It's the most wonderful time of the year... Oh, wait, no, we are not there yet, it is only the end of September, so first we will have Halloween to get in the winter mood... To help you, we compiled a list of (more or less) family-friendly events taking place in Dublin this mid-term break, so all you have to do is pick a few (and book early to avoid disappointment).
Halloween Harvest Display at the National Botanic Gardens - 14 Oct
Pumpkin Festival at Scalp Wood - 14 - 30 Oct
Tickets are €2,5 per person. Under 2s are free. Get into the Halloween spirit and join us at Scalp Wood Nurseries for our annual Pumpkin Festival! Children can pick their own pumpkin for a small charge. Whatever the weather you are sure to enjoy yourself. We have a polytunnel complete with lots of activities to keep your little ones busy including blackboards, little tables and chairs with crayons to colour Spookley prints. Outside there is a Spookley maze.
Halloween Pirate Adventure at Rathwood - 20 - 31 Oct
Meet Captain Jack & Penelope Sail, help them find redbeards famous ship & hidden treasure before the evil captain hook. Follow the treasure map to the haunted part of the sea. Look out for evil captain hook along the way. On the way back from the haunted part of the sea, you will get to visit the Pirates Pumpkin Patch. Pick & Carve your Pumpkin. Suitable for younger kids (babies to 8 years of age). We are making it scarier after 4pm for bigger kids. Tickets: €10 / child, €7 / adult
Decorated Pumpkin Competition in the National Botanic Gardens - from 21 Oct
Halloween Spectacular at Wooly Wards Farm - 21 & 22 and 28 - 31 Oct
Scary Mary and her Family have welcomed visitors to the farm every year for the past six years with the event getting bigger and better each year! It is a great day for all the family with lots of activities including Pumpkin Carving, Halloween Show, House of Horrors, Creepy Creatures and lots more!
Halloween Festival in the National Botanic Gardens - 22 Oct
The Big Scream in the North East Inner City - 24 - 31 October
A series of local events taking place in Diamond Park, Sheriff Street and Ballybough Youth Centre all leading in to our main event on Halloween Night 31st October on Killarney Street where we will be featuring: Playstation Tournaments, a 150ft tall Bungee Jump, Silent Disco, Main Stage and much more. All ages are welcome, this is a no alcohol event.
Halloween at Firhouse Parent and Toddler Group - 25 Oct
Join us for our Halloween party this Wednesday, 25th Oct, 10-12. €3.50 per adult. Treats, face painting, balloons, bubbles and toys! Hope to see you and your little ones there!
Halloween Fright Fest at Wax Museum - 25 Oct - 1 Nov
This Halloween the museum is all kitted out in spooky decorations, giving the museum a creepy atmosphere. Do you dare enter the Chambers of Horror? Who knows what might be lurking in there? And for the younger ones out there, we’ll have loads of fun treats and activities for you to partake in (and for the adults too if they want!) We encourage everyone to come in fancy dress, the scarier the better! You can even come dressed as your favourite wax figure and impersonate him or her if you’d like! Family Ticket €39.
Halloween Party at Kidspace - 26 Oct
Nutgrove Arts Festival 2017 - 26 Oct - 4 Nov
Nutgrove Arts Festival is an annual celebration of community arts and culture, taking place in the unique setting of Nutgrove Shopping Centre in South County Dublin. Now in its seventh year, the festival has become an integral part of the local area’s cultural calendar, welcoming a selection of exciting performers, musicians and dancers to take over the centre for ten days each year. The festival works as an informal and exciting medium to experience creativity in all its forms. With a variety of music and art workshops there will be plenty to inspire creativity in the local community for all ages.
Halloween Family Fun Evening in The Park Community Centre - 27 October
Halloween Fancy Dress Ball at Spraoi - 27 Oct
Wicked Woods Dublin in Kilronan Equestrian Centre - 27 & 28 Oct
There will be a number of indoor activities and games for people to take part with and support the charity if you don't wish to do the Wicked Woods Trail, so please feel free to come up on the night and support.
Bram Stoker Festival (various locations) - 27 - 30 Oct
Enchanted Halloween at Malahide Castle - 27 - 30 Oct
Join us this Halloween at Malahide Castle for some creepy sounds and tales throughout our haunted rooms. Listen out for some surprises as the storyteller walks you through these enchanted tales. Interact with some of the oldest paintings within the Castle and watch out for that naughty jester, Puck, who might just make an appearance! Kids big and small will have the chance to play with live sounds through interactive exhibitions. Don’t miss this unique, creative and quirky 3D audio Spooktacular!! Tickets are €10 / child, €8 / adult.
Sandymount Scarecrow and Pumpkin Festival at Sandymount Green - 27 - 31 Oct
Dockers and Demons in Dublin 4 - 27 - 31 Oct
A lot of strange and spooky things are going to be happening in the coming days leading up to Halloween. A chartered boat for Dublin Bay has gone missing and rumours are a White Demon is on board. Who is this creepy character and what does he want with the the people of Ringsend and Irishtown? Rumours of the banshee wailing under the bridge have been heard. The veil is rising and the bank holiday weekend will see the arrival of many ghouls and ghosts in the village.
