Free Halloween fun this Saturday for families in Athlone

If you’re staring down the barrel of this Halloween weekend with absolutely zero plan and a child who has been in full costume since Monday morning, we’ve got good news. There’s a free family event happening in Athlone this Saturday that’s exactly what you need — and you won’t have to spend a penny to get through the door.

When the Veil Thins at The Hollow is taking place on Saturday 31st October from 3pm to 7pm at The Hollow, College Park, Athlone Town, Co. Westmeath. It’s part of Samhain in the Heartlands, a wider festival celebrating Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions across Longford and Westmeath, and it’s completely free to attend.

Face painting, live music, circus skills, roaming puppets, crafts and a fire performance are all on the cards across those four hours. It’s the kind of afternoon that doesn’t require military-level pre-planning — just show up, let the kids lose their minds over a fire juggler, and call it a successful Halloween.

The Bigger Picture: Samhain in the Heartlands

The Athlone event is part of a much larger programme running across Longford and Westmeath right through to 8th November. Samhain in the Heartlands brings together around 50 events as part of Fáilte Ireland’s Ireland, Home of Halloween initiative — celebrating the folklore, mythology and ancient landscapes that gave us Halloween in the first place.

If you’re still in mid-term survival mode and want to stretch the fun beyond Saturday, there’s genuinely a lot to work with. Here are some of the highlights still coming up across the region.

On Saturday evening in Longford Town, the Fire & Shadows Procession sets off at 7pm from Connolly Barracks, winding through Bridge Street, Main Street and Ballymahon Street before a fiery finale on Market Square. It’s free, it’s outdoors and it’s inspired by the ancient traditions of Samhain. Arrive from around 6:30pm to get a decent spot along the route.

For something a bit different in the days ahead, Féile na Samhna at Corlea Trackway runs until 1st November at the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre in Keenagh, Co. Longford — a free event set against the backdrop of Ireland’s largest Iron Age bog road. Advance booking is recommended.

If your lot haven’t done enough pumpkin-related activities yet (and whose have, really), Samhain on the Land at Murtagh’s Organic Farm in Ballynacarrigy, Co. Westmeath runs until 31st October. Admission is €22 per child, which includes one pumpkin, and €8 per adult. Spaces are limited so book ahead.

It Doesn’t Stop on Halloween Night

The beauty of this festival is that it keeps going well into November, which is handy when the sugar crash hits and you need something to look forward to. A few things worth knowing about.

The Last Wake at Doory Hall on 6th November at Doory Hall Demesne in Co. Longford promises a candlelit banquet, live music, fire performances and immersive storytelling — probably one for parents rather than small children, but worth a look if you’re after something genuinely atmospheric.

The festival wraps up on 7th and 8th November at the Hill of Uisneach in Westmeath for An Tairseach: Samhain ar Uisneach, which includes live music, storytelling, a torchlit procession and the lighting of the sacred Samhain Fire. Activities begin from 3pm each day and advance booking is recommended.

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

If you’re heading to the Fire & Shadows Procession in Longford on Saturday night, it’s worth planning ahead. Temporary road closures will be in place from around 6pm, affecting Main Street, Bridge Street and parts of Ballymahon Street and Market Square. Use designated off-street car parks and allow extra time. The Market Square taxi rank will temporarily relocate to the Longford Arms Hotel on Richmond Street for the evening.

Worth knowing too: the procession isn’t a sensory-friendly event. It involves bright flashing lights, fire, loud drumming and rapid movement, so if that’s something you need to factor in for your family, plan accordingly. A designated accessible viewing area will be available in front of Supermac’s/AIB on Main Street.

And the most obvious but easily forgotten advice: dress for the weather. Almost everything across this festival is outdoors. Waterproofs, warm layers, sensible footwear. You know the drill.

For the full programme of events visit samhainheartlands.ie.