Council issues advice ahead of Derry Halloween celebrations
24 October 2023
With just a week to go until Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival, people are being asked to check out the traffic and travel information ahead of their visit to ensure they avoid any unnecessary delays or diversions.
With over 100,000 visitors expected to share in the celebrations over the course of the four day festival, running from October 28th – 31st, a range of measures will be introduced to keep everything running smoothly for everyone. These include road closures, parking restrictions and some diversions, so it’s best to plan ahead to ensure motorists have easy access to all the events.
These arrangements will also ensure the safe delivery of the event, and everyone is being asked to follow the directions of stewards and police.
Motorists are advised to expect some delays and diversions in the City Centre during the four nights of the event. From Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th, and Monday October 30th City Centre Road Closures will operate from 2pm until 10pm in the following areas. All times are approximate, but road closures and diversions will be kept to the minimum length necessary to ensure safety.
Road Closures:
Bank Place, Union Hall Street, Magazine Street, Magazine Street Upper, Butcher Street, Shipquay Street, Ferryquay Street, Bishop Street within, Palace Street, Pump Street, The Diamond, London Street, Pump Street, Artillery Street, Fountain Street. No City Centre on-street parking with exception of Shipquay Street until 11am.
Car Park Closures 28th October – 1st November:
• Bishop Street Car Park will close to general parking to accommodate motorhome parking
• Foyle Street Carpark
• Ebrington Car Park is currently closed to facilitate the Cullens Amusements and will remain closed until November 7th
Saturday October 28th, Sunday 29th and Monday 30th
• Society Street Car Park
• Victoria Market Car Park (accessible only Car parking)
Tuesday October 31st
• Queens Quay and Strand Road Car Park will be closed on the 31st October.
• Strand Road Car Park will offer accessible parking only
Car Parking availability
Drivers are reminded that normal on street parking restrictions will be in place and people should avoid parking anywhere they may be blocking entrances to residences or businesses or where they may be obstructing emergency access.
Parking is available at a number of locations throughout the City:
Cityside carparks – there will be extended opening hours at Foyleside Shopping Centre Car Park East, Foyleside West and Quayside Shopping Centre, please check online for timings.
Foyle Road, Magee Campus (Lawrence Hill), Carlisle Road and William Street.
Waterside car parks - Oakgrove School, Foyle Arena, Spencer Road and Former Waterside Health Centre Car Parks.
From October 28-30 the Council Car Park on Strand Road will be open to the public.
Fort George Car Park will be open on October 31st only for event car parking.
Victoria Market will be an accessible car park only from 28th - 30th October and will operate on a first come, first served basis. The Car Park will operate as usual on October 31st.
Strand Road Car Park will offer accessible parking only on the 31st October, also on an first come, first served basis
Halloween night itself will see the welcome return of the annual Carnival Parade which leaves the Council Car Park at 7pm. The parade is followed by a dazzling drone display at 8.15pm, followed by the Halloween Fireworks Finale at 8.30pm.
Viewing for the drone display, the first to be held in N. Ireland, is best from the Harbour Square Roundabout to Queen’s Quay roundabout. There will be no visibility from the Waterside. The fireworks can be viewed from the Harbour Square Roundabout right down to the Fort George Science Park.
Please note that in the interests of health and safety, the Peace Bridge will be closed from 7pm on Tuesday October 31st in advance of the display, reopening at 8.45pm.
A quiet space will be available in the Guildhall each day from 12noon – 9pm (10pm 31st), and parents and carers can also pick up ID Me safety wrist bands at the Guildhall information point.
For anyone with accessibility requirements, a full guide to available support is available here - https://derryhalloween.com/about/accessibility/
Translink will run additional services to the city centre throughout the event. For information on Translink bus and rail services to and from the city go to https://www.translink.co.uk/
Festival and Events Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, said it was important for people to check out the latest event information online. "We are expecting huge crowds for this year's festivities so I want to appeal to people to prepare in advance so they can get the most from their visit. Regular updates will be posted on the Derry Halloween and Council social media platforms.
"If possible we would advise using public transport to avoid the hassle of parking – we do have lots of public car parking but with the anticipated crowds a space isn't guaranteed. I would recommend downloading our Derry Halloween app – this will give you the lowdown on all that's going on and all the information you need to plan your journey.
"I would appeal to everyone to please follow the guidance of our stewards and the PSNI – they are there to keep the event running smoothly and everyone safe. We are so looking forward to the event this year but we need everyone to play their part and help us deliver a safe and enjoyable celebration."
Derry Halloween is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism Northern Ireland, BT and The Executive Office.
You can find all the details about traffic and travel and the full programme on derryhalloween.com