Spooktacular Halloween in store in Athlone

Organisers of Athlone's Fright Fest are promising a spooktacular Halloween for people of all ages with a wide range of fun events planned around the town over the Bank Holiday Weekend. The festival, now in its third year, was set up to provide a positive alternative for young people and families to the illegal bonfires, fireworks and anti-social behaviour traditionally associated with October 31. Highlights include a re-enactment of Michael Jackson's zombie Thriller video in the Civic Square on Saturday evening and the opening of the new Youth Booth Cafe in St Mary's Hall with a XFactor and Pizza Party at 7.30pm. On Sunday, there will be a Pumpkin Carving and Mask Making workshop in St Mary's Hall and a Spooky Storytelling session in Passionfruit Theatre. Halloween Day itself kicks off with a Spooky Parade on Monday from Accomodation Road to Burgess Park at 2pm, followed by a Family Fun Day from 3pm to 6pm and live music. Festivities conclude with a firebreathing display, dance, spectacular fire drawing and pyrotechnic display. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Delores Crerar from the Fright Fest organising committee enthused that there is something for everyone in this year's programme, adding that the group have been working hard on the individual events for the last six months. She paid tribute to the businesses, schools and organisation who have supported the event this year, without whom they couldn't stage the festival. Delores also urged local young people to come into the new youth cafe in St Mary's Hall to have a look on Saturday evening and see what they plan to do there. "Halloween was traditionally a time for bonfires and anti-social behaviour and usually a time when gardai and the fire brigades were stretched. So really what we are trying to do with the festival is to try and bring the community together and bring them into mainstream activities," she commented Saturday, October 29 Marching Band Demonstration - 3.30pm Civic Square Athlone Thrill the World 4pm Civic Square Zombies unite to celebrate Michael Jackson's Thriller in a unique dance event Youth Booth Open Day 4.30pm to 7pm Registration for young people 10 - 17 year olds Free admission - Youth Booth Cafe, Gateway Project St Mary's Hall Youth Booth Cafe XFactor and Pizza Party 7.30pm to 10pm Over 14 years event. Free Admission Athlone Film Club presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show Admission €10 in Dean Crowe Theatre at 8pm Console Knock Out Suicide Charity Fight Athlone Institute of Technology at 7.30pm Admission €20 Sunday, October 30 Treasure Hunt 1pm to 2pm Burgess Park: Free event - weather permitting Making Space Chalk it Out 2pm-4pm: Free admission - weather admitting Art in Burgess Park hosted by the Making Space group Pumpkin Carving and Mask Making Workshop St Mary's Hall, Northgate Street, Athlone 2pm-4pm Free admission - come along to the Gateway Project Youth Booth Cafe for free workshops Spooky Storytelling Session 5.30pm-6.30pm Passionfruit Theatre, Northgate Street Free admission Monday, October 31 Spooky Parade 2pm Starts from Accomodation Road, Athlone to Burgess Park Free Family Fun Day 3pm-6pm Come along to the Big Top Tent in Burgess Park for face painting, and much,more Live Music in the Big Top 6pm-8pm Music by Ginger Biscuit Burgess Park Free admission - non-alcoholic event Fright Fest Finale 8pm-9pm Fire Breathing, dance and pyrotechnic display in Burgess Park