Derry’s Ebrington Square to light up for Halloween
20 October 2023
Derry’s historic Ebrington Square will be transformed into a magical arena of fire and shadow next week, as it hosts ‘Rise – Ring of Fire’ as part of this year’s Derry Halloween programme.
It was confirmed today by Derry City and Strabane District Council that £25,000 of funding support has been allocated by The Executive Office.
Renowned performance group Luxe are set to deliver the stunning spectacle overlooking the River Foyle for three nights from Saturday October 28th – Monday October 30th. The show is an addition to the wider Awakening the Walled City Trail which runs over the three nights from 6pm – 9pm throughout the city centre.
Making the announcement today, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Patricia Logue, said she was delighted at the news.
“Halloween is our most internationally acclaimed festival, and it’s hugely important for the profile of the wider region as well as the local economy. We rely on a wide range of partners to ensure the quality of the event meets international standards, and I want to thank The Executive Office for their support in delivering this additional highlight which will really enhance the Halloween experience for our visitors.
“Ebrington is an iconic site which commands fabulous views over the Foyle, making it the perfect backdrop for a breathtaking night time performance, I am really looking forward to seeing what they bring to the festival.”
The Ebrington installation will create a world illuminated by inflatable Babel Towers, fire installations and a fiery procession of elegant illuminated processional sculptures brought to life by the company of international performers, which will light up the historic parade ground.
Head of Culture with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Aeidin McCarter, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have The Executive Office on board once again for this year’s Halloween festivities. Last year the Ebrington Elemental installation was one of the real highlights of our celebration and I know this year it will be just as spectacular. Luxe always bring some extra drama and ambience to the festivities, so we are thrilled to be able to announce that they will be bringing their carnival magic to the Awakening the Walled City Trail once again.”
Joan O’Hara, Director of Urban Villages and Infrastructure at The Executive Office, commented: “The city is renowned for its Halloween celebrations and the Department has supported this for a number of years. We are delighted that working in partnership with Council, we can again offer support which will see Ebrington play a part in the festivities.
“Ebrington Square is a shared space and animating the Square throughout the year with a range of events and activity, provided by charities, local people as well as larger scale event promoters, will be important as we look to develop the site for the years ahead. We will be consulting on this in the coming weeks and we look forward to developing a vibrant programme of animation and events on Ebrington Square which benefits local people, tenants and the city.”
Derry Halloween is being delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council, with support from Tourism Northern Ireland, BT and The Executive Office.
Find out more about the full Derry Halloween programme at derryhalloween.com