Liffey Valley's Free Pumpkin Playland Is the Mid-Term Hero You Need
If you’ve been quietly dreading the words “I’m bored” for the entire mid-term break, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre may have just saved your week. Pumpkin Playland is running right now at the Red Rotunda (near M&S and Next) and it’s completely free — which, let’s be honest, is the magic word when you’ve got multiple small people to entertain.
The Halloween activation is on daily from 12pm to 4pm right through to Saturday 31st October and it’s genuinely packed. We’re talking creepy crafts, ghoulish games and face painting that will have your kids looking properly terrifying before you’ve even had a chance to find matching wellies for the trick-or-treating later.
What’s on at Pumpkin Playland
The whole setup is designed for younger visitors — little witches, wizards, ghosts and ghouls who have energy to burn and zero interest in trailing around shops while you try to figure out what to buy your mother-in-law. The craft and games activities are hands-on and well-suited to the mid-term crowd, and the face painting is completely free of charge, which feels almost too good to be true at this stage of the Halloween season.
On Friday 30th October, there’s an extra reason to call in — kids visiting Pumpkin Playland will get the chance to spin the wheel for a tasty treat from Insomnia. Small things, big excitement.
The Boo-gie Bash Disco on Halloween night
The whole thing builds to a proper Halloween finale on Saturday 31st October with the Boo-gie Bash Disco, running from 12pm to 4pm. Families are encouraged to come in full Halloween costume for an afternoon of dancing, music and general spooky chaos. If your kids have been in their costumes since approximately Tuesday, this is the event they’ve been waiting for.
Kids enjoying Halloween face painting and festive fun.
While you’re there
With over 80 stores across the centre — including Next, Dunnes, Penneys, H&M and Art & Hobby — there’s no shortage of last-minute Halloween inspiration if you still need a costume, some spooky décor or anything you forgot to pick up during the week. There’s also more than 20 restaurants and the Vue Cinema if you need to split up the day or reward everyone for good behaviour with food.
Liffey Valley is well served by the BusConnects Bus Plaza for anyone not driving, and there’s ample parking for those who are. Getting there is genuinely straightforward, which at this point in the week is exactly what a mid-term outing needs to be.
Pumpkin Playland is on daily until Saturday 31st October, 12pm to 4pm, free admission. For more information visit liffeyvalley.ie.