HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL TIME; Spooktacular celebrations planned for banks of the Foyle.

LOOKING for some real Hocus Pocus this Halloween? Then come along to the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival in Derry for a real spooktacular time!

A web has been spun across the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival website, www.derrycity.gov.uk/halloween, with details of the 2005 programme featuring a range of spellbinding events for both young and old.

The Mayor Councillor Lynn Fleming was one of the first people to log on to check out the variety of fang-tastic events that have been planned for this year's celebrations.

The Mayor said she was delighted to see that preparations for this year's events were underway.

"Year on year the City continues to embrace the spirit of Halloween like no other destination, with thousands of visitors and locals descending on the City each year for a Halloween celebration with a difference.

"The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival has established a wide-ranging audience and this year's event has extended the family friendly (no alcohol) zone and identified new areas for both younger and older teenagers to ensure an aspect of the programme for everyone.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the festival team and thank all the funders, sponsors and venues who have contributed to the programme.

"I wish everyone well in their preparations over the next couple of weeks and all that's left for me to do now is to think about a costume!"

The 2005 programme kicks off on Monday, October 24 with a variety of events taking place at venues across the City.

Why not get ready for Carnival at Walter's Haunted Castle of Fun at the Guildhall (October 29 and 30), which will feature numerous hands on workshops and games.

If a Murder Mystery evening is more to your liking get along to the Murder at the Museum experience at the Workhouse Museum on Saturday, October 29.

These are just a taster of the range of spooky goings on that have been planed to tease people into the Halloween Carnival spirit.

The week long festivities will culminate on Monday, October 31 in a new look Carnival City Centre extravaganza of costume and family fun, which introduces a number of key zoned areas featuring something for all ages.

The City Centre, including Guildhall Square and Victoria Market Car Park, will now be designated an alcohol free zone, whilst Sainsbury's Car Park will host a special event aimed specifically at the over-18 market.

Get ready for Carnival at the Guildhall Square Family Fun Stage in the company of the BBC Radio Foyle team and come along and listen to a great music line up greatest folk groups, the Fureys and Davey Arthur, and the Elvis Spectacular Show who are sure to 'Rock Around the Clock' this Halloween.

This year's festival sees the introduction of Teenage (no alcohol) zone at Victoria Market Car Park where some of the best up-and-coming local bands will battle it out in the Teenage Spooks final featuring a host of great prizes.

The Look Alike Zone, which will be strictly over 18's, will be the perfect place to mingle in your fancy dress costume whilst dancing the night away to international tribute acts including Madonna tribute (Vogue), Robbing Williams and the Stereotonics! This event is ticket only, priced pounds 10.00, license pending.

For more information contact the Carnival Information Line on [phone].

The City's civic building will be converted into the ultimate Halloween venue on Monday, October 31 as the Guildhall features an afternoon of music and dance at the Halloween Tea Dance and the return of the Fancy Dress Halloween Ball which will take place later that evening.

The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival is famous for the effort that goes in each year by partygoers into preparing the ultimate Halloween costume.

This year there's an extra incentive to get it just right, with a chance to win a trip for two to the World Cup as part of Crazy Costume Day competition sponsored by The Star newspapers.

Take the opportunity to show your costume off, and more importantly be in with a chance to be seen by the Crazy Costume judges, and join the Halloween Carnival Costume Parade on the evening of the October 31.

The Halloween night celebrations will reach a climax with the annual outstanding River Foyle Musical Fireworks display, however the fun will continue as many of the hotels and venues around the city host a variety of Halloween parties.

Hotels in the city are currently offering a huge selection of specially priced breaks to suit every budget over the Halloween Carnival weekend with special deals from as little as pounds 75.00 per person sharing for two nights accommodation plus evening meal.

The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival is organised by Derry City Council and is funded by the Northern Ireland Events Company, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Destination North West, the Department for Social Development, Lucozade Energy, The Star Newspaper together with event partner support from BBC Radio Foyle.

CAPTION(S):

featuring one of Ireland's; PARTY TIME: Fun for all the family is guaranteed during Derry's Halloween Festival which will be held on the banks of the Foyle; Photography by: STEPHEN LATIMER