Summary

  1. Goodbyepublished at 21:02 GMT 31 October

    A girl dressed as It stands by a wall holding a red balloonImage source, Getty Images

    That's all from us tonight. Thank you for joining us.

    We hope you've enjoyed all the fun, frights, fancy dress and fireworks from one of the world's biggest Halloween parties. We've loved it.

  2. A night to rememberpublished at 20:59 GMT 31 October

    Claire Graham
    BBC News NI

    What a night!The sights and sounds of Derry have been incredible.Who knew you’d be getting little witches, KPop Demon Hunters and Loraxes all in the same place? That’s 2025 summed up.This was the biggest night in Europe for Halloween celebrations.And as people head on home, they’re smiling, with a night filled with memories, myself included!

    Media caption,

    Thousands gathered to watch the end spectacle of the Halloween festivities

  3. An amazing event for an amazing citypublished at 20:48 GMT 31 October

    Ashleigh Swan
    BBC News NI

    Everybody has just been so happy.

    There has been really good energy, it's so good to see in Derry.

    This is my second time reporting from Derry Halloween and the event just gets better.

    It's just been amazing for the city.

  4. Happy Halloweenpublished at 20:37 GMT 31 October

    The fireworks signal the end of a fantastic week in Londonderry.

    Happy Halloween!

    Fireworks ignite over the water
    Crowds gather to watch the firework display
  5. The night sky fizzes with pops of colourpublished at 20:33 GMT 31 October

    Fireworks igniting over the water
    Image caption,

    The highly anticipated firework display has begun

  6. Seuss-picious characterspublished at 20:29 GMT 31 October

    These Lorax have been out trick-or-treating all the way from Newry, County Down.

    A group of people are dressed in bright orange one piece suits
    Image caption,

    This group of Lorax said you can't beat the vibes at Derry Halloween

  7. Energy levels are through the roofpublished at 20:26 GMT 31 October

    Jake Liggett
    BBC News NI

    The atmosphere has been brilliant; everyone has been so friendly.

    I was down at the start of the parade earlier and seeing the kids there warming up - the energy levels were through the roof.

    I've met people from as far away as America and from all across Northern Ireland and Europe.

  8. This parade is bananaspublished at 20:01 GMT 31 October

    Jake Liggett
    BBC News NI

    A family of bananas tells BBC News NI they are loving the atmosphere.

    A family of four are dressed up as bananas
  9. A very merry Halloweenpublished at 20:00 GMT 31 October

    Jake Liggett
    BBC News NI

    Did someone say the C word?

    two adults and a young boy are dressed in red santa suits
  10. Spot the people who dressed uppublished at 19:55 GMT 31 October

    People dressed as dalmatians
    PEOPLE dressed in elaborate costumes
  11. Magic is in the airpublished at 19:42 GMT 31 October

    People line the streets
  12. Carnival of colourpublished at 19:40 GMT 31 October

    Huge crowds have gathered to soak in the spectacle.

    Three young girls are dressed as clowns with detailed facepaint and elaborate hatsImage source, Reuters
    Illuminated figures are lighting up the parade
    Image caption,

    A burst of colour at the centre of the carnival parade

  13. Halloween's ancient Celtic rootspublished at 19:32 GMT 31 October

    Halloween is one of the world's biggest holidays and has been celebrated in Ireland in one form or another for more than 2,000 years.

    Its most popular and unusual traditions have roots in the ancient Celtic fire festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter.

    It was believed to be the time when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest and spirits roamed the earth.

    This remains a central theme, as organisers of this year's celebrations say the streets of Derry will be taken over by a cast of mythical and mysterious characters bringing Samhain to life.

  14. Watch Livepublished at 19:28 GMT 31 October

    Media caption,

    Crowds gather in Londonderry for a night of Halloween fancy dress and fireworks

  15. Excitement is buildingpublished at 19:20 GMT 31 October

    Peter Coulter
    BBC News NI

    People gather in the street for the parade as a large figure passes

    The excitement is really starting to build here in Derry city centre as crowds await the parade passing by.

    It’s a cold night but that hasn’t stopped people dressing up.

    I’ve seen a whole family dressed as the characters from Shrek, lots of KPop Demon Hunters and the new Halloween staple - the Squid Game characters.

    I’ve spoken to people from America and Canada who have travelled here for Halloween.

    A choir next to our truck is currently singing Flashdance.

    The parade will be passing us in about 20 minutes and everyone is buzzing for it.

  16. Spooky streetpublished at 19:16 GMT 31 October

    The parade is under way.

    There are lots of creepy costumes and frightening floats on display.

    A monster float is pulled along a street full of people
    A large inflatable fairy and wizard in the parade
  17. Hocus Pocuspublished at 19:11 GMT 31 October

    Conor McCann
    BBC News NI

    It's a scene straight out of Hocus Pocus as people get into the Halloween spirit with a group dressed as witches and other themed characters from the movie.

    Three young girls are standing around a cauldron, with fabric that is made to look like a boiling cauldron
    Fans have dressed up as hocus pocus characters as they surround a black cauldron, with orange lights imitating a boiling cauldron. The girls are surrounded by people wearing black costumes with witches hats, and broomsticks with led lights attached
  18. In case you're just joining uspublished at 18:54 GMT 31 October

    Jake Wood
    BBC News NI

    Londonderry is looking boo-tiful tonight for the city's spook-tacular Halloween carnival.

    In case you're just joining us, here's all you need to know.

    A woman in fancy dress is stood next to a suitcase - she has a decorative umbrella and a fan.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Elaine Duffy poses in a costume as revellers take part in the annual Halloween carnival

    Festivities have been ongoing since Tuesday, with the main carnival to begin at about 19:00 GMT.

    After that, people will line the River Foyle for a huge fireworks display, which gets under way at about 20:15 GMT.

    There will be a BBC News NI live video stream of the spectacle.

    Some events were cancelled due to bad weather yesterday.

    But more than 600 people are taking part - in fancy dress - in the parade this evening.

    A number of roads are closed in the city.

  19. A proud Derry womanpublished at 18:40 GMT 31 October

    Sara Girvin
    BBC News Ireland Correspondent

    Local storyteller and writer, Madeline McCully, says the city's Halloween celebrations have "grown beyond anybody’s expectations".

    A woman is smiling at the camera, she is sat in a high armchair in front of an open fire
    Image caption,

    Madeline McCully is a storyteller and writer, and a native of Londonderry

    "And it continues to grow," she says.

    “The amount of work that is put in is enormous.

    "I am really proud of every person who prepares the city for Halloween.”

  20. 'We are having a great time'published at 18:24 GMT 31 October

    Three people stand with a character from Starwars
    Image caption,

    Mehdi and his children Ayan and Baran from Iran

    Mehdi and his children Ayan and Baran are originally from Iran and have lived in Derry for two years.

    They say they love being able to celebrate Halloween in public.

    "We are having a great time and everything is very amusing."