Sevenday fright fest in ballina
PREPARE for the fright of your life if you visit Ballina anytime between October 25 and November 1.
For the course of those seven days, the Halloween festival Samhain Abhainn offers an action-packed programme for all ages, including the town's first Frightfest at the Movies and Zombie 5k.
Returning for another year is the ghoulishly great Scary Woods Walk in the terrifying setting of Belleek Woods, while a ghost story and 'Mini Monsters' treasure hunt will also feature in a chillingly spectacular line-up.
The aim of the festival is to provide something for everyone to enjoy this Halloween, so whether you're looking for a spooky interactive tour of the dungeons of Belleek Castle, a big night out on the town in your finest costume, a Samba or creative writing workshop for the children, or a scary walk for all the family to relish, Ballina is the place to be.
For the week of the festival the town will be transformed into a land of magic, mystery and myth. In a celebration of all things spooky and scary, and heavily influenced by Irish traditions and customs, Samhain Abhainn looks set to be bigger and better this year, adding to its reputation as the west of Ireland's premier family festival.
There's something to entertain and frighten people of all ages, from the Creepy Hollow Kids Halloween party at the Twin Trees Hotel to the Over 55 Club Halloween dinner dance at the Kennedy Glasgow Centre.
The newly crowned Purple Flag town is buzzing and ready to go for week of terrifying fun, with all the shops and pubs competing to bring home the prize of best decorated shop front for their street. The atmosphere is building and as the scary flags fly high from Bridge Street to Pearse Street, there is plenty of fun and frightful events to keep everyone excited.
The Scary Woods Walk, sponsored by Ballina Beverages, is generating huge excitement as crowds are expected from near and far to experience the sheer terror mixed with shrieks of laughter in the expertly designed and spookily magnificent Belleek Woods, which have been transformed by Mayo Artsquad into an interactive installation of frights and fun.
This is a hugely impressive event for all the family to enjoy and certainly must not to be missed. As dusk turns to darkness the setting gets even scarier, with ghosts and ghouls coming out to invite you into their night-time world. It's not for the faint hearted though, so young children can enjoy the scary surprises of the woods during daylight hours throughout the week.
The perfect festival showcase and highlight of the week, the Scary Woods Walk will take place from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 28, 29 and 30.
Samhain Abhainn promises to be a festival for all, with arts, crafts, music, entertainment – and frights. See the festival website for the full official line-up of events.