Halloween Festival Ballymun

dublin | arts and media | event notice Friday October 12, 2007 16:31 by Annette - Otherworld Festival

Otherworld Halloween Festival Ballymun 31st October

The Ballymun Otherworld Festival ‘07
Wednesday 31st October

“Getting There”

The Ballymun Otherworld Festival makes a welcome return for the 9th year this Halloween. The festival is one of the largest of its kind in Dublin with a crowd of up to 2500 people expected to attend the festival with young people from all over Ballymun taking part in a month long series of Arts, Music and Performance workshops leading up to the big night.

The theme of this years Festival is ‘Getting There’

From 12-2pm the Halloween Play Day takes place in the Ballymun Shopping Centre celebrating all elements of children’s play, Halloween games with face painting, clowns, storytelling and much more.

At 5pm a massive parade will make its way down Main Street,
led by three cars transformed into moving sculptures by local groups and booming out music created by young people. Over 500 people of all ages will take part in this pageant. They will have spent the month of October making their creations in workshops facilitated by a team of professional artists and community workers.

Schools, youth groups, active retirements groups and community groups throughout Ballymun are involved and form the backbone of this project. The Festival Group has also provided a “Street Art” programme that allows un-attached young people to get involved.

The Parade will be led by Hakuna Matata a professional drumming troupe along side Ballymuns own Samba Band, “Munch”. When the Parade reaches its destination in the centre of Ballymun, it will be greeted by Irelands only group of Taiko Drummers who will welcome the participants into the “Otherworld”. Participants and spectators will be treated to a specially commissioned live performance featuring local dance groups, bands & shadow puppetry.

The evening will reach its crescendo with an interactive drumming performance from Hakuna Matata. This will trigger the biggest Fireworks display the festival has seen yet.

The organisers expect a crowd of 2500 people to attend the festival.
Halloween is the most celebrated occasion in the Ballymun Area and this festival offers a unique opportunity to come together and celebrate as one community while presenting a positive image to the rest of the city.

The Otherworld Festival Steering Committee is made up of representation and support from DCC, axis, BRYR, BRL, Youthreach, CDYSB, The Arts Council and the wider community

Contact Information
Festival Director: Brian Mongey Tel 2225717 Brian.mongey@dublincity.ie
Project Assistant (Main Contact) Annette Ryan Tel 2225720 other_world@eircom.net
Street Art Co Ordinator Stewart Dowie Tel 085 1548882 braveart@eircom.net
“axis “ Arts Development Manager Mark O’Brien 01-8832147 mark.obrien@axis-ballymun.ie

Otherworld Festival, 2nd Floor Ballymun Civic Centre, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9.