There is a real buzz about Derry as budding artists, singers, dancers and musicians across the city begin their final preparations for the most spooktacular Halloween festival finale parade ever staged in the city.
Saoirse Coyle and Chloe McCourt at the Halloween Workshop in preparation for this year’s Halloween Carnival held at the Off the Streets Initiative, Cornshell Fields. (Photo – Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
Schools and community groups have all weighed in to complete the mammoth task of hand-making eye catching props and creepy costumes for over 600 performers of all ages, hoping to create a spooky spectacle to remember for the tens of thousands who flock to the carnival parade each year.
This year’s Curious Carnival of the Lost Souls is expected to attract bigger crowds than ever before, and is the highlight event in a wicked week-long programme running from 26 October – 2 November.
The city centre will come to a standstill from 7.00pm as an amazing collection of carnival curiosities leaves Derry City Council car park on Strand Road, before a fangtastic fireworks finale over the Foyle at 8.00pm.
One group working furiously behind the scenes over the past few weeks is the Off the Streets Initiative, who have been putting their creative talents to good use making lanterns, flags and costumes for the big night.
Project leader Catherine O’Donnell. “At the moment we’re making lanterns for our group which will have a steam engine theme, and all the young people are working really hard.
“We have about 20 people so far from the Outer North area who meet at the workshops every week, and there is so much enthusiasm for the project.”
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