Halloween marked in Northern Ireland as Derry festival returns

This intruder was keeping an eye on the city walls in Derry

Ghosts and ghouls were out in their droves in Londonderry as the city held its annual Halloween festival.

Derry City and Strabane District Council's annual festival is billed as one of the biggest Halloween parties in Europe.

Events have also been taking place in other parts of Northern Ireland, many of which had to be scrapped or scaled back in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Derry's festival began on Friday.

This year it was called Awakening the Walled City and it has featured a series of spooktacular sights, characters, and digital wonders.

Fireworks flashed in the night sky over Derry

Due to continuing Covid-19 restrictions, there was no traditional parade.

However, the firework display finale over the River Foyle returned.

Ghostly drummers helped to illuminate proceedings

Halloween celebrations in Derry were reduced significantly in 2020, with most festival programmes moving online due to Covid-19.

Event organisers had several measures in place to ensure the celebrations are in line with current restrictions.

The council said lots of open spaces would allow for social distancing.

Costumes of various designs caught the eye

Some fairytale characters were spotted near the River Foyle

There were signs providing advice safety and staff were on hand to remind people of guidelines.

Highlights of the programme included several illuminated worlds spread across the city along with the island of Ireland's first ever digital LED installation.

A giant spider wanted to stretch its legs and go for a stroll

Three of the worlds were in the city itself, with one world located in Strabane and, for the first time, one themed zone located across the border in Buncrana, County Donegal.

This skeleton was determined to rise to the occasion

Meanwhile as nightclubs across Northern Ireland reopened, Halloween revellers made the most of the opportunity to dress up for a night out.

Nightclubs had been closed since March 2020 when the first coronavirus lockdown restrictions were introduced.

Halloween revellers enjoyed their night out in Belfast