Magical fairytale theme to this year’s Halloween at Carnfunnock

The Halloween Day in the Park is themed on Grimms Fairytales and will have plenty of entertainment for lots of little imps, elves and fairies to enjoy. The event will culminate with the live equestrian stunt display ORC! by Rockin Horse Productions. The event is free and will run from 2pm to 6pm.

Expect to see all manner of strange creatures lurking in the bushes. Make your way around the enchanted maze and find bewitching fairytale characters around every corner. There will be falconry displays, the Great Meifiesto Magic Duo, live music, magic workshops, arts and crafts, stalls and much more.

The fairytale fancy dress competition will take place at 4.45pm in the amphitheatre. There are categories this year for under seven’s, 8-12yrs, 13-16 yrs and over 16’s. Larne Alive encourages everyone to dress up and take part! Why not also take part in the Larne Alive pumpkin carving competition? Simply bring your carved pumpkin to the walled garden for display. Registration for this will be from 2pm to 4.20pm in the walled garden, with judging taking place promptly at 4.30pm. Winners will be announced at 5pm in the amphitheatre.

The magic continues into the early evening ending with a finale that can only be described as spectacular!

Rockin Horse Production will be wowing the crowds with ORC! This is a nail biting tale of a King kidnapped by terrifying Orcs, only to be rescued by his beautiful Queen and her band of faithful knights. Orc! is a high action equestrian display which is not to be missed! The finale will start at 5.15pm. The Rockin Horse Productions have been sponsored by P&O Ferries.

Mayor of Larne, Councillor Bobby McKee MBE, said: “This will be a fantastic series of events and a great day out for families, I would encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the free entertainment at Carnfunnock on Saturday, October 29.”

The Orc! show starts at 5.15pm in the front field, and visitors are encouraged to ensure they wear suitable footwear as it may be muddy.

Larne Alive would like to express their sincere thanks P&O Ferries, Translink and FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd for their sponsorship of this year’s event.

Sam Todd, Translink service delivery manager, said: “We are delighted to support the council’s Halloween celebrations by providing a special shuttle bus service to bring people safely to and from the event. With fun spooky activities planned for the whole family we hope people will take the hassle out of travel and use this free service.”

Arthur Murphy from P&O Ferries commented: “As ferry partner for the event, we are pleased to transport some very important horses and riders to Carnfunnock to entertain the crowds. At a gallop, they’ll make the shortest fastest crossing on the Irish Sea”.

Admission to the event is free; however car parking charges will apply. Parking in the Carnfunnock Country Park is limited. Additional car parking is available at Drains Bay and Carnfunnock Bay. A free Translink shuttle service will be provided from Ballygally car park and Larne Town. The Larne Alive Committee encourages everyone to make use of this free service. Car Parking will be available at FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd on Old Glenarm Road, and a shuttle bus will be in operation from this location.

Please visit www.larne.gov.uk for details on shuttle bus services. Visitors choosing to walk into the park from Drains Bay Car Park should use the path and bring a torch, as it may be getting dark from 4pm.

All outdoor events are subject to change or cancellation due to adverse weather. To avoid disappointment, members of the public are therefore strongly advised to check www.larne.gov.uk or contact 028 2826 0088 before making their way to the event. Visit www.larne.gov.uk for additional details about this event.