Things to Do this Halloween in Northern Ireland

Dust off your broomsticks and capes, freaky faces and witches hats and see the National Trust property come alive with with story-telling, games and crafts accompanied by some strange characters from Halloween past.

Join Young at Art artists each afternoon 1-4pm in the build up to Halloween to create your own pumpkin design and guard away the ghouls.

Join Into Film Festival for a week-long Halloween themed filmmaking and animation programme where young people aged 8 - 14 will create their own short horror films, using techniques to take it from storyboard to screen.

From 5.30pm there will be spine-tingling interactive tours around the illuminated park while the ampitheatre hosts mind-bending magic shows every hour in addition to face-painting, arts and crafts and more.

Join Braid Film Theatre from 1.30pm for their Halloween special where big kids and little kids can get interactive while watching a spooky movie. Expect face painting, live music, displays and lots of fun.

Keep your little ghouls spooked and entertained with hair-raising Minecraft, STEM and digital fabrication fun from the Nerve Centre programme. Create costume accessories, grisly in-game characters and even slimy alien creatures.

Embark on the treacherous trick-or-treat trails, make your own mask or have your face painted while scary characters abound and live music fills the Kennedy Centre across Halloween weekend.

Dance with zombies, wander through the Banshee Forest our enjoy a host of Halloween crafts and activities in the Ghostly Arena. Places limited and booking essential.

Celebrate the 'Carnival Rock' theme of Belfast's Monster Mash this year by coming along to the free festivities in your scariest show-stopping rock outfit, or keep it traditional and enjoy the frightning line-up of entertainment.

This year's Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival follows hot on the heels of Derry's recent triumph in USA Today's Best Halloween Destination poll, so expect a truly world class display along the Strand Road from 7pm.