Belfast One Halloween Takeover

Belfast One is taking over the city centre for Halloween this year, with activities running from 26 to 31 October. The main thing is the Monster Takeover, which sees nine monsters roaming the streets throughout the period. Last year's additions — Nosey Parker, Groaner and the Bezerker — are back, alongside the old favourites Mr Snappy, Slime Monster, Goofy Eyes and Grim Fingers. If you're out and about in the centre, there's a good chance you'll bump into one of them.

There's a lot more to it than just the monsters, though. At City Hall, the Belfast One Pumpkin Patch runs on 30 and 31 October, with 1,000 pumpkins on display. Over at 2 Royal Avenue, there's a whole day's worth of stuff for families: pumpkin decorating workshops, immersive storytelling, a monster mask craft workshop, face painting, a spooky disco and a visit from Almost Home Animal Rescue NI. If you're taking the kids out over half-term, that's the place to be.

And for those who prefer their Halloween a bit more adult, there's a new Horror Trail on Saturday 31 October. It's a separate thing from the family activities, so you can pick your own poison depending on who you're heading out with.

The whole thing is supported by funding from Belfast City Council, and the city centre will be decorated from Joys Entry to Margot. Belfast One BID chief executive Martina Connolly describes it as the organisation's biggest year of Halloween activities yet, with the wider programme designed to draw people into the centre over half-term, with something for families, students and the night-out crowd. The Monster Takeover runs from 26 to 31 October, the Pumpkin Patch at City Hall on 30 and 31 October, and the Horror Trail on Saturday 31 October.