The Walled City offers a great number of different annual public events throughout the year. These occasions have become a part of city life and are now considered a tradition among the people of The Walled City. Such occasions are a great opportunity to spend time with others, experience local hospitality and try or see some of the local specialities.
Walled City Market
From February to December, every first Saturday of the month, local cooks, craftsmen and artisans invite citizens of Derry to take part in the Walled City Market. Taking place on the Guildhall square, it offers its visitors a pleasant shopping experience, which allows them to buy fresh homemade products and unique handcrafted items in vast varieties. Depending on the season, The Walled Market is also themed differently and comes in various versions such as The Winterland Market selling christmas draught craft beer, a number of sweets and holiday decorations.
Derry Halloween Festival
The Walled City is long known for holding one of the biggest and greatest Halloween parades in the world. Since 1986 has been officially organising 1st November festivals, which have gradually grown in size. Annual parades, pumpkin and turnips carving contests, costumes showoff, spooky food markets, live music and spectacular fireworks have become an important tradition among the citizens of Derry. The festival sometimes lasting up to a week is most definitely an event worth experiencing.
Christmas Lights Switch-On
The Christmas Lights Switch-on is a free and family friendly occasion happening on the streets of Derry on the last days of November. As the name suggests, the main attraction of the event is a great countdown leading to the breathtaking illumination of the city with the use of millions of holiday lights. Apart from that, several Christmas themed activities and entertainment are present during the occasion such as live music, holiday fairs or open-air theatre plays. Of course, no Christmas celebration would be complete without the special guest and that is why Santa Claus himself is going to visit the city centre for a couple of days.
Derry Maritime Festival
As the River Foyle is a vital part of the City, it seems obvious that the Maritime Festival taking place every couple of years is considered a big and important event among many locals. Usually, the festival is one of the hosts of another occasion as well – The Clipper Race, which is a great sailing contest, whose route goes around the whole world. In order to welcome competitors, Derry’s Queens Quay organises a special event party full of music, local foods and crafts and cheerful crowds.
St Patrick’s Day
Just like all the other cities of Ireland, The Walled City is no exception when it comes to grand celebrations of St Patrick’s Day on 17th March every year. During the day of the event, the presence of Irish culture is ubiquitous in Derry. Vividly decorated streets, traditional Irish outfits and cousine, parades, concerts or even St Patrick’s Day cruises along the River Foyle are all awaiting both the folks and visitors.
Ebrington Events
The renewed square of Ebrington is often used as a venue for numerous events. Most of the time, concerts of all kinds tend to be hosted there with comfortable viewer areas and big-scale stages being set up for the occasion. Additionally, diverse seasonal constructions are built in the place, such as a grand Halloween Funfair or a Christmas Village.
Information about upcoming events can be found on the official Ebrington website.
