Samhain Abhainn – Ballina’s Halloween Festival is back, with ‘Huxopia’ – Huxley Horror’s newest macabre immersion experience
Ballina’s much-loved Halloween Festival, Samhain Abhainn returns for another year of scares, running from Friday 27th October to Wednesday 1st November 2017. As always, the festival offers a variety of great events for children, with terrifying treats for grown-ups too and is expected to attract thousands to the town over the course of the bank holiday weekend.
Huxley Horror, of Knockanstockan
The Fanta Scary Woods Walk, once again proudly supported by Ballina Beverages and run by Ballina Stephenites, takes place from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. The guided walk through the shadowy darkness of Belleek Woods – one of the largest urban woodlands in Europe – on the banks of the River Moy, harbours all kinds of creepy presences, designed to prey on the imagination of young and old alike. The event once again hosts the prestigious Galway-based arts collective, Huxley Horror, of Knockanstockan, Electric Picnic and Glastonbury fame, whose macabre installations in this year’s immersive show, ‘Huxopia’ – a post-apocalyptic dystopian tale of horror – will send shivers down the stiffest of spines.
Other events on this year’s Samhain Abhainn calendar include Spooky Scéals Storytelling and Halloween Hoot Owl Display with Mount Falcon’s Jason Deasy in the Jackie Clarke Collection, Halloween Craft Camps run by Ballina Costume Company, a Monster 5k Fun Run hosted by Moy Valley Athletic Club, pumpkin carving with local artist Alice Dixon, a dance camp by Ciara Ginty, whose Danceblast Troupe will also feature in the Scary Woods Walk, and a Halloween Disco in Tumble Jungle. Adults can also avail of a special screening of Stephen King’s ‘Christine’ in Ballina Arts Centre. This year, the programme also includes a daytime Scary Woods Walk from 2-4pm on Monday 30th October, designed as a more gentle experience for younger children.
Spooky Sceals --Jackie Clarke Collection
Samhain Abhainn Festival is run by Ballina Chamber, is proudly sponsored by Ballina Beverages ad supported by Failte Ireland, MayoNorth.ie and local businesses.
Ballina Chamber Manager, Mags Downey-Martin said: “We are so excited to announce our programme of events for this year’s ‘Samhain Abhainn’ Ballina Halloween Festival 2017. There is something for everybody at this year’s festival; every age, every taste has been catered for with even more emphasis on family events. Samhain Abhainn highlights the best that Ballina has to offer locals and visitors to the town this Halloween midterm break. And scariest of all, the ‘Scary Woods Walk’ running from 27th to 29th October welcomes back art collective group Huxley Horror, bringing more horror to Belleek Woods, and a taste of what the future holds for us humans.”
MayoNorth.ie Marketing Manager, Anne-Marie Flynn said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting the Samhain Abhainn festival in particular, the Scary Woods Walk which uses one of our fantastic local amenities to host a unique Halloween experience for our locals and visitors.”
Back in 100AD, the Celts marked the season of Halloween or ‘Samhain’, an old Irish word meaning the ‘end of summer’. Fast-forward 2000 years and Ballina continues to build on Irish history by celebrating ‘Samhain Abhainn’ – a summer’s-end festival on the banks of the River Moy. The festival is sponsored by Ballina Beverages, and supported by Failte Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way along with Ballina Chamber and MayoNorth.ie. Find out more by visiting Ballina.ie, MayoNorth.ie or following “Samhain Abhainn – Ballina’s Halloween Festival” on Facebook.
More information:
- Mags Downey Martin, Ballina Chamber and Tourist Office, tel 096 72800
- Elaine Tighe, Ballina Stephenites and Scary Woods Walk organiser: 087 759 716
Notes to Persons :
- The Scary Woods Walk will take place in Belleek Woods on Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October from 6.30pm to 8:30pm.
- Admission is €4 per person.
- A one-way traffic system will be in operation from Belleek Gate Lodge
- Children must be accompanied by an adult. The Scary Woods Walk is not recommended for children under 7 years old though this is at the discretion of guardians.
Samhain Abhainn full programme of events:
| Friday 27th October |
| 6:30 – 8:30pm: Fanta Scary Woods Walk, Belleek Woods. Adm: €4pp. No booking necessary |
| Saturday 28th October |
| 10am-3pm: Ballina Costume Company Halloween Camp, Ballina Stephenites. Age 4+. Adm: €15 per child. Booking essential: (096) 72154. Bring packed lunch, wear old clothes |
| 12–1pm AND 2–3pm: Spooky Scéals in Jackie Clarke Collection. Age 4-10. FREE, Booking essential: call 096 73508 |
| 6:30 – 8:30pm: Fanta Scary Woods Walk, Belleek Woods. Adm: €4pp. No booking necessary |
| Sunday 29th October |
| 10am-3pm: Ballina Costume Company Halloween Camp, Ballina Stephenites. Age 4+. Adm: €15 per child. Booking essential: (096) 72154. Bring packed lunch, wear old clothes |
| 6:30 – 8:30pm: Fanta Scary Woods Walk, Belleek Woods. Adm: €4pp. No booking necessary |
| Monday 30th October |
| 11am: Moy Valley AC Halloween Monster 5km run, Ballina Soccer Club. Adm: €5 adults/€2 children. Prizes for scariest costumes! |
| 12-1pm: Ciara’s Danceblast Workshop, Ballina Stephenites. Age 4+, Adm €3. Booking essential (096) 72800 |
| 2-4pm: Little Screamers Fanta Scary Woods Walk, Belleek Woods. A gentler daytime walk for smaller children accompanied by adults |
| 6.30-8.30pm: Fancy Dress Halloween Disco at Tumble Jungle. Venture out after dark and see Tumble Jungle like you never have before! Adm: €4. *Height Restriction: 4ft 11inches* |
| Tuesday 31st October |
| 10:30am–12pm AND 12:30–2pm, Pumpkin Carving Workshop with Alice Dixon, Ballina Arts Centre. Age 6-12. Adm: €5 Booking essential, (096) 72800. Pumpkins & tools provided. Wear old clothes |
| 8pm: Halloween Horror Movie Screening: Stephen King’s ‘Christine’ (Dir: John Carpenter / USA / 1983 / 110mins), Ballina Arts Centre, Tuesday 31st October, Adm: €5 |
| Wednesday 1st November |
| 12–1pm: Spooky Scéals in Jackie Clarke Collection. (Age 4-10 years). FREE. Booking essential: 096 73508 |
| 2pm: Halloween Hoot – Live Owl Display with Mount Falcon Estate’s Jason Deasy. Jackie Clarke Collection Garden, FREE, No booking necessary |
| Dine out during Samhain Abhainn with Belleek Castle’s Special Spooky Hallowe’en Menu! Visit www.belleekcastle.com/events. |
