Newry, Mourne and Down gets into the fright with packed Halloween programme!

Residents will have their pick of spooktacular Halloween events happening in all corners of our newly designated UNESCO Geopark, organised by both the Council and local community organisations.

The hottest event of the season, Footsteps in the Forest in Slieve Gullion Forest Park, is now fully booked. Every year it provides the perfect opportunity to experience the park's hauntingly beautiful landscape while enjoying some festive Halloween fun. Visitors will go along a self-guided, illuminated trail that will take them on a journey tracing the origins of Samhain to modern day Halloween.  Themystical experience will be held each evening between Wednesday 25 – Saturday 30 October, enthralling and capturing the imaginations of all ages.

Halloween in Newry on 27 October promises to be a spine-tingling affair and will see the city’s streets come to life (or death) with a Halloween Twilight event at Newry Variety Market and a family-friendly street carnival on Marcus Square.

Also, in Newry on Saturday 28 October, little crafters can take part in Halloween craft sessions in Newry and Mourne Museum, allowing them to unleash their wild and wicked imaginations to create ghostly arts and crafts in celebration of the scariest time of the year. Then on Tuesday 31 October, why not join renowned storyteller Eamonn Keenan for his ghostly storytelling sessions as he weaves tales of strange goings on, witches, ghosts, all sorts of fairy folk and maybe a few surprises too.

Fright Fest will take place in Warrenpoint between Saturday 28 – Tuesday 31 October.  A number of different events are taking place including a roller disco, Nerf Wars and a Seniors’ Tea Dance.  However, a glittering fireworks display at 7.30pm over Carlingford Lough on Halloween night, will be a wonderful finale to the festival.

Hilltown’s Thrilltown Festival from Saturday 28 – Wednesday 1 November, includes sports camps, a rollerskate disco, a spooky family movie and a Halloween fun day on Tuesday 31 October followed by fancy dress and fireworks display at 8.30pm.

Anyone looking for a scary seaside adventure should make their way to Newcastle for Halloween Scream on Sunday 29 October. There will be a Halloween market, live entertainment in the town square, a community street parade and of course the annual fireworks display at 8pm.

On Halloween night entertainment will kick off in Market Square in Ballynahinch from 6pm with a fun fair, kids craft, a disco, street entertainment and lots more.

Also on Tuesday 31 October, Spooktastic Downpatrick will take place in venues and outdoor spaces across the town. You can dial up or dial down the scary with activities such as arts and crafts, bonfires, storytelling, a spooky trail and a fancy dress parade. For those that really like to feel the fear, there will be a free family friendly ghost tour, ‘Return of High Sheriff Ward’, departing from Down County Museum, taking you on a journey to locations of true horror stories from Downpatrick's long dark past. Make sure to return in time for the annual Halloween fireworks display at 7.45pm.

Little ones and big ones too can find something to make them jump with fright this Halloween in Newry, Mourne and Down. To find a full list of all that’s happening make sure to check out ‘Halloween’ on the Visit Mourne page: www.visitmournes.co.uk