Whether you want to learn about the mythical creatures of Samhain or put your courage to the test in a ghastly maze of horrors, there's something for everyone to enjoy across Ireland this spooky season.
Bram Stoker Festival, Co. Dublin
The Bram Stoker Festival celebrates the legacy of one of Ireland's most beloved and iconic writers. Now entering its 10th year, the festival draws inspiration from Stoker: his life, his work, the supernatural, the after-dark and the Victorian. This year will see major outdoor spectacles and installations, screenings of classic films, comedy gigs, live podcast recordings, and plenty of spooky stories.
The Bram Stoker Festival takes place in Dublin Castle's Upper Courtyard from Friday, 28 October - Monday, 31 October.
Púca Festival, Co. Meath
Taking place across the festival hubs of Trim and Athboy, Púca is an otherworldly festival that celebrates Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween. Through the spectacular nights, visitors can salute the spirits through folklore, food, myth and music reopening the pathways of reflection and celebration carved by travellers over 2,000 years ago.
Returning to Co. Meath from Friday, 28 October to Monday, 31 October 2022. Tickets are available to buy on the website.
Farmaphobia, Co. Meath
The tormented and twisted minds behind Farmaphobia have been working overtime to ensure that this year's event will be particularly terrifying. With five horrifying haunts spread over 100 Acres of Fear, guests will have to survive a cult, clown town, momma's murder maze, zombie morgue and a purge night.
Farmaphobia will run from 1 October to 2 November 2022. It is strictly 13+ and all 13-16 year olds must be accompanied on site by an adult.
Awakening The Walled City, Co. Derry
In 2015, Derry was voted 'Best Halloween Destination' by the readers of USA Today, while this year it has been named alongside Dublin as 'The Best Place in the World to Visit' for Halloween by The Planet D, one of the most influential travel blogs on the planet. This year, Derry is preparing to welcome around 100,000 visitors as The Walled City comes alive for Europe's biggest Halloween festival.
The city is guaranteed to be buzzing throughout with visitors from this world and beyond from 28 October - 31 October.
Halloween Extravaganza, Co Dublin
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This Halloween, The Sugar Club is set to celebrate in style with a Rocky Horror Picture Show extravaganza. Expect a night to remember as friends old and new come together to do the time warp, enjoy guest performances, compete for prizes, and receive complimentary goodies – hold on to your fishnets and behold as Richard O Brien's 1975 cult classic comes alive.
Doors open at 8pm on October 29. Tickets are €25 and include access to an after party.
Féile Samhain Halloween at Hook Lighthouse, Co. Wexford
This Halloween weekend will see a free Féile Samhain celebration on offer at Wexford's Hook Lighthouse. Traditional Halloween games will be on offer for all the family, from pumpkin tossing, tug-o-war, a Halloween treasure quest and a few surprises along the way and there will also be a daily prize for the best costume.
Discover the history and mystery of the 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse from 29 October - 31 October. These events are on offer free of charge and no pre-booking is required.
The Nightmare Realm, Co. Dublin
Awarded as Ireland's most entertaining Halloween experience, The Nightmare Realm is coming to a brand-new location in Dublin’s City Market at Mary’s Lane. The new show is double the size with a whopping five mazes, a Halloween town festival zone with food court and dance stage, a Museum of Horrors, Fanta's Freaky photo lab and 3D Banshee audio experience.
Get ready for spine-tingling Urban Horror from 7 October - 2 November.
Newpark Hotel, Co. Kilkenny
Halloween will be a dinomite experience at the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny - no bones about it! Over the midterm break, your family can watch dinosaurs, ghouls and goblins come back to life on a 'wicked walk' through the hotel’s new prehistoric playground, Jurassic Newpark.
The Wicked Walk at Jurassic Newpark takes place from 29 October - 6 November and must be pre-booked online.
Hurloween Tours at Croke Park, Co. Dublin
If your kids need a break from the spooky and scary, the GAA Museum at Croke Park will mark the ancient Irish festival of Samhain with Hurloween Tours in a wholesome way. Get your little goblins together and go on a special tour of the famous stadium to hear about goals, Ireland’s ancient sport, old Celtic traditions, and mythology. There will also be a special ‘Warriors and Hurlers Workshop’ where they will learn all about the story of Setanta.
Ideal for families with children aged between five and twelve accompanied by an adult. Tickets must be booked in advance at crokepark.ie/halloween. Runs from 29 October - 4 November.
Pumpkin Farm, Co. Kerry
If you're planning a wholesome family day out this spooky season, why not visit an Irish pumpkin patch? The Killarney Pumpkin Patch in Headford offers up plenty of family fun with a corn maze, Samhain storytelling, bonfire nights, a haunted cottage, a chance to meet the local with and, of course, the opportunity to pick your own pumpkin.
