Derry Halloween – the best place for Halloween in the world

When you first think of the best places for Halloween you don’t automatically think of Halloween in Derry Ireland do you? You usually think of Salem in Massachusetts, Eerie in Indiana or indeed the home of Dracula himself Transylvania. But in 2015 Derry in Ireland was voted as the number one Halloween destination in the world by USA Today and is one of the reasons to visit Derry over the Halloween celebrations.

Where did Halloween originate?

The Irish basically invented Halloween, right? The origins of Halloween can be found in the celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts believed that the passage of a day began with darkness and progressed into light. The 1st of November, Samhain (in Irish), was the celtic New Year. The celebrations began at sunset the evening before All Saints Day which is why we now traditionally celebrate Halloween on October 31st.

For Celts, Samhain was a spiritual time. It was a time when the boundaries between this world and the otherworld were less stable and banshees, fairies, and other spirits could come and go freely. What has now become the festival of Halloween is celebrated throughout Ireland, but you simply must experience a Derry Halloween. It is one of a kind!

Derry Halloween, Europe’s Biggest Halloween Festival

There is no better place in the world to celebrate Halloween other than Derry. A festivity originating in Ireland, Derry has well and truly brought Halloween home and established itself as one of the best Halloween destinations in the world, according to USA Today, making it the number one destination for Halloween in the world!

The Halloween festival in Derry had humble beginnings over 32 years ago. A local pub, held a fancy dress party every Halloween. One year during the Troubles there was a bomb scare and, instead of all going home like they were advised to do, the people of Derry took the party to the streets to party. Halloween told hold in Derry like nowhere else in the world.

The festival slowly grew over the years to what it is now, a week of events leading up to the big finale of Halloween night. That festival is now known as Derry Halloween and it is one of the best places for Halloween in the world. Derry Halloween has become one of the world’s leading Halloween and Samhain celebrations. The celebrations draw on Derry’s rich mythical, creative, and cultural history. Who needs Romania or Dracula’s castle when you can celebrate the festivities in the place where Halloween originated?     

What is on during Derry Halloween festival 

Derry Halloween – The Awakening of the walls 

For the three nights leading up to Halloween, locals party with the supernatural, to banish the dark on an illuminated animation trail throughout the historic city walls. Here you will find plays, ghost stories, fires, illuminations, acrobats and storytellers around the mile-long circuit of Derry’s historic city walls.             

Discover frights and delights along the way, as the weird and wonderful come out to play. A haunting experience as the ancient spirits return and pass through our realm!

Le Bal des Luminéoles at Derry Halloween

Illuminated floating creations from the French arts company Porté Par le Vent, could be seen dancing above St Columbs Cathedral on the city walls during the Derry Halloween festival in 2019. The ghostly creations allow you to use your imagination to transport yourself into a dreamlike and poetic dimension. While there is no guarantee that they will return every year, no doubt they will be replaced by something equally spooktacular.

Derry Halloween – Museum of the moon 

The historic Guildhall was the setting for Luke Jerram’s museum of the moon. A huge, large scale model of this heavenly body sat in the centre of the main hall, lighting up the wood panelling and stained glass windows surrounding it. A relaxing soundtrack picked specifically by the artist ensured that this was the most magical experience.     

Derry Halloween – Jack O’Lantern Festival

The festivities at Derry Halloween are family-friendly and everyone can enjoy pumpkin carving and indeed, the original Irish Jack O’Lantern “pumpkin”, turnip carving workshops during the Halloween festival in Derry.

Originally carved from turnips or beets, Jack O’ Lanterns are said to represent either spirits or supernatural beings and are traditionally used to ward off evil spirits. When large numbers of Irish and Scottish emigrants arrived in America in the early 1800s, they brought their Halloween traditions, including the carving of a turnip as the Jack O’ Lantern. And so began the American tradition of carving pumpkins at Halloween.

Add to this ghost tours, story-telling, Monster funfair, Little Horrors and the haunted Harvest Market you can easily see why Derry was voted the best Halloween destination in the world!

Derry Halloween – Spark! Drummers

Spark! is a group of ghostly drummers that put on a magical live theatre show during theDerry Halloween celebrations. It is a spectacular and captivating show that combines high energy drumming, movement, light and exciting choreography. It is definitely one part of Derry Halloween not to be missed.

 Derry Halloween Parade and fireworks display 

The grand finale is without a doubt the Halloween parade making Derry Halloween one of the best places for Halloween in the world. Over a 100,000 people descend on Derry, most in extravagant costumes, to witness this special event.

