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Inverness gears up for Ness Islands Halloween extravaganza





A scene from one of the past Ness Islands Halloween shows.
A scene from one of the past Ness Islands Halloween shows.

There is a strong international feel to the spooky goings-on as the islands are transformed into a gateway to the Underworld.

Organisers from Highland Council have even warned parents and carers of more “sensitive” children to walk around the side of the main arena to avoid them being terrified.

“Only the bravest of souls will have a chance of making it through to the other side,” they caution.

Bringing the Underworld to life will be skillfully done by more than 170 performers from Eden Court Creative, Arts in Motion and Limelight.

Visitors will see the ancient Egyptian gods Anubis and Thoth weighing the heart of those who hope to enter the afterlife. If your heart is “weighty with corruption” it will be devoured.

And Polynesian animal spirits will roam ready to pounce on lost souls, while the haunted heartlands will feature the zombies from the Mexican Day of the Dead festival.

Eden Court Creative manager Kati Kozikowska said: “It is a really exciting, interesting theme this year which lets us explore lots of different ideas.

“Visitors can meet a whole range of new and scary characters and explore various myths about the underworld from a range of different cultures including Polynesian, Japanese and medieval traditions.”

The majority of performers are secondary school children and a number of former Creative students who have begged to come back and be involved again. Limelight Event Services will create a spooky atmosphere among the islands’ trees and shrubs, while Arts in Motion have been busy setting up special sets, props and special effects to help set the atmosphere for a right scary evening.

John McGeoch, of Arts in Motion, said: “We have made a giant Egyptian weighing scales and a heart, and have painted an enormous Mexican skull. The wheels have been carved for the plague doctors cart and the idea is that everyone keeps moving to avoid being grabbed by the creatures of the Underworld.”

One of the highlights will be a giant metal devil’s head commissioned from artist Greg Dobson and representing the gates to the Underworld.

- The Ness Islands Halloween Show takes place this weekend. The Saturday show is from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and Sunday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The weather forecast is for dry conditions with light winds both evenings.


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