Discovering Halloween-themed family activities during the autumn holiday can be rather daunting, especially if you’re working with a limited budget. However, worry not as we’ve gathered a list of complimentary things your family can enjoy during the half-term break in each county.
Antrim
On October 29th, from 6 until 8:30 pm, the Halloween Hooley in Larne Park, Antrim, is open for guests. There are ample holiday activities on offer – from shows presenting pyrotechnic juggling and live music to chilling yarn spinning and a UV party. Participate in a self-directed stroll through the park, interacting with popular Halloween personalities along the way. This activity should take one hour approximately. Find more details here.
V36 in Newtownabbey is set to offer Screams and Tricks which promises exciting and spine-chilling experiences for the entire family. Choose between getting on the braver thrill rides or exploring the haunted house. The park’s entertainments will be accessible from Friday, October 25th until Sunday, November 3rd, from 5-9 pm, except for a modified schedule on Sunday, 27th October from 2-4 pm during which light and sound intensities will be reduced on the fairground attractions. Entry is complimentary, but you should reserve your tickets in advance here.
Armagh
This October 31st, make a trip to Craigavon Lakes in Armagh and partake in their returning annual fireworks spectacle. The display will commence at 7:30 pm. Embrace the festive spirit and sport your best monstrous costume while admiring the illuminations in Craigavon against the night sky.
Carlow
Celebrate the transition from harvest time to winter at the Samhain Festival presented by Visual, in Carlow. Running from Friday, October 25th to Sunday, October 27th, the festival promises a weekend packed with thrilling theatre, intense scavenger hunts, engaging workshops, enlightening talks, and captivating music.
Located in Fairgreen, along the Old Bridge Road in Co Cavan, right at the edge of Co Monaghan, is Erica’s Fairy Forest, dedicated to fairy-enthusiast Erica Ní Draighneain who succumbed to cancer at the tender age of five in 2016. This trail, steeped in traditional fairy tales, will be bedecked with fittingly ghostly decorations for the Halloween period.
Meanwhile, Castlerahan Community Centre has organised a Creepy Coding & Crafts Camp free of charge, on October 28th and 29th, happening from 10am to 12pm. Prior booking is necessary due to constrained spaces and the requirement for parental supervision. Ann Kinsella is handling all queries at 086 6018559.
Over in Clare, Eilish of the Ennis Library is coordinating a Halloween-themed storytime and craft session for children aged 3-7 years on October 29th. The event commences at 3:30pm and should last roughly an hour. Fancy dress is not mandatory! Visit the de Valera Library to secure a spot.
The Halloween Gruesome Ghostly Trail is set to take place at Charles Fort in Cork from Saturday, October 26th to Sunday, November 3rd. This ghoulish journey around the fort unravels tales of fearsome phantoms that have haunted this military fortress for hundreds of years. Admission is free for children under 12.
Known as the largest Halloween festival in Europe, Derry Halloween in Derry will be held from October 28th to 31st. The festival, designed for all ages, will host numerous complimentary events, with highlight features like a carnival procession at 7pm on Halloween night, and a fireworks extravaganza over river Foyle at 8.15pm.
Lastly, there will be a Halloween Craft Market at the Bundoran Community Centre in Co Donegal on Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th, from 12pm to 5pm.
Every year, the town of Letterkenny holds a Halloween fest on the last day of October that provides an array of family-friendly activities. There’s a trick or treat trail in select shops from 1-3pm (you can find a list at Market Centre). Moreover, a witch named Gertude entertains with storytelling at the Central Library at 1:30pm and 2:30pm. One of the highlights of the event is the fancy dress contest. The festive parade commences from McGettigans Hotel at 4pm.
You can also join the Halloween revelries at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Co Down, which offers a myriad of activities for both adults and children running from October 26th to November 3rd. Lose yourself in the winding maze, gaze at the scarecrows or carve a pumpkin. There are also traditional Halloween games for the whole family including conker tournaments, apple bobbing and welly tossing. Visit their site for more info.
Dublin City Council, in collaboration with various community groups, has planned a variety of events for the spooky season. These include the Liberties Haunt, which showcases street performers and live theatre, Dockers & Demons, which offers haunted house experiences and arts and crafts workshops. The Big Top Festival Circus tent in Ringsend will be buzzing with chilling entertainment on the 30th and 31st of October. You can find all the details about these free events on dublincity.ie.
Dublin, the home city of the author of Dracula, hosts the annual Bram Stoker Festival that runs from October 25th to 28th. While some events charge a fee, there are also free ones, like Frank & McStein’s Monster Laboratory at Dublin Castle and the Victorian pop up park, Stokerland. Their official site has more details.
