Ilocos Norte Horror festival to make Halloween family-friendly

By Grazielle Mae A. Sales

PGIN-CMO

In its fourth year, the Semana ti Ar-Aria (Ghost Week) Festival returns on October 24 with its activities aiming “to encourage families and friends to spend quality time together”.

Organizers will retain the Semana activities which received positive reception and huge number of attendees for the past years such as the Parada Iloca-Locana, Taray Ar-Aria (Zombie Night Run), and the Capitol’s Halloween Trick or Treat.

The Ar-Aria Short Horror Film Festival which kicked off on Oct. 3 in the event’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/IlocosNorteHalloween) had its screening on October 24. Running successfully for three years now, it does not only intend to introduce Ilocos Norte as a growing media hub but also aims to gather young Ilocanos for fun and creativity.

“This is one of our most successful Halloween activities because we have many suki (regulars) from various universities since 2012. The number of competing groups also rose for the past two years,” said Rey Arcangel, organizer and coordinator for the Ar-Aria Short Horror Film Festival.

“We are also now targeting the participation of out-of-school youth by opening the competition for all Ilocanos aged 13 to 30 to discover a whole new pool of talents,” added Mr. Arcangel.

Parada Iloca-Locana is also set this October 31, now with the participation of private sectors in a float competition. Award-winning queen of horror movies, Lilia Cuntapay, will also lead the event.

Ar-Aria Food Strip, a fair which highlights Ilocos Norte’s unique culinary heritage opened October 24 and will last until November 2 near the Capitol grounds. Everybody is invited to stop by for the famous Ilocano orange-colored snack empanada or the garlicky sausage longganisa.

On October 31 will be the Capitol Trick or Treat where thousands of children will be dressed up as ghosts and visit a virtually transformed haunted Capitol for freebies.

Taray Ar-Aria (Zombie Night Run), the province’s version of real-life “Walking Dead”, will also return on October 25 promising a longer route of 5K zombie obstacle course. It was regularly attended by thousands of Ilocanos who came in as families or barkadas. It will be shortly followed by the Black Party, a get-together of all the ‘ghosts’ and spectators for a night of music and fun.

For the last two days, November 1 to 2, festival-goers are invited to complete the Halloween bash by visiting the mock wake competition of the Tumba Festival of Paoay as well as the Paoay House of Horror beside Paoay Church.

Halina, ang Paoay Kumakaway! Experience the Halloween season at its best here in Ilocos Norte.

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