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Visit Mourne’s final Giant Adventure for 2022 - ‘Footsteps in the Forest’ - will take place in Slieve Gullion Forest Park from Thursday 27 to Monday 31 October and tickets go live on the booking website this Friday.
This immersive Halloween experience will celebrate the Gaelic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Directed by writer, performer and Newry native, Rozlyn Sheridan, visitors will journey into the ‘otherworld’ to experience the Celtic origins of Halloween.
Costumed characters will guide you along the `Winter’s Return` trail as you try not to waken Slieve Gullion’s sleeping giant. Along the shadowy path look out for the Púca, Jack O Lantern and the famous witch, Calliagh Berra who legend has it tricked Fionn mac Cumhaill into jumping into the lake to find her gold ring, for him to return as a withered old man. As well as spooky characters there will be spectacular illuminations, mythical storytelling and a host of tasks for children to complete along the way.
Speaking about the event, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “Every year Footsteps in the Forest manages to celebrate, educate entertain and draw attention to the myths, legends, landscape and traditions of this ancient place in a fresh and innovative way. With a new Halloween theme, Slieve Gullion will once again provide the perfect location for Visit Mourne’s final Giant Adventure of 2022, using the forest, the twilight and a blend of visuals, sound and technology to deliver an imagined world.”
Chairperson, Cllr Savage continued, “In addition to Footsteps in the Forest, there will be plenty of other scary, fun and spooky events across the destination over the Halloween and midterm break. Events such as these provide recreation and leisure opportunities for residents and brings visitors and new spending to Newry, Mourne and Down. They also help to enhance the profile of our towns, villages and parks and I am delighted that people will have so many reasons to staycation here this autumn.”
Footsteps in the Forest will begin each evening at 5.30pm with an autism friendly trail, and run every hour until the last session, which starts at 8.30pm. There will also be an Irish language trail on one of the evenings. Hot drinks and snacks will be available to purchase from the Samhain Village at the event.
Visitors are politely reminded that this event is taking place in the evening at a forest park. As such, the 1.4km trail has uneven ground with a steep incline to start. Warm clothes and appropriate footwear are recommended.
There will be no parking at Slieve Gullion Forest Park during the event, with the exception of blue badge holders. Park and ride facilities will be in operation throughout the festival. Details on the park and ride will be available via the Visit Mourne website.
Footsteps in the Forest is a free event, but booking is essential. Tickets will go live this Friday 14 Oct at 10am on the Visit Mourne website: visitmournemountains.co.uk so please follow the Visit Mourne social media pages for reminders and updates - @VisitMourne. The Visit Mourne website also features information on accommodation, where to eat and things to do in Newry Mourne and Down – why not make a break of it!