Over in Enniskillen, Fermanagh, you can look forward to a Halloween parade and fireworks display on October 31st. The fun starts at 4:30pm and the fireworks are set to start after nightfall, around 8pm. The parade will feature an assortment of puppets and dancers, followed by free ice cream and activities like face painting in the town centre. DJ Bob will be spinning tunes in the Diamond area.
Finally, Galway has a host of Halloween activities and events planned for families and visitors during this spooky season.
Macnas, an award-winning theatre group, encourages everyone to join them in welcoming Alf the Newt to Galway this Halloween. Alf’s journey through the city will take place on Saturday and Sunday, the 26th -27th of October, starting from the Quadrangle and ending at Claddagh, his new home, on Sunday evening. Both parents and children are invited to accompany Alf on his journey or meet him at Eyre Square where he will be taking breaks from 1pm-10pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday.
From Saturday, 26th October until Monday, October 28th, Aughnanure Castle offers a selection of free events, starting with a short play; Paranoiacs Anonymous by Hy-FAE Artist’s Collective, at the castle’s top floor. Although the performance isn’t suitable for children, there would be storytelling, spooky face painting, a family scavenger hunt, a costume competition and lots more to entertain the kids on Sunday, October 27th.
From October 18th until November 1st, Kerry’s Homecoming Festival offers nearly 50 free events and activities including storytelling, stargazing, Jack-o-lantern carving, genealogy workshops and heritage discussions.
Athy’s annual Halloween Spooktacular will be held on Halloween night, commencing at Emily Square with a 6.30pm fancy dress parade. A variety of activities including a laser drumming show and prizes for the top fancy dress and beautifully carved pumpkin are expected to spice up the evening.
Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge is also planning some seasonal festivities ahead of the main event, such as face painting and a petting zoo which will be open on Monday, 28th from 2pm-5pm.
Take a journey back to the year 1324, immersing yourself in the eerie story of the first witch trial in Ireland as part of Kilkenny’s latest festival, Toil & Trouble. Spanning from October 28th till November 3rd, it offers a myriad of exhibitions, educational workshops, insightful lectures, and cultural tours in the town. You can delve into the saga of Alice Kyteler, accused of heresy and witchcraft by the Bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede. The festival also delves into the unfortunate end of Petronella de Meath, who became the first individual to be executed for practicing witchcraft in Ireland. You can find diverse ways to mark the 700th year since these sombre events on their website.
Laois
Experience the Halloween spirit with festive markets in Laois. Start your holiday with the Glenbarrow Halloween Market at 11am on October 26th, lasting until 5pm. If an indoor venue appeals more, Bloom HQ’s Halloween Market hosted at the Macra Hall on the same day features an extended range of arts and crafts, face painting, and seasonal treats. Doors open at 11am and close at 1:30pm. Check out the website for more.
Leitrim
Attend the Spooky Halloween Tales at Parke’s Castle in Leitrim, scheduled for Monday, October 28th, from 12-4pm. You’re invited to join us for an afternoon filled with ghostly tales, face painting, and fancy dress. In addition, you might get lucky and spot the castle’s resident spirit, Lady Anne.
Limerick
Be part of the vibrant Fire and Shadows Parade organised by Limerick’s Lumen Street Theatre as part of the city’s Samhain Halloween Festival happening this bank holiday weekend. Gather round the Potato Market at 7pm for the inaugural moment of the parade on Saturday, 26th.
Additional activities to explore include historian Dr Paul O’Brien’s guided night tour at St John’s Churchyard beginning at 8pm on Friday, 25th and Drunken Thady and The Bishops Lady, held from October 20th to 28th at the Watchhouse Library. Browse their website for more information.
Longford
Between October 29th and 31st, Longford Library is set to host a number of Halloween-themed activities targeted towards children. Highlights include a chilling film showing, a craft workshop, and ghastly storytelling sessions lead by Maggi. While admittance to all activities is free, prior booking is necessary.
Over in Louth, the Lú Festival of Light is to be held on two separate weekends – October 25th to 27th and October 31st to November 3rd, in Drogheda. This unique city-wide animation exhibition will feature four shows per hour at major landmarks such as St Peter’s Church, St Laurence’s Gate, and St Dominic’s Bridge as well as Drogheda’s Old Abbey. These dazzling light shows will visually narrate magical tales rooted in the Boyne Valley region. Visit lufestivaloflight.com for more information.
