Despite high hopes and excitement, Dubliners were left disappointed when they gathered for a Halloween parade that turned out to be a hoax, with authorities stepping in to address the situation.
All Trick, No Treat: Dublin's Non-Existent Halloween Parade Leaves Crowds in Disbelief
All Trick, No Treat: Dublin's Non-Existent Halloween Parade Leaves Crowds in Disbelief
Misleading online event listings lead Dubliners to a parade that never happened, prompting police to disperse the large crowds.
On a mild October evening, Dublin city center was bustling with anticipation as hundreds gathered along O’Connell Street, eagerly awaiting a Halloween parade. However, as time passed and the clock ticked towards the expected start time, it became clear that the much-anticipated event was nothing more than a mirage.
Realizing there was no parade, local police took to social media around 8 p.m., an hour after the scheduled event time, to announce that there was indeed no planned parade, urging attendees to “disperse safely.” What was meant to be an exciting night quickly turned into confusion and disappointment for the crowd.
The root of the deception appears to lie with MySpiritHalloween.com, a popular website listing various Halloween events, costume ideas, and more. Among listings for several locations, it included a detailed description of the non-existent parade in Dublin.
Nazir Ali, the owner of the website, claimed on Friday morning that the misleading information was inadvertent, stating, “It was a mistake,” and expressing no intent to mislead anyone.
As expectant families and friends wielding costumes and pumpkin decorations faced the grim reality of missing out on the festivities, it was a Halloween night they would soon not forget: one where the tricks sadly outshadowed the treats.
