Joining the Dragon this evening?

If you’re heading for Shandon Street to witness one of the most mesmerising of Cork Halloween scenes after sundown tonight, Cork City Council has issued some information on how to enjoy the route to the maximum.

If you’ve never been, this event is the highlight of Halloween on Leeside. Every year, after darkness descends, hundreds of spooky giant skeletons, merry monsters, and creepy characters gather in one of the most atmospheric parts of the city for the Dragon of Shandon Parade.

The Dragon of Shandon is a night-time parade that celebrates the old Irish tradition of Samhain in a contemporary and inclusive manner. Every year thousands of people take to the streets of Shandon and walk with the Dragon as it travels between worlds in a celebration of the… pic.twitter.com/HCZdHZX4cB

— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 30, 2024

This year the Dragon, a 36ft monster made entirely of tape and controlled by 12 puppeteers, will begin its journey at 7pm on Thursday, October 31st, 2024.

Thousands of people will take to the streets of Shandon and walk with the Dragon as it travels between worlds in a celebration of the living and the dead, accompanied by an assortment of creatures from the underworld.

The free parade kicks off at Church Street, runs down Shandon Street and onto North Main Street, turning left onto Castle Street, and finishes up on the Coal Quay with a grand finale.