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Halloween in Newry has been a subdued affair in recent years but the good people at Newry Business Improvement District (BID) are determined to change all that and work towards putting Newry firmly on the map once again for the spooky season.
Kicking off this year from Saturday 26 October to Saturday 1 November, Newry city will host a packed week of Halloween festivities with the appropriately titled 'Spooks in the City'. Newry BID has lined up a full programme of family-friendly activities, shopping events and nightlife entertainment to mark the spooky season.
The week-long celebration will feature storytelling sessions in Newry Library, a pumpkin trail winding through local shops, live music from Ceev, and Ghost Tours alongside spooky street theatre courtesy of the Newpoint Players. Families can get involved with an inclusive sing and sign spooky style, facepainting and a children's disco at Buttercrane, whilst the BID costumed 'Spook Squad' will be roaming the streets dishing out sweets and vouchers to shoppers.
Newry's Largest Fancy Dress Competition
Bars across Newry are pulling out all the stops for what's being billed as the city's largest ever fancy dress competition on Saturday 26 October. Anyone dressed up can head to any of the participating bars from 9pm for a chance to win. Each venue will have its own prizes, with winners going through as finalists for Newry BID's Best Fancy Dress title. The venues will photograph their winners, and the BID's Facebook followers will then vote for their favourite to claim a £250 voucher prize package.
There's plenty more on offer throughout the week, including a prize for Best Dressed at Newry Parkrun on Saturday 25 October and a Best Dressed Owner Dog Walk on Friday 31 October at 10am, raising funds for the USPCA.
Local businesses are also being encouraged to enter a Halloween Window Dressing Competition, whilst Newry Twilight Market makes a return from 5pm to 10pm on Friday 31 October with spooky entertainment for all the family, brought by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID Manager, said: "Halloween is always a popular time in Newry and this year's 'Spooks in the City' will bring fun for all ages. We are delighted to work with local businesses, performers and partners to create a safe, lively atmosphere in the city centre. From families enjoying the pumpkin trail to people heading into town for a night out, there will be something for everyone."
The full 'Spooks in the City' programme is being promoted across Newry BID's social media channels and on newry.com in the lead-up to Halloween, with organisers hoping the week of events will bring back the buzz to the city centre throughout the spooky season.