Other pumpkin patches on offer include Alright Pumpkin in Meath, Michael's Pumpkin Patch in Galway, The Farm Grenagh in Cork, Mollies Farm in Laois, and Pumpkin World in Dublin.
Gravedigger Ghost Bus Tour, Co. Dublin
This spooky tour includes a stop at Dublin's famous Gravediggers Pub, an authentic family-run pub running since 1833. With two professional actors hosting guests through a plague-torn Dublin, this trip won't disappoint.
The Gravedigger Ghost Tour lasts approximately two hours, runs seven nights a week and cost €29.
Ghost Tour, Co. Cork
Horrible histories, local tales, ghost stories and hilarious shenanigans will be on offer during this trip through 1700's Cork. A real local experience, this interactive experience will deliver an original slant on Cork’s diverse and dark history.
The walking tour lasts over 1 hour starting at outside Cork Opera House at Emmett Place. Tickets cost €18 (student/OAP/child: €15).
@CorkGhostTour absolutely fantastic tour with these lunatics. Highly recommended for all ages pic.twitter.com/wfcG74pwh9
— cian o connor (@furry_007) June 22, 2018
Silver Scream, Co. Dublin
There's a reign of terror taking over the Light House cinema as a whole host of cinema’s most iconic Movie Monsters return to the big screen. The Silver Scream season will feature horror classics from Hollywood’s golden era including Dracula, The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and many more.
The spooky cinema nights run from October 15th – 31st.
Prides' 90s Queer Halloween Dance Party, Co. Wexford
Join Wexford Pride on Friday, 28 October at the IFA Centre, Enniscorthy, for a 1990s-themed Queer Halloween Dance Party Extravaganza featuring the best 90s hits, spots prizes and spooky surprises. This 18+ event will have a fundraising raffle with fantastic prizes alongside spot prizes for the best dressed! Slay, Buffy. Slay.
Taking place on Friday, 28 October at the IFA Centre, Enniscorthy, entry is free but donations are encouraged and appreciated with all proceeds going directly toward funding future Wexford Pride events.
Bonkers Bingo, Co. Donegal
Bonkers Bingo's Halloween special is back. Grab your friends and go bonkers on Bank Holiday Sunday Night. Top prizes for best fancy dress will be up on the night. Expect a mashup of all your favourite tunes, bingo madness and crazy prizes.
Tickets are €20 plus Eventbrite booking fee.
777 Dia De Los Muertos Halloween Party, Co. Dublin
777 is throwing their 10th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Costume Party. The costume theme will be 'Day of the Dead’ with spot prizes for the best costumes. Ticket price will cover a welcome cocktail, family style dinner DJ, live acts, prizes for best costumes and cocktail specials all night.
The colourful celebration lasts from 31 October - 2 November.
Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford
Feeling brave? Take a trip through more than a millennium of scary history in some never-before-seen parts of Lismore Castle. Prepare to come face-to-face with some of the larger than life characters whose spirits haunt this venerable old building. This immersive experience will host 24 live actors, eight themed spaces, one spectacular setting and 1,400 years of history.
This event is 18+ and tickets cost €27.55.
QueerMania, Co. Dublin
Hosted by Jack O'Connor and Dylan Jordan, QueerMania has a mix of drag and non-drag acts and is guaranteed to be an amazing night. Taking place in The Sound House, the show will feature Jack and Dylan alongside Nikkie Stones, Dr Count Evil, Nokia, Apollo Monroe, Jack Madden and Virgo Moon.
The 18+ show will be on Sunday, 23 October. Doors open at 7:30pm with the show starting at 8:30pm sharp. General admission tickets available for €15 via Eventbrite.
Mockie Ah: Party Monsters, Co. Limerick
Ireland's leading Drag Haus and queer club-night, Mockie Ah, are throwing a Halloween Ball in Limerick's Pharmacia. Expect five hours of non-stop drag, burlesque and DJs playing the best in pop, electro and disco.
Kicking off on the 26 October at 9pm, this event is strictly 18+ and tickets cost €11.53.
The Stranger Things Upside Down Party, Co. Dublin
Two rooms of music. One night of fabulous costumes. Lost Lane will host a night to remember with music from the world of Stranger Things: think 80s classics, disco classics, and electro anthems. The venue will be designed to transport you into the world of Hawkins, and there will be plenty of fancy dress and prizes for best Stranger Things costume.
Tickers are 18+ and cost €9.39, the party will take place on Monday, 31 October at 10:30pm.
Happy Halloween!