In Mayo, the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is organising a riveting Halloween programme between October 25th and November 3rd. Activities range from storytelling sessions with Fiona Dowling to arts and crafts workshops such as Halloween mask making with artist Carmel Balfe. There even is a peculiar objects quest to thrill the entire family. For additional details, refer to the NMI’s website.
The Púca Festival is set to take place in Trim and Athboy, Co Meath from Thursday, October 31st to Sunday, November 3rd. Despite some events being ticketed, the grand finale starting at 6pm on November 2nd is free. Expect a mélange of creativity and tradition, with the festival showcasing local talent in the form of traditional Irish music, sean-nós singers, ancestral horns, and a local choir. The festivities will then move to Trim Castle where Pyro Collective will stage a mesmerizing fire display. Visit pucafestival.com for further information.
In Monaghan, the Carrickmacross’s annual Féile Samhain will once again be hosted at the Carrick Emmets GAA grounds, with the event kicking off at 6.30pm, followed by fireworks at 8pm. Attendees with the scariest outfits – kids and adults alike – will be in with a chance to win prizes. Remember to dress up for this chilling occasion.
/Offaly
St. Mary’s Primary School located in Edenderry, Offaly, is convening a family-friendly creative movement session headed by yoga instructor Helen Keenan. This event forms a part of the Creative Places: Edenderry Step it Up! scheme, supported financially by Healthy Offaly. Attendees are encouraged to don fancy dress.
In Roscommon, Lough Key Forest and Adventure Park plans to hold its annual Lough SpooKey event from Sunday, October 27th to Sunday, November 3rd. A variety of free family-friendly activities will populate the week, such as face painting, children’s games with Rachel from Fierce Fun Faces, puppet performances by Custard Pie Puppets and a fancy dress party with awards for the best dressed spooky creatures. Visit loughkey.ie for more information.
In Sligo, the Scary Woods Walk scheduled on October 31st runs from 10am-2pm. This meandering walk is organised by the Tireragh community support group and traces a route through Kilglass House and Woodland. Expect to see plenty of artwork, eerie props and scary surprises throughout the journey.
On October 28th in Tipperary, you’re invited for an afternoon of seasonal education at the Rock of Cashel. Guides will be sharing thrilling stories about the Rock’s past and leading a tour through the graveyard. Costumes are encouraged.
Dungannon’s annual Halloween Festival in Tyrone occurs in the town centre on Friday 25th, featuring a firework display scheduled for 7:45pm at Hill of the O’Neill. Additional highlights comprise a mesmerising fire juggler act, a DJ, face painting at the Square Box and Ranfurly House, and a performance by Glasgowbury Samba Band. More information can be found here.
Lastly, in Waterford, the details for their Halloween celebration have yet to be stated.
The renowned creators of public performances, Spraoi, is set to enchant Waterford city once more on the 25th of October, with their much-anticipated Samhain spectacle and grand finale. This year, an intriguing local legend, An Dearg Dua, sparked their chosen theme of ‘Fire and Shadows’. The parade will commence near the Irish Wake Museum situated in Waterford’s Viking Triangle at 6 in the evening. Over the ensuing bank holiday weekend, the city of Waterford will play host to a wide array of exciting family-friendly activities ranging from concerts and storytelling sessions to funfair rides and food stalls. More information can be found here and here.
In Westmeath, the Luan Gallery, located in Athlone, will be the venue for a string of Halloween-themed events scheduled from the 25th till the 31st of October. This modern art space will be screening the iconic horror film from 1980, ‘The Fog’, for free, at 7pm on 25th October. This will coincide with an exhibition named ‘Tuberclerosies’ by the artist Kevin Mooney that will be exhibited in the gallery.
Over in Wexford, Red Books in St Peter’s Square will host a cultural treat this Halloween. An evening filled with poetry reading, songs, and storytelling will kick off at 7:30pm on October 25th in harmony with the ongoing Wexford Festival Opera’s Outspoken event. Following this, on October 31st, another event named ‘Creepy Classics Carnival’ will be taking place. This will highlight some beloved eerie literary classics. Entry for both events will be complimentary, however, voluntary donations for the Sanctuary Mental Wellness initiative will be encouraged.
Lastly, in Wicklow, Kilruddery House and Gardens in Bray will organize their Harvest Fete from 10am to 4pm on October 26th and 27th. Come and experience the beautiful seasonal shift during their weekly farm market. You could even try your hand at pumpkin carving with guidance from the Bray Lions. Alternatively, just drop in and enjoy the abundant beauty of autumn.