6 reasons to experience Derry Halloween!

Remember, this is a carnival. And what do we do at carnivals? We get dressed up. From the classics (witch, vampire, etc) to the more nuanced (Mona Lisa including frame or Edward Scissorhands) if you’re not dressed up, you’ll be the only one.

FACT: the city is a gem and the locals are friendly to a fault BUT, the scares at Derry Halloween are intense. Get ready for a full-on fear factor with haunted houses, haunted walks and costumes so good, they’re scary.

3. See where it all began...

Halloween began as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain – the night on which the dead would return to mingle with the living. Derry Halloween has its roots in those old customs but it’s been around for just forty years, starting as a fancy dress party in a city pub.

Word soon spread that this was the place to be on Halloween and now, thousands of people come from all over the world to enjoy the four-day carnival, with its thrilling fireworks and out-of-this world costumes. Derry~Londonderry has been named the world’s “Best Halloween Destination” by USA Today and hit TV show Derry Girls even devoted a whole episode to it. But at heart this festival is still about the ancient folklore, the warmth of the people, and their pride in their city.

You may have the stuffing scared out of you at Derry Halloween, but you definitely won’t go hungry. Enjoy a hearty meal in a 19th century boathouse in the Quaywest Wine Bar & Restaurant, and delicious Asian fusion flavours in Mekong’s cosy, casual setting. For a spot of comfort food, head for The Exchange and try the marinated chilli chicken and ribs. Over at the Browns in Town restaurant, the risotto is so good it’s scary, while special mention goes to the house smoked pork belly at the Walled City Brewery.

It’s no surprise that the biggest event in the city’s calendar brings with it an electric atmosphere. Sample the best of it at the likes of the Guildhall Taphouse where top musicians come from all over the island of Ireland to perform in this live music hub, check out Sandinos for dancing and a funky interior, and head to the aforementioned award-winning Walled City Brewery to sample signature brews.

If it’s a traditional pub you’re after, make for Peadar O’Donnell’s, home to three different bars (including the Gweedore Bar and Gweedore upstairs). The home of trad music in the city, O’Donnell’s boasts an epic whiskey collection and the interiors hit the vintage mark beautifully.

Pre or post-carnival, you’ve chosen a stunning location to visit. Derry~Londonderry is where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route. To the west is the Inishowen Peninsula, a collection of coastal cliffs, beaches and stunning seafood and the start of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Less than an hour from Derry~Londonderry, nestled in the beautiful Sperrin Mountains, you’ll find the three gentle and majestic giants that form the Sperrin Sculpture Trail.

To the east is the Causeway Coastal Route, a resplendent slow-drive journey taking in a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Giant’s Causeway), the oldest distillery on the island (Bushmills) and a remarkable cliff walk (The Gobbins).

Push a little further west, via Belfast and its Titanic experience, and you’re in Game of Thrones® Territory, with the Kingsroad, Winterfell, the Iron Islands and more on the touring menu.