Hop tu Naa in Douglas town centre promises to be a celebration of spectacle, street performances, tradition…and turnips. The Strand Centre takes centre stage on Friday October 31st and Saturday November 1st from 11am with what the organisers are promising will be a wealth of ‘wickedly wonderful activities’ including a spooky spider challenge, scary face painting, a bat hunt, story telling, turnip carving and a visit to Jinny the Witch in her lair.

Hop tu Naa will also be taking to the streets on the Saturday with street performances from a sword swallower, contact juggler and stilt acrobat; The Geezers will go walkabout, there’s a children’s fancy dress competition at 4.15pm on the Saturday and the day will round off with a fire show in Regent Street.

The celebrations are a collaboration between the Strand Centre, Island of Culture and Douglas Development Partnership, with support from 3FM. Town centre manager Michelle O’Malley said: ‘There’s a great story to be told in Hop tu Naa; it’s part of Manx folklore and keeps some fascinating customs alive so, in the year when we’re celebrating Island of Culture, we’ve gone largely back to our roots, incorporating traditional Manx themes into the activities but with a nod to other, more contemporary influences for the entertainment as well. It’s a potent mix that will make for a great atmosphere in the town centre over the two days and show that Hop tu Naa in Douglas will be the real deal.’