​Bishop’s Gate will be illuminated in honour of the two sculptured heads representing the River Foyle and River Boyne, with a large light installation by the North West Carnival Initiative on display around St Columb’s Cathedral.
The Armagh Rhymers, In Your Space and local rockers Triggerman will be among the entertainment in Guildhall Square, while the skeleton of Walter, the ancient Keeper of the City, will be projected from the Tower Museum.
Karan Leonard, Council’s Festivals and Events Manager, said the annual Hallowe’en carnival was going from strength to strength and they were delighted to welcome LUXE back to Derry for the third consecutive year.
She said: “‘Awakening The Walls’ is suitable for all ages and spectators can look forward to being dazzled by these amazing installations. We would encourage festival-goers to take an evening stroll, discover frights and delights and enjoy beautiful illuminations by local and visiting artists in this supernatural animation trail on and around the City Walls. As there are some steps, provision will be made for disabled access.”

LUXe, which is led by artists Mark Hill and Mandy Blinco and based at Burnfoot, Inishowen, will be using a crane parked at Bishop Street car park – which will be closed during the event – to hoist their dramatic fire installations onto the City Walls.
Mark said: “Inferno will be quite a spectacle for festival-goers on both evenings and we would encourage people to come along and enjoy the performances.  We would also advise everyone to wear a coat and suitable footwear for outdoors, even if they will be warmed by the fire!”
LUXe, which was established in 2008, present around 25 shows a year all over Ireland, and have presented internationally from the remote fiords of Eastern Iceland in 2009 to a potential audience of 1.2 billion on Chinese networked TV when they performed at the Chinese New Year Night Parade in Hong Kong in 2013.
For full programme details of all events during the Derry-Strabane ‘Rise Of The River Gods’ Hallowe’en Carnival, visit www.derrystrabane.com

Oktoberfest, the much anticipated beer, music and food festival hit the fair Maiden City with a bang. 
Reasonably priced stines bigger than your head, Frankfurt sausages and local music, what’s not to love? I had the good fortune to attend some of Oktoberfests events including the Oktoberfest fundraiser for Link Academy. For those who aren’t in the know, Link Music academy was set up by five local graduates frustrated by the lack of opportunities for young musicians, in a bid to keep Derry’s talent in Derry.  Paddy Danagher, one of the favourable five commented ‘

 I must say the local talent was as epic and varied as the beer at the festival. Two bands in particular impressed me above the rest. The young but ambitious Scenery, with their bluesy feel and emotive vocal stylings. Might I also as I was both surprised and impressed by the spectrum of artists they paid homage too, most notably and well done, bill Weathers ‘ain’t no sunshine’. According to a very reasonable source, all this talented young named need to do is refine their style and learn to control the vocals and there going places