Freaky festivals for Halloween

YOUNG people in the North East Inner City have broken with the tradition of burning old pallets on Halloween bonfires and are using them instead this year to build custom-made chairs.

These novel furniture making workshops are part of a series of activities organised by the Big Scream Halloween Community Festival, which aims to make what was once a no-go night for families a safe celebration for everyone.

Dublin’s Chief Fire Officer, Dennis Keeley, has commended this community initiative.  

“I would like to applaud the young people in the north east inner city area for this imaginative approach, using pallets to create chairs which will be used in their schools and youth groups for many years to come,” said Mr Keeley. 

The Big Scream is one of a number of local festivals running across the Northside to give families a safe alternative to illegal bonfires and firework displays.

The Otherworld Festival will take place in Ballymun on Halloween night. This year’s theme is ‘Samhain’, and a variety of spooky activities have been planned. In the lead up to the main festival event, the Dublin Circus Company is facilitating circus skills workshops with local youth projects and community groups.

Other local activities include ‘Spooky Lair’, which will take place in Ballymun Youth Resource Centre from 3pm on Halloween.

The main event kicks off on Ballymun Plaza at 6pm and there are lots of activities for locals to get their teeth into including the Witches Brew Café, New Music Lounge, Spooky Tunnel, Fairground, Dublin Circus Company performers and Spring Break will be the headline act on the night. There will also be a fireworks display at 8.30pm.

The Cauldron of Smithfield began touring this week visiting locations around Dublin 7 where it will be holding mini festivals in several locations. 

On Halloween night in Smithfield Square there will be some ‘fangastic’ activities including a 300ft zip line and a daunting Giant Climbing Wall. 

The House of The Damned Scare Tent and Night Creatures Parade are being organised by local youth organisations and there will be a Halloween Town special area for families with younger kids featuring magic shows, puppet theatre, circus acts and more.

The main stage will feature local talent, SingStar finals, dancers, drummers, DJs and special guest rap outfit Temper-Mental Miss-Elayneous and DJ FunkTom. 

The event will kick off at 4.30pm with an incredible 54-piece Brass and Chottlebotzer all the way from Switzerland.

The Phantom of the Flats is taking place in the playing grounds at Dorset Street flats in Dublin 1 and will feature deadly activities including Big Screen FIFA and Just Dance tournaments, fancy dress, live acts, DJ, circus performers, craft workshops and a giant bouncy castle.

The annual Finglas Fright Night Festival takes place at the Civic Centre, Mellows Road, on Halloween night from 6pm to 9pm. This year the ghoulish entertainment will include a Path of Misery, Colm Dawson’s Magic Show, a fancy dress competition and fairground attractions.