ago. However, with it being the height of the Troubles, a bombscare meant that the party goers had to evacuate the building. But, Derry people being Derry people, the party continued as the crowd flocked to Shipquay Street to the other bars and pubs. Although no one else was dressed up, everyone got into the spirit of Halloween. The following year, more and more bars announced that they would be throwing Halloween parties. Since then, the LegenDerry spirit has grown into a world-class event. So, grab your costume, add the finishing touches and get ready for an unforgettable Halloween in Ireland's Halloween Capital!
5pm Dinner
Check out our LegenDerry foodie options
7pm Carnival Parade | City Centre
Four decades of imagination, creativity and community take to the streets for a very special 40th anniversary Carnival Parade. The parade journey's through the bones of Derry Halloween, from its beginnings in the 1980's to ancient traditions of Samhain that have inspiried generations of Halloween celebrations. Expect some sights and sounds of the 80's with bold costumes, music and plenty of birthday celebrations. .jpg)
8:15pm Fireworks Display
See the Home of Halloween lit up in technicolour at our epic Fireworks display. Feel the magic in the air as these beauties erupt - from sparkling showers to massive showstoppers!
After Dark - 40th Anniversary Birthday Bash - Super Ceilí | Guildhall | £12
Super Ceilí fuses traditional Irish music with contemporary electronic beats to create an exhilerating Irish Dance Music Experience. Featuring live accordian, guitar, vocals and real-time remixing technology, the show delivers a fresh, high energy celebration of Irish Culture that captivates traditional music lovers and dance music fans alike.
DAY 5 – Sunday 1st November
12pm Brunch at the Scullery
Ease into your Sunday with a delicious brunch at The Scullery. Whether you’re in need of a hearty breakfast to start the day or a coffee to help you recover from the Halloween celebrations, it’s the perfect spot to refuel
1.30pm A Derry Silly Séanace Walking Tour | The Diamond | 12+ £20pp
Come join MakeyUppers for a seriously funny walk into the world of Victorian Spiritualism. Expect side splitting comedy, spooky surprises, and true stories of the city's history and folklore as told by the very people who were there. Professional local actors lead an original, interactive, character-led comedy walking tour around the historic walls. Book Tickets Here
1pm Pick up a Souvenir
Before you head home, leave a little room in your bag for something special from Derry! Take time to browse the city’s shops for unique gifts, local crafts and little reminders of your Halloween adventure. Be sure to call into our Visitor Information Centre to pick up a keepsake of your trip and take a little piece of the Walled City home with you.
Don't forget to tag us in your Halloween celebrations @visitderry @derryhalloween