Halloween House of Horrors in Ardgillan Castle - 27 Oct - 1 Nov
Please note that this Halloween we are creating a different style of event. There will not be a performance where you follow a guide through the castle telling a story. Visitors will venture through our house of horrors on their own, entering each space and room in groups of no more than ten people. This will be scarier than ever so please brace yourself… Suitable for 6+.
Dundrum on Ice - 27 Oct - 14 Jan
Halloween Spooktacular Party at Panda Play Cafe - 28 Oct
We're thrilled to announce our awesome plans for Halloween this year! On Saturday 28th we will be hosting two parties, one from 2-3:30pm and a repeat from 4:30-6pm for those who prefer a later time. We'll be playing tons of awesome games, some for adults and some for kids, there will be glitter tattoos, arts & crafts, and we'll finish up by roasting our own marshmallows over the fire! (with adult supervision!) The final event will be the prizes for the best, scariest and funniest costumes from both adults and children, so come prepared, and you may win free visits to PPC, or even a whole 10 Visit Play Pass! Normal entry fee applies, but we recommend you purchase your ticket in advance to secure your spot.
Howl-o-ween in Finglas - 28 Oct
Calling out to any Barking Banshees or Howling Horrors. The Dogs Trust Education team have a spooktacular occasion planned for Saturday, October 28th at 12pm-2pm, and we are hoping you will join us for our annual Howl-O-Ween event. For any Guys and Ghouls lucky enough to take part, we will be hosting a Halloween safety workshop, followed by a behind the scenes tour of our rehoming facility. Once back, the lights will be turned off, and you will be told the eerie tale of the Werewolf of Dogs Trust. If you manage to survive the story, there will be sweets and goodies for everyone to feast on. Did we mention that this event is fancy dress? Oh yes, we want to see your most fiendish, and scary costumes- and there will be prizes for our favourites. Please make sure your costume is removable however, so you don’t shock any of our resident dogs while on the tour. This is a ticketed event, and is always popular, so please book early to avoid disappointment and a haunting.
Art Workshop at Hugh Lane Gallery - 28 Oct
Fee: €5 per child, please book your place early. Suitable for kids 6-10.
Halloween Market at Bushy Park Market - 28 October
Bushy Park Market HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN DAY! Saturday 28th Oct. from 12-3pm. A great day out is promised with entertainment for everyone. Expect scary Witch Face Painters and Balloon Modeling, Spooky Halloween Stories and a staged Halloween Garden for the younger ones to play in. This will be the last market for 2017, so make sure to come on down and bring your friends and family members!
Family Workshop Day at NCH - 28 Oct
Halloween Party at Cafe O'Play - 28 Oct
Spooky arts and crafts. Foxy cup cake decoration. Halloween painting. Come in your costume and pick up a free trick or treat goodie box!
Creepy Crafts in Rathfarnham Castle - 28 Oct
Join us in the home of the original 'Adams family' (Adam Loftus commissioned the castle in 1583!) for some very, very creepy crafts for young witches, wizards, ghosts, ghouls and other scary creatures! Use your special Halloween magic to make your way here and dare to dabble in our drop-in art and craft activities for children. Admission for young witches, wizards, ghosts, ghouls and other scary creatures and their grown-ups will be free!
Halloween Spooktacular at Olive's Room, St Anne's Park - 28 Oct
Sacred Spells: Mummy Riddles Drop-in Activity in the National Museum (Archaeology) - 28 Oct
Learn how the Ancient Egyptians prepared and protected themselves for the afterlife. Decode some curses and make your own sarcophagus to bring home! No booking required, for kids 7+.
Creepy-Crawlie Event at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - 28 Oct
Join IWT member Kevin Delahunty to learn about all the "creepy-crawlies" - insects and invertebrates - to be found in our green areas and open spaces. A perfect event for the kids!
Spooktacular Halloween Event at the Square - 28 October
The Haunted Pirate Ship will be docking at the Centre Mall on Level 2 this Halloween! The event is taking place on Saturday, 28th of October! It will run from 1pm until 4pm! This is a must see Haunted Pirate Ship with pirates who have brought along Vampire Paddy Drac! With Spooktacular FREE Face Painting and Creepy Arts & Crafts, you would be mad to miss it!
Halloween Fun for Kids in ILAC - 28 Oct
Stokerland in St Patrick's Park - 28 & 29 October
Hansel and Gretel in the Lambert Puppet Theatre - 28 & 29 Oct
Halloween Spooktacular at Newbridge House and Farm - 28 - 30 Oct
In conjunction with Corvenieos Entertainment, Newbridge House and Farm presents Halloween Spooktacular 2017. The Addams Family welcome you to their Halloween holiday home!
Creepy Town Family Fun at Castletown House - 28 - 31 Oct
Pooka-Spooka at Causey Farm - 28 - 31 Oct
Halloween at Butlers Chocolate Experience - 28 - 31 Oct
Halloween Workshops at Airfield Farm - 28 & 31 Oct
Halloween Fun at Clonfert Pet Farm - 28 - 31 Oct
Halloween at EPIC - 28 Oct & 1 Nov
Visit us on Saturday 28th Oct & Wednesday 1st Nov from 2-4pm for an afternoon of