16 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 37
FARMFAMILY
FARMWEEK
OCTOBER 28 2021
37
Sink your teeth into
some frighteningly fun
activities this Halloween
A
S the darker evenings draw
in and autumn leaves begin
to fall, it is time to embrace
the spooky season and enjoy the wide
array of eerie entertainment on offer
for families across Northern Ireland this
Halloween.
For families with young children
looking for traditional Halloween fun,
there are plenty of Instagram worthy
pumpkin patches scattered through NI
where your little monsters can design
their own spooky jack-o’-lanterns or
n LONDONDERRY
ONE of Europe’s largest
Halloween parties is set to return
to Londonderry this year, as
the city gears up for a thrilling
extravaganza of outdoor events.
The ‘Awakening the Walled City’
programme, which runs over three
evenings from Friday, October
29, to Sunday, October 31, will
feature illuminations, animation
and installations across key
locations stretching beyond the
city’s historic walls, guaranteed to
bewitch and enthral.
Taking place over an extended
area this year to create a safe
and welcoming environment
for visitors, the celebrations
will spill over into four worlds,
in Londonderry, Strabane and
Donegal, each featuring a cast of
creepily curious characters here to
recapture the spirit of Samhain.
Prepare to be scared as the
apparitions of the underworld
return, with appearances by the
chilling Cailleach, the mischievous
shape-shifting goddess Morrígan,
the fearsome Red Branch Knight,
and, of course, Walter the Skeleton
from Derry’s own coat of arms.
Some of the other highlights
visitors can enjoy include a food
and drinks trail, tours in spooky
locations around the city, live
music, a fun fair and a fireworks
display over the River Foyle to cap
off the festival.
n JUNGLE NI, COUNTY
LONDONDERRY
SOME spectacularly spooky
activities await young kids
take part in fun seasonal games.
And for the older kids who are feeling
brave and fancy something a little
more spook-tacular, why not explore a
haunted woodland in search of ghostly
beings, or listen to spine-tingling tales
on a scary storytelling trail?
There is so much to choose from, but
fear not, as Discover Northern Ireland
has rounded up a list of fang-tastic
activities to sink your teeth into and
help you plan your perfect familyfocused Halloween adventure.
FIRE: Lighting up the streets of Londonderry in one of Europe’s largest
Halloween parties.
and their families at Jungle NI,
Magherafelt, this Halloween.
The popular ‘Hallowee’uns’ event
returns, filled with wicked, weird
and wonderful activities.
Little monsters can enjoy some
pumpkin picking and carving, a
haunting haycart ride with a wicked
witch who will tell spooky stories
along the way, and a mysterious
trek around the Maize Maze, among
a host of other adventure activities.
Prizes for the best costumes
are also up for grabs. This event
will run every day from Monday,
October 25, to Saturday, October
LEFT: The
popular
Pumpkin
Carving
Festival is
back at the
Fermanagh
Fun Farm.
30, from 11am -3pm.
n Hallowee’uns - The Jungle NI
n ANTRIM CASTLE GARDENS
EXPLORE haunted historic places
in the dark this Halloween, as you
take part in spine tingling walking
tours in the grounds of Antrim
Castle Gardens. Storytellers will
guide you on an eerie and bonechilling journey through the past,
with tales of ghosts, supernatural
sightings and horrors from history.
Tours are family friendly but
the provider recommends young
people taking part should be
aged 12 or over, however this is at
parent’s discretion.
To help chase away any shivers,
warming refreshments will be
available after your walk and a hot
drink is included in the ticket price.
n Events|What’s On – Antrim &
Newtownabbey Borough Council
(antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk)
n ULSTER AMERICAN FOLK
PARK, COUNTY TYRONE
ENJOY some ghoulish tales and
learn about some fascinating
folklore at the Ulster America Folk
LEFT: Some
spooky activities
for young children
at Jungle NI,
Magherafelt, this
Halloween.
Park’s Jack O’Lantern Halloween
Festival.
Meet the creepy characters like
the ship’s captain cleaning the
decks, and the last emigrants who
survived the arduous journey
across the Atlantic to the New
World of frontier America.
Have your fortune told, take part
in seasonal games, and taste some
apple tart, pumpkin pie or fresh
soda bread straight from the open
fire griddle.
n Jack O’Lantern Hallowe’en
Festival (nmni.com)
Don’t miss the chilling torchlit
tours. Visit the wake of ole Ma
MacMaster, the local fortune teller,
and hear her terrifying tales of evil
fairies and banshees.
n Hallowe’en Torchlit Tours: The
Curse of Johnny MacMaster (nmni.
com)
Visitors can also check out the
beautiful display of traditional
handmade dolls made from apples
and pieces of left over fabric, and
hear all about turnip lanterns
which would have been carved
in times gone by, long before
pumpkins.
n STREAMVALE FARM, COUNTY
DOWN
FAMILY fun for the little and big
kids! Come collect your mini
wheelbarrow and pick your very
own pumpkin, with thousands to
choose from.
Then let the experts design your
spooky lantern before you carve
it out.
Visitors can also enjoy barrel
and tractor rides, animal shows, a
Broomtastic disco and – if you are
feeling brave – follow the Spooky
Trail and meet real life characters.
n Halloween Pumpkin Patch –
Streamvale Open Farm
n FERMANAGH FUN FARM,
COUNTY FERMANAGH
THE popular Pumpkin Carving
Festival is back for another year.
This interactive experience
offers an array of fun activities for
all the family. Hop on board the
beautifully decorated ghost train,
which will take you out to the field
to choose your own pumpkin.
Bring it back to the carving
marquee and come up with your
own creative design.
Then its time to grab a treasure
map and seek out the ghosts that
lurk on the grounds.
Check out every dark corner of
the farm, if you dare, and you could
be in with a chance to win a great
prize.
And don’t forget to feed and pet
some of the farm animals before
you go.
n Book a visit – Fermanagh Fun
Farm
n CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL,
BELFAST
COME and explore the child
friendly Halloween tour around
Crumlin Road Gaol.
Encounter the friendly ghost and
ghouls telling stories of their time
at the gaol.
Followed by a search for the
perfect pumpkin at the outdoor
Pumpkin patch before bringing it to
the carving station to create a one
of a kind masterpiece.
n Pumpkin Patch and Halloween
Tour – Crumlin Road Gaol
Experience, Events, Weddings &
Venue Hire
n GALGORM FAIRY TRAIL &
HALLOWEEN, COUNTY ANTRIM
SITUATED on the grounds of
Galgorm Castle, adventure awaits
as the Fairy Trail is transformed
into a Halloween Spooktacular,
with ghosts and ghouls returning
to the woodland area surrounding
the castle.
Fun for everyone, this experience
is available for both daytime and
evening thrill seekers, booking
is essential as there is limited
availability.
n Galgorm Castle Fairy Trail |
Things to do Ballymena | Family
day out NI
n For more information on great
places to visit and for things to see
and do this Halloween, check out
www.discovernorthernireland.
com