‘Take care and have a safe and happy Halloween’ – Mayor
24 October 2023
Derry’s world famous Halloween Festival is set to take over the city from Saturday, and with over 100,000 visitors expected this year, the Mayor of Derry and Strabane is appealing to everyone to do all they can to ensure it’s a safe and happy celebration.
The events take place this year over four days, from Saturday October 28th – Tuesday October 31st, beginning on Saturday with a whole host of family friendly activity and entertainment including The Awakening the Walled City Trail. Over the weekend the City and District will be buzzing with ghastly ghost tours, creepy arts and crafts, spooky story-telling and horrific haunted houses, all building up to the festival finale events taking place on Tuesday October 31st. Up to 40,000 people are expected to throng the streets to enjoy the traditional Carnival Parade, drone display and fireworks on Halloween night.
Looking ahead to the event, the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Patricia Logue, appealed to everyone to be aware of the risks and ensure they follow the Carnival Care guidance to keep everyone safe.
“Safety is the first priority in the delivery of all Council events, but we really need the cooperation of the public to ensure that this is an enjoyable festive experience for everyone. We expect large crowds to arrive here for the celebrations over the course of the weekend, so a number of measures have been introduced to manage traffic and parking. I would ask people to please check out the traffic and travel information being issued over the coming days, to follow all signage and to co-operate fully with the PSNI and stewards who will be there to ensure your safety. We all have a responsibility to safeguard those around us and to make sure our behaviour doesn’t put others at risk.”
Parents are being advised to be extra vigilant when it comes to keeping an eye on children and young people throughout the festival. Halloween Festival Co-Ordinator, Orlaith Meenan, issued some important advice. "It’s a good idea to plan ahead and arrange meeting points if you are out in a group, as there will be so many people out on the streets,” she stressed. “Parents can avail of the ‘ID Me’ wristbands to ensure young children have contact information on them at all times should they become separated. Please ensure teenagers have transport home if out with friends, and that mobile phones are charged. I would also warn anyone consuming alcohol, to do so responsibly and be aware of the risks of over indulgence. Translink will have additional services operating over the weekend and especially on Halloween night to ensure people get home safely.
“If we all just do our bit and follow the advice, then this will be a fabulous festival for everyone."
Derry Halloween is delivered by Derry and City Strabane District Council, and the Festival and Events team there works closely with a wide range of community and statutory agencies behind the scenes to ensure that the event runs smoothly. These include the PSNI and the Western Health and Social Care Trust, who have staff on hand to assist throughout the festival.
Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) Consultant in Emergency Care and Medicine, Dr Ian Crawford, has appealed for people to be safe this Halloween as hospitals are under severe pressure at this time. Dr Crawford, said: "Halloween is traditionally an extremely busy time of the year for all the emergency services, particularly for Western Trust staff.
“This year with the challenges faced by health care workers across the Western Trust area we are urging the public to stay safe this Halloween so as to avoid having to attend our Emergency Departments.
“If people are using fireworks as part of the Halloween festivities I would hope that they can enjoy them safely. It is important to remind people of how dangerous sparklers can be and that they are extremely hot for some time after the sparkler has gone out and can cause serious burns.
“We would also ask parents and adults to be extra vigilant and prevent underage alcohol or drug abuse to prevent any activities contributing to likely injury. For young people, drinking alcohol is harmful as your body is still developing. Binge drinking makes you ill and damages your health, increasing risk of accidents and assaults.
“We hope that the festivities are enjoyable for all involved. Please stay safe and do all you can to prevent unnecessary admissions to our hospitals.”
Speaking on behalf of the PSNI, Derry City & Strabane Chief Inspector, Yvonne McManus, said: “We want everyone to stay safe this Halloween and have a fun, enjoyable night and, for those using fireworks, to do so legally and safely. We need everyone to be considerate and mindful of others when it comes to celebrating Halloween. Remember, what might seem like harmless fun to some, may actually feel like anti-social behaviour to others. “Our officers will be out and about to deter anti-social behaviour as well as engage with and support local communities. If you have any concerns about antisocial behaviour in your community, you can contact us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”
A number of measures have been put in place to ensure the festivities are safe and accessible for everyone. Parents should note that there are alcohol free zones throughout the Derry city centre and Strabane town. Stewards and PSNI officers will be on duty to provide information and assistance over the weekend with police monitoring and seizing alcohol from anyone under the age of 18. Youth Services teams will also provide support to young people as needed in the city centre and in community areas.
Council's Licensing and Health and Safety teams will be liaising with a range of businesses and licensed premises as part of their ongoing work, reminding them of their responsibilities in the run up to Halloween, while Council's Community Safety Wardens will also be working throughout the wider area providing advice and assistance to anyone that they perceive to be in need. This will include directing people who need to get home or to accommodation or advise on local transportation provision.
When buying fireworks, only buy from a licensed retailer and please note that costumes clearly intended for use by children, must carry the necessary labelling and important CE mark and must comply with the relevant Toys Safety Regulations.
Please be aware of the potential dangers of children wearing fancy dress costumes, either shop bought or home-made, if they're around fireworks, sparklers, or open flames (such as pumpkins with candles). Businesses supplying costumes and accessories either for children or for adults, are reminded that the onus is on them to take appropriate steps to ensure they are compliant with the relevant product safety regulations. Consumer Protection officers will be liaising with retailers regarding their product safety responsibilities as part of ongoing work.
Traffic and Travel information detailing all road closures and traffic restrictions is available at www.derryhalloween.com.
For more information on how to stay safe visit – www.derrystrabane.com/care
Derry Halloween is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism Northern Ireland, BT and The Executive Office.