Firework display planned for Halloween in Strabane

PLANS are being put in place for Halloween celebrations in Strabane.

After missing out on major celebrations last year due to Covid, the council has confirmed that there will be a firework and art displays in Strabane this Halloween. The town will also have other activities such as visual art installations.

The proposed dates for this year’s Halloween Festival are Friday October 29 to Sunday October 31 with the Awakening the Walled City programme running for three evenings in Derry.

At a recent council meeting, members heard that as the district moves out of lockdown and the gradual lifting of restrictions continues, teams within council are progressing cautiously with a plan to progress with the festival in a new and revised format subject to Covid regulations and public health advice.

Aeidin McCarter, head of culture with the council, explained, “As the district takes tentative steps back towards life as we knew it pre-Covid, the council continues to follow the guidance on managing Covid-19, with the Festival and Events team continuing to closely monitor the evolving situation.

“Not only is it a potential risk to the general public who might attend the event, but to council staff, contractors, artists, statutory authorities and agencies who collaborate with council to deliver the events programme.

“For that reason there is likely to be a focus on a local and domestic audiences with international travel restrictions likely still to be in place, however there is an opportunity to promote to an international audience for future events through the delivery of quality digital content,” said Ms McCarter.

Members voted to approve the overall budget and procurement arrangements that were outlined at the meeting subject to confirmation of funding from partners and were advised that an updated report would be brought back to the committee in September.