SPOOKY FUN SET TO THRILL
All roads point north for Halloweens cares for all ages with Fitzpatrick’ s set for annual spook ar am a
THE Cooley peninsula looks like being the scariest place this Halloween with a host of events taking place for everyone from tots to adults in search of a fright.
The award winning Fitzpatrick’s Bar and Restaurant attracts visitors from far and wide for its Halloween decorations and live show, which every year get bigger and better.
Proprietor Danny Fitzpatrick begins planning for Halloween when most of us are still thinking about New Year resolutions.
Now in its eighth year, Danny and his team have pulled out all the stops to ensure that there’s something new for those going to see the spookacular displays.
People with young children are encour- aged to go along and view the displays during the day as the evening shows, starring live actors drawn from local schools, may be too frightening for them.
As always, there is no charge for the event but donations are accepted for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
For the past three years Bellurgan Park has run one of the most realistic and scary Halloween events in the north east and this year promises to be no exception.
For this year’s The Festival of Horrors, the back story sees the rambling residence and surrounding woodlands of Bellurgan Park have been transformed into a ‘Quarantine Zone’ for AVA Corporation have recently set up a new biological weapons testing and research facility on the grounds. Military units have set up blockades and checkpoints to maintain the quarantine and protect the site perimeter and those brave enough can ‘volunteer’ to help test some exciting new projects that are being developed for the bio-weapons industry.
The Festival of Horrors is presented by a team of 50 actors and a production crew of ten from the Louth, Meath and Monaghan area, with SFX make-up and Hollywood grade costumes to guarantee a most realistic experience.
‘We have people coming from the four provinces, with a lot of repeat visitors,’ says Mark Sheridan.
He advises that show is definitely not for children and is aimed at those aged sixteen and over.
‘ The main age group that come would be from their early 20s to early 40s although we have some more mature people coming along as well.’
The Festival of Horrors trail lasts for around one hour and fifteen minutes and takes the courageous visitors on a trial through the house and woodlands, with a mandatory crawl space to go through.
Mark says people should dress for the outdoors with good shoes and a warm jacket. Torches and phone are not allowed on the walk. The trails take place from 7pm to 11pm, booking at www.bellurganpark.ie
The medieval village of Carlingford can look suitable spooky with its old stone castles at the best of times and is set to get even more scary when Thosel Street is given a gruesome makeover by the Parents Association of St Oliver’s NS for their Twilight Market on Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. They are extending an invitation to everyone to ‘Eat, Drink and Be Spooky’. Pop down to O’Neill’s Flowers in Willville for some pumpkin carving on Friday evening from 5pm to 7pm and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. The country market takes place on Saturday with lots of seasonal treats.