As the division between this world and the other world is at its thinnest and supernatural beings and the souls of the dead flood the city, it is the perfect time to let your imagination run wild. The parade finishes with the most spectacular fireworks display as the sky alights with colour over the River Foyle.

*Always confirm dates and times at Derry Halloween official annual programme. Every year brings a new theme to enjoy*

Why you should visit Derry Northern Ireland

There is no doubt that Derry has a troubled past and a history of conflict and while it will always remain a strong part of its identity, there is much more to learn about this beautiful walled city.  Derry is beautiful during autumn in Ireland and it is the perfect time of year to plan a visit.     

The first thing that hits you about Derry is the warmth of the people. There is such a strong sense of community here and family means everything. Everybody knows everybody, but in a good way. Derry is a testament to what positive community relations can do for a place that has such a troubled history.

Things have changed at such a rapid pace in Derry and it has grown into a city that symbolises hope and is not afraid to be a voice for all injustices throughout the world. In fact, local artists often paint murals over the famous “You are now entering Free Derry” mural to show support and a sense of hope to other causes or areas of conflict.  

A great way to explore all the best that Derry has to offer is with a Derry City Pass which gives you access to 10 of the best attractions in Derry.

Is it Derry or Londonderry?

Derry or Londonderry has been known by many names. Derry, Londonderry, Stroke City, Doire or, the local’s favourite, Legenderry have all been used. This can be very confusing for tourists. Londonderry is the official legal name of the city, but you certainly won’t get into any trouble by using its other synonyms throughout the city.      

UK City of Culture

Derry might not be as popular as Belfast or the Giants Causeway, but it certainly shouldn’t be overlooked on a visit to Northern Ireland. Although smaller than Belfast, Derry is rich in history, culture and possesses bucket-loads of charm. There is a reason that it was named the first UK City of Culture in 2013.

There is so much to see and do in the city that it is appropriately nicknamed ‘Legenderry’ and it is a food lovers paradise! A city that combines quaint Georgian architecture and a vibrant cultural scene, it is just calling out to be discovered. In my opinion, Derry is Northern Ireland’s hidden gem.             

The best things to do in Derry even if it is not Halloween

Walk Derry’s City Walls 

Derry is the only city in Ireland that can claim the title of being Ireland’s last remaining completely walled city. Originally built in 1614 and finished in 1618 the city has celebrated 400 years since the completion of these historic walls.

The walls form a historic walkway of 1.5km around the city and offer the most breathtaking views over the surrounding area, especially at Halloween when these historic walls become home to all sorts of ghostly ghouls. This walkway provides a unique promenade to view the original layout of the city which still retains its Renaissance Style-street plan to this day. Original canons that took part in two 17th century sieges can be found dotted along the way.

Along the walls are also the four original gates of the city – Bishop’s Gate, Shipquay Gate, Ferryquay Gate and Butcher Gate. Three additional gates, Castle Gate, New Gate and Magazine Gate. were added in the 1800’s.  

During the troubles the walls segregated the Protestant and Catholic communities. The walls earned their immortal place in Irish history through the defiance of Derry’s Protestant Apprentice Boys, whose slamming of the gates in the face of an approaching Catholic army made the Walls of Derry an iconic emblem of Loyalism and Unionism.

Having been closed to the public for decades, mainly due to them being an ideal vantage point for snipers and the odd stone-thrower, the peace process has allowed the city walls to become Derry’s most visited attraction. 

The best way to visit the walls is by guided tour. Martin McCrossan Guided Tours are highly recommended and you will not meet a tour guide more passionate about his beloved city than Garvin. He even reduced us to tears at one point with his ability to tell heartwarming stories about the walls’ troubled past. Taking a stroll into Irish history was certainly a highlight of our visit to Derry.       

Visit Derry’s Guildhall 

The Guildhall is one of Derry’s most recognisable landmarks. Overlooking the River Foyle, it now houses the Mayor’s parlour and the Council Chambers. It is an impressive building both inside and out with beautiful stained windows and large doorways. It is open daily with free entry and a permanent exhibition on the Plantation of Ulster can be found here.         

The Museum of Free Derry 

Visiting the Museum of Free Derry is a sobering experience. The museum is run mostly by relatives of those who lost their lives in the horrific events that took place on Bloody Sunday and each have a personal story to tell. Our guide told the story of his grandfather Patrick Doherty who was shot in the back while crawling on his hands and knees to try to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, during, what had begun as, a peaceful civil rights march.

