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| IMAGE CREDIT: BBR GROUP |
This Halloween, the shadows of the past awaken in the cobbled lanes of The Rocks and Circular Quay. Introducing Ireland’s Halloween Art Dark Trail, a hauntingly beautiful series of illuminated installations lighting up The Rocks as part of Ghost Festival in partnership with Tourism Ireland.
This is not just art. This is an act of remembrance.
Before Halloween became costumes and candy, it was Samhain = the ancient Irish festival that marked the end of harvest, the rise of winter, and the moment the veil between the living and the dead became whisper-thin.
And before The Rocks became Sydney’s historic precinct, it was the arrival point for thousands of Irish immigrants. They stepped off the ships with memories, beliefs, and rituals in their bones. They brought with them the very spirit of Halloween, planting its roots deep into the sandstone of the city.
Now, those roots rise.
This is not just art. This is an act of remembrance.
Before Halloween became costumes and candy, it was Samhain = the ancient Irish festival that marked the end of harvest, the rise of winter, and the moment the veil between the living and the dead became whisper-thin.
And before The Rocks became Sydney’s historic precinct, it was the arrival point for thousands of Irish immigrants. They stepped off the ships with memories, beliefs, and rituals in their bones. They brought with them the very spirit of Halloween, planting its roots deep into the sandstone of the city.
Now, those roots rise.
- Five powerful art cubes
- Four modern creators
- Four stories of transformation, death, and spiritual passage.
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| IMAGE CREDIT: BBR GROUP |
At the heart of every work is Ireland, The Home of Halloween. The origin of the trail. The spirit that still moves through every story told, past and present. Because in Ireland, the Halloween spirit is not only remembered, it is alive and celebrated today, across the island, in fire festivals, gatherings, and ancient rituals reborn.
Sofia Hansson, Tourism Ireland Regional Manager Australia and New Zealand said: "We’re thrilled to collaborate with Ghost Festival in the Rocks, to celebrate Ireland as the true home of Halloween. This partnership allows us to share the rich Celtic origins of Halloween from the ancient festival of Samhain to modern-day traditions with Australian audiences in a creative and immersive way.”
The trail is free to explore, running from First Fleet Park through The Rocks from now until the 2nd of November. Ireland is not a chapter in this story. It is the beginning.
GHOST FESTIVAL
Ghost Festival is a must-see free event for anyone seeking to experience a frightfully delightful Halloween experience in the heart of The Rocks, where the historic lanes will be haunted by spine-tingling stories twisting into real-life events.INTERESTING FACTS
Some believe the restless spirits of sailors, convicts, and plague victims still wander The Rocks's cobbled streets today.One of the most chilling tales is that of Anne Kirkman, a young woman whose husband was lost at sea. Stricken with grief, Anne died suddenly of typhoid fever in her Cumberland Street terrace. Locals insist her ghost still lingers, drifting through the laneways in a long white gown, lantern in hand, as if eternally waiting for her beloved to return from the harbour. On quiet nights, some even claim to hear the faint sound of her sobs echoing through the stones of The Rocks.
The Rocks Ghost Festival
Dates: Thursday October 30 – Sunday November 2, 2025Location: The Rocks - Sydney
Entry: Free to attend
Ghost Cinema tickets start at $39
House of Horrors Party early bird tickets start at $55
Murder Mystery Experience tickets start at $149
The Dark Dinner Experience tickets start at $209
Website: https://ghostfestival.com.au/
Ghost Festival social media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghostfestivalsyd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostfestivalsyd/
For more travel inspiration read the daily online "The Holiday and Travel Magazine" https://theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com/
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