Derry City is inviting 400 people to line the historic city walls dressed as witches to launch one of the world's greatest Halloween celebrations.
The event, running from October 26 to November 3, will mark the 400th anniversary of the 17th-century walls.
Derry remains the only completely walled city in Ireland and is hailed as one of the finest examples in Europe.
Derry was voted the 'Best Halloween Destination in the World' by USA Today readers in 2015 and organisers of the annual Derry Halloween Festival want to continue this achievement.
The festival, which beat the likes of Salem in Massachusetts and Dracula's den in Transylvania, wants witches who are keen to get into the spooky spirit to register online and gather in costume in Guildhall Square on Thursday, August 16 at 6pm.
Calling all witches 🧙♀️ girls and boys to get involved with this #DerryHalloween @DerryHalloween photo launch in Guildhall Square on Thursday 16th August at 6pm #Derry #DerryVibe #Halloween pic.twitter.com/Hi9Zqne1xb
— Derry Vibe (@DerryVibe) August 14, 2018
Odhran Dunne, General Manager of Visit Derry, said it was hoped to attract up to 100,000 visitors for this year’s extended nine-day event.
He said: “Preparations are well underway to welcome what we hope will see a record influx of visitors and hotel occupancy for our award-winning Halloween Festival.
"This is another large-scale event not to be missed across those key calendar dates including Halloween night itself with a spectacular parade in the city and fireworks extravaganza on the River Foyle.”
Here are some more pictures to get you in the spooky mood.
Can you help us recreate these record-setting scenes from the Pendle witch trials 400th anniversary, to launch #DerryHalloween?
It's the 400th anniversary of our City Walls - lets start the countdown to the year's biggest event with a similar spectacle!https://t.co/pjZ9pNIcVx pic.twitter.com/rCe2yaoXKA
— Derry Halloween (@DerryHalloween) August 8, 2018
Little bit of Halloween nostalgia today. Throwback to the Fireworks of 1990 - were you there? 🎆 https://t.co/anhwOe2YZ2 #TBT #DerryHalloween #fireworks pic.twitter.com/SrXaIcosNM
— Derry Halloween (@DerryHalloween) July 26, 2018
In the spirit of #SelfieDay here's mine 🙈 🤣 #Selfie #DerryHalloween #selfiepic #Pumpkin pic.twitter.com/izt3zZsi0N
— Derry Halloween (@DerryHalloween) June 21, 2018
What a night. What a Festival. The moon has now been captured bringing #derryhalloween to a close. Thank you! #worldsgreatest 🎃 pic.twitter.com/zNrcnDuzKy
— Derry Halloween (@DerryHalloween) November 1, 2017
What a night. Well done to everyone who came out tonight for #DerryHalloween
We really are the Best in the World! #thatsawrap #thankyou pic.twitter.com/aTjTOk02lr— Derry Halloween (@DerryHalloween) October 31, 2017