Patrick was 31, had 6 children and was unarmed. He was shot by Soldier F, an alphabet soldier who was given anonymity to protect him. It later transpired that soldier F shot 8 of the 14 victims that day at close range with high velocity 7.62 calibre bullets that could kill targets up to 1km away. None of the victims were armed or posed a threat to the British Army. The families of the victims finally got justice in June 2015 and this museum is an emotional journey through this turbulent time.             

Walk the Peace Bridge 

If the walls of the city are a symbol of past segregation, the peace bridge is a wonderful symbol of unity. Spanning the River Foyle, the Peace Bridge quite literally bridges the gap between the largely-Protestant community living on the waterside and the largely-Catholic community living on the city side. The Bridge is built in an ‘S’ shape to signify that the path to peace rarely runs smoothly.

At first there was worry that nobody would use the bridge – why would you want to visit the ‘other side’? – but these fears were proven wrong which, again, is testimony to the positive attitude of both communities.  The bridge stretches from Guildhall Square to the recently regenerated Ebrington Square which was the site of the British Army Barracks until 2002. This area of Derry has some amazing restaurants, so it is well worth the walk across the bridge to enjoy them.

Go shopping in Derry Craft Village 

The hidden jewel in Derry City is most certainly Derry Craft Village. Like something straight out of a Dickens’ novel, it is a cultural oasis in the heart of a vibrant city.

A reconstruction of an 18th Century Street and 19th Century Square, the Craft Village provides an eclectic mix of artisan craft shops, balconied apartments, licensed restaurant and coffee shops.  It is the perfect place to pick up a gift or a souvenir. 

Enjoy a Derry Girls Tour and Afternoon Tea

With the popularity of the show Derry Girls on Netflix you should take the opportunity to become a bone fide Derry Girl and explore all of the best filming locations on a Derry Girls Tour. On the tour you will enjoy great banter and that famous Irish craic with lots of fascinating facts about the series while also hearing about what life was like living on the Bogside during the troubles all told by a local guide. Afterwards enjoy a Derry Girls Afternoon Tea complete with sausage roll baps, Tayto sandwiches and a cone of chips in real Derry Girls style. The Everglades Hotel is the ideal location to enjoy your Derry Girls Afternoon Tea.

Where to stay in Derry

I stayed in Bishop’s Gate Hotel during my stay in Derry. I was there as a guest of Visit Derry so my stay was complimentary. Bishop’s Gate Hotel is a grade B1 listed building and it is perfectly positioned within the historic city walls in the heart of Derry City’s Cathedral Quarter.

Check out my full guide on unique places to stay in Northern Ireland.

In 1880 the Northern Counties Club was formed in the city by members of the local gentry who had served during the Crimean War. Originally meeting in No. 3 St. Columb’s Court the popularity of the club meant that they required a larger premises and so at the end of the 19th Century the present building, which at the time was used as 2 private residential buildings, was acquired for £1200.

Throughout the years of use by the Northern Counties Club there have been many famous visitors – including Winston Churchill, W.B. Yeats, Field Marshalls Montgomery and Alexander and artist Derek Hill. The hotel has since been considerately restored and it felt incredible to stay in a place with such history. Food in the hotel was basic but good and the bed was extremely comfortable. My room faced the main street and there was a little street noise but then again I was there on one of the busiest nights of the year. Everyone was in party mode, myself included.

Rooms range from €112 for a basic to approximately €202 for a junior suite and they also have self catering apartments available. If you are really in the Halloween spirit you could also try doing some ghost hunting by staying in one of the alleged Haunted Hotels of Ireland.

For some real luxury you could also unwind in Galgorm Golf and Spa resort or for even more unique accommodation in Derry why not stay in the romantic treehouse Burrenmore Nest.

Tourism in Derry is growing. Thirty years ago it would be so rare to see a tourist that it would be the talk of the town. Tourists are not such a rare sight these days.

Derry still often gets overlooked in favour of Belfast and in my opinion has just as much, if not more, to offer than the capital of the North. But come Halloween, Derry leaves Belfast truly in the shade as thousands of tourists come from far and wide to what is the biggest Halloween party around. With Brexit there have been some rumblings of the troubles raising their ugly head again with a recent car bomb and the shooting of journalist Lyra McKee, so if you are planning a trip here do some recent research before you go. At the time of our visit we felt extremely safe to be there.

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Until next time you crazy kids!

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