Families from near and far descended on Ballymena town centre this week as the inaugural Trick or Treat Trail, hosted by the talented team at Ballymena BID (Business Improvement District), got underway filling the streets with thrills, fun, and community spirit.
The spooktacular Halloween event seen an amazing turnout and some incredible costumes - the atmosphere was nothing short of electric!
From the trail start at Fairhill Shopping Centre, where the team hosted free face painting and (the very difficult to judge) Best Dressed competition, to the lively finale at Tower Centre, the event was packed with festive activities.
Ballymena BID team Emma McCrea (right) and colleague Clare Moore
Ballymena BID Manager Emma McCrea said:
“We are very grateful to both Fairhill and Tower Centre for welcoming us to transform their spaces, giving participants a fun and convenient hub for our Halloween festivities.
“A huge thank you goes out to the local businesses that joined in on the Halloween fun, not only welcoming our trick-or-treaters with treats but also adding an extra layer of excitement by hosting spooky clues in their windows.”
The scavenger-hunt style activity was a hit, turning Ballymena town centre into a Halloween wonderland filled with surprises for young and old alike.
In the spirit of celebrating the community’s creativity, the Best Dressed competition awarded Ballymena Gift Cards to the Best Dressed Family, Boy, and Girl, giving them a chance to enjoy all that the town centre has to offer.
Emma continued:
“We were blown away by the effort everyone put into their costumes—from spooky and silly to downright spectacular! The winners will no doubt have a great time exploring and spending their prizes in Ballymena’s fantastic range of shops, restaurants, and cafes.”
Emma added:
“We are beyond grateful for the positive energy everyone brought to the event. The Trick or Treat Trail is truly a celebration of community spirit, and seeing everyone come together made it all the more special. Thank you to everyone who participated, from attendees in their brilliant costumes to our fantastic business community.
“We’re already excited to start planning next year’s event—stay tuned for even more thrills (and even more sweets)! Until then, we hope you all had a Halloween to remember.”
Here’s to many more festive celebrations in Ballymena!