28/10/2003

Belfast braced for Hallowe’en ‘spooktacular’

Belfast is preparing to ‘vamp it up’ for a Hallowe’en 'spooktacular' on the evening of Friday, October 31.

Belfast's City Hall will provide the centrepiece for a fang-tastic pyrotechnics display on All Hallow’s Eve, when witches and warlocks, pixies and daemons, ghosts and ghouls of all shapes and sizes once again come out to play on their favourite night of the year.

The display will mark the culmination of a week of activities, organized by Belfast City Council, in association with Citybus, to celebrate the festival of Hallowe’en 2003.

There are scary storytelling sessions and terrifying tours of some very haunted places, including the City’s graveyards. There also are some very spooky goings-on in the corridors of the City Hall, with fearless souls offered an opportunity to explore the building’s supernatural past.

On All Hallow’s Eve itself, the fun begins at 7pm, with live music from D-Side and Rhythm City on stage in Donegall Square North. The main display will then follow at around 8pm, with a pyrotechnics and lights display from the roof of the City Hall. There also will be prizes for the best fancy dress and street entertainers wandering among the crowd – and a few other surprises in store, as well.

Citybus services will operate as per the published timetable; however, due to the fact that Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, and Donegall Place will be closed to through traffic from 6.30pm, alternative drop off and pick up points have been arranged for buses which normally operate from Donegall Square East and Donegall Square West. Passengers are advised to telephone the call centre on 028 9066 6630 or visit www.translink.co.uk for more information.

Due to the firing of rockets from the Courtyard of the City Hall, Bedford Street, Linenhall Street and Adelaide Street also will be completely closed, between their respective junctions with Franklin Street and Donegall Square South, for the duration of the display. Donegall Square South also will be closed to both pedestrians and through traffic at this time.

Further information on Belfast’s Hallowe’en celebrations is available from the Belfast Welcome Centre on (028) 9024 6609

Information on traffic disruptions can be obtained from the Traffic Information and Control Centre on 08457 123321, or via www.trafficwatchni.com.

(SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

02 May 2003
Marathon organisers warn of traffic disruption
Organisers of this year's 22nd Belfast City Marathon are warning motorists of the expected traffic disruption throughout most of Bank Holiday Monday. Disruption can be expected along the routes of both the main Belfast City Marathon and the associated Fun Run which begins at City Hall.
24 October 2008
Parade Protest Permitted
The organisers of a high profile city centre protest have been urged to think again - and are facing criticism from both the DUP and a west Belfast-based paper.
17 January 2013
Belfast City Centre Works Announced
Motorists who use Belfast city centre could be in line for delays at the end of January, following the approval of the next phase of roadworks. Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that the next phase of the Belfast on the Move works will begin on 28 January.
10 December 2013
Bomb Scare In Belfast City Centre 'A Hoax'
A bomb scare beside Belfast City Hall this morning that led to the closure of streets in the city centre has been declared a hoax by police. Army bomb experts were sent to Donegall Square West this morning. Upper Queen Street and Donegall Square West were closed to traffic and pedestrians. Wellington Street was also closed to pedestrians.
01 March 2024
Belfast Region City Deal Investment Creates 'Significant Opportunities'
Belfast City Council has hosted an event for business leaders to learn more about the opportunities being created by the Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment – and how they can connect to, and benefit from them.