Festival Halloween serves up ghoulish delights

A trip to the dark side is promised this Halloween with the Belfast Festival at Queens which runs from 19^th October to 4^th November. Unveiled is a macabre line up of attractions featuring undead Victorian vaudeville, haunting spirits of circus, Hitchcock at his shocking best and music to move to in the decadent surrounds of the mirrored Spiegeltent.

Out of the Victorian fog appears Pigeon & Plum’s MACAB-ARET in which the ghosts of long dead vaudeville performers emerge once more bringing with them the music and laughter of a forgotten age. The vintage atmosphere of the Spiegeltent should coax a full blooded performance from the spirits on Halloween Night. Doors open 10pm.

A Halloween Haunting for all the family this way comes as The Spirits of Circus descend with petrifying puppets, mischievous imps, magically headless bodies and bodiless heads! The Belfast Community Circus presents a family show of 30 performers to haunt you for years to come. Wear a wicked costume to receive a discount on entry (Belfast Circus School, Sat 28 October- Mon 30 October, show times 5pm and 7pm).

The isolated Bates Motel opens its doors at the QFT in the classic Hitchcock shocker ‘Psycho’, with twisted themes of voyeurism and sadistic humour throughout and featuring career-defining performances by Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh it is sure to satisfy and appal both original fans and unsuspecting newcomers. (31^st October, Queens Film Theatre)

For energetic, infectious, punchy and exciting sounds proceed directly to the atmospheric Spiegeltent to hear local talents Red Sirus, Rivals and Fast Emperors create a big sonic impact for those who want to party. The Rivals have been labelled ‘bloody fantastic’ by Rocksound, Red Sirus can claim a host of famous fans including Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and Andy Cairns of Therapy? while Fast Emperors’ big music contains a very Irish kind of soul. (31^st October, Spiegeltent, Doors 7pm)