Five fabulous Halloween attractions & events to visit over spooky season
Halloween, with its spooky charm and vibrant festivities, is the perfect time for a family day out. As kids enjoy their midterm break, families can come together to explore various attractions and events. From pumpkin patches to haunted houses, there's something for everyone.
Children can get creative with costume ideas, while parents relish the chance to spend quality time. It's a time when imaginations run wild, and families bond over shared thrills and laughter. Whether trick-or-treating in the neighbourhood or visiting a themed attraction, Halloween offers a unique opportunity for families to make lasting memories while celebrating the season's magic. Here are our top picks this year:
Halloween at Killruddery, Co. Wicklow
Killruddery offers a thrilling Halloween experience for families and visitors, featuring various exciting activities:
Scarecrow Competition: Join Killruddery's Annual Scarecrow Competition to create imaginative and spooky scarecrows displayed along the Entrance Avenue. Purchase a scarecrow starter kit for €15 from the Farm Shop, create your scarecrow using a wooden stake and straw, and return it by October 28th. Judges will award prizes in three categories: Most Imaginative, Scariest, and Best Made. Winners can enjoy a Killruddery Gold Membership and Farm Shop Hamper.
Walled Garden Pumpkin Patch: Explore the pumpkin patch in the Walled Garden, where you can select your pumpkin to carve at home or participate in carving at the Halloween Hooley event on October 29th and 30th.
Halloween Hooley: Celebrate Halloween with the Halloween Hooley on October 29th and 30th. Enjoy pumpkin carving, music from The Hot Dots, face painting, and more. Scarecrow Competition winners will be announced, and Bray Lions Club will accept charity donations for community work.
Join Killruddery for a hauntingly good Halloween filled with family fun. The event is free for Killruddery Members, with a Garden Entry Fee for non-members. Prebooking is not required. For more information, visit www.killruddery.com.
Baboró Festival, Co. Galway
Every child aged 0 to 16 can explore their imagination in Galway this October. Baboró Festival features artists and performers from around the world, offering captivating theatre, dance, art, and more. The festival spans various venues across Galway City and County, welcoming families, friends, and schools to join in the magic. From sensory experiences for babies to immersive dance shows for kids aged 2 to 13, there's something for every age group.
The festival also includes an art trail, an exhibition celebrating children's views of their significant adults, and hands-on creative sessions. With a diverse program, Baboró Festival promises a memorable experience for all. Tickets and details are available on www.baboro.ie.
Experience Spooktacular Fun at Emerald Park, Co. Meath
Ireland's Emerald Park, the country's only theme park and zoo, is gearing up for a spooktacular Halloween season with two thrilling events for all ages. The "Tricky Trail" promises family-friendly fun, including a treasure hunt, spooky stories, eccentric experiments, and captivating entertainment. Guests will explore the Ghoulish Graveyard, Freaky Forest, Haybale Maze, Scarecrow’s Barn, and House of Helga for witchcraft and fang-tastic fun. The trail hides hidden treasures and surprises, and it's free with all ticket prices on select dates.
For the brave at heart, "Emerald Park After Dark" beckons with "Howl-o-ween" excitement, offering spine-tingling thrills on legendary park attractions like the Cú Chulainn coaster, Endeavour, The Rotator, and more. Soar, twist, and turn your way through these exhilarating rides under the night sky. Don't miss these unforgettable Halloween adventures!
Halloween Trail at Mount Congreve Gardens, Co. Waterford
Families can have a spooktacular time at Mount Congreve Gardens in County Waterford. Kids will get activity sheets, guiding them on the Spooky Trail to find skeletons and ghouls. Completing the trail earns them a pumpkin to take home. Dressing up adds to the fun! The newly built woodland playground on Monty's Lawn is fantastic. It encourages creative, sensory, and imaginative play. Mount Congreve Gardens, a 'great garden of the world,' covers 70 woodland acres and 4 walled garden acres within a 140-acre estate, just a short drive from Waterford. Enjoy dining at the Mount Congreve Stables Café, offering breakfast, lunch, and tasty snacks. Visit www.mountcongreve.com for more information.
The Púca Festival, Co. Meath
The Púca Festival returns to Co. Meath for a vibrant Halloween celebration from October 27th to 31st, embracing Ireland's Halloween heritage. Fáilte Ireland, in partnership with Meath County Council, presents this immersive festival in Trim and Athboy, highlighting the birthplace of Halloween:
Trim, Co. Meath: Experience five supernatural nights filled with music, comedy, and Halloween spectacles in the historic Trim town and its castle grounds. The festival kicks off with a unique procession on October 28th, blending outdoor theatre, street performances, and music to celebrate Samhain traditions and the transition from light to darkness.
Athboy, Co. Meath: Athboy, rich in Halloween tradition, hosts the Púca Festival. On October 31st, the Fair Green in Athboy becomes the backdrop for the closing ceremony, 'An Lasadh Suas' (to light up). This symbolic event connects various landscapes to a central Púca flame, delivering messages to ancestors and ushering in a night of music and celebration.
This year a new festival coach service has been launched. Festival coaches can be purchased as add-ons to your festival ticket and travel from the nearby hubs of Dublin, Drogheda, Mullingar, Kells, Slane and Navan. More information here.
Dark History Guided Tours in The Irish Wake Museum, Co. Waterford
Waterford comes alive with Samhain this Halloween. Waterford Treasures Museums' award-winning guides offer a 90-minute Dark History Tour, delving into the city's centuries-old, mysterious past. Visitors explore the underbelly of Ireland's oldest city, encountering vampires, ghosts, murderers, and other eerie tales. The journey stretches from the Viking Triangle to Ballybricken Square, uncovering captivating stories. Additionally, the newly opened Irish Wake Museum offers After Dark tours. These guided experiences provide a unique opportunity to delve into Waterford's history and unearth its chilling secrets. It's a Halloween celebration filled with spine-tingling stories and dark mysteries in the heart of Ireland's oldest city. For more information visit www.waterfordtreasures.com.