Spooktacular events for Halloween

THERE’S a spooktacular programme of family-friendly events being held across the Northside for this year’s Halloween celebrations.

Organised by Dublin City Council in collaboration with community groups the events have been created to ensure locals can enjoy the ghostly evening in a joyful, safe environment.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Nial Ring said Halloween is a fantastic time of year for young people and their families.

“I encourage everyone to get their teeth into the community based events that are taking place in their area and to stay away from Illegal bonfires,” he added.

Young people and families in Ballymun are being invited to channel their inner Zombie or Witch at the now annual Otherworld Festival.

The parade starts at Virgin Mary’s School, Shangan Road at 4.45 pm and festival kicks off on the plaza at 6pm.

This year’s entertainment includes a circus, funfair rides, an arts & crafts tent, storytelling workshops, tarot card reading and main stage entertainment.

Spring Break will be one of the bands performing on the night, the highlight of which will be a fireworks display at 8.30pm.

Witches Brew café will serve up ghoulish cakes, tea and coffee and the Muck & Magic soup stall will offer deadly good homemade soup from vegetables grown on a local community patch.

The Finglas Fright Night Halloween Festival will take place at the Civic Centre, Mellows Road from 6pm to 9pm.

This year the ghoulish entertainment will include a Path of Misery, Colm Dawson’s Magic Show and a fancy dress competition.

There will also be fairground attractions and a live interactive art exhibition.

Music on the night will be provided by bands from the Finglas Youth Resource Centre and ABBA Girls. The night will conclude with a fireworks display.

The Cauldron of Smithfield is back again this year running from Monday (October 22) to Friday (October 26) while on Halloween Smithfield Square will have fangtastic activities including a 1,000ft zip line and a daunting 150ft Bungee Jump. 

Entertainment includes a 'Cirque Du Freak' Scare Tent, a climbing wall and the Lost Souls parade. 

There will also be fun from the Dublin Circus Project, a giant screen PlayStation tournament, food stalls, art workshops, Bungee trampolines and a giant Jurassic bouncy castle.

The Main Stage will feature local talent, SingStar finals, a costume parade, drummers, DJs and MC Andrew Stanley.

This year sees a new community Halloween festival taking place on October 27 and Halloween night from 5-8.30pm in the playing grounds of Dorset Street flats.

The ghoulish activities will include big screen FIFA and Just Dance tournaments, fancy dress, fun workshops, deadly food and drinks and incredible prizes.

The events are alcohol and drug free and backpacks and large bags won’t be allowed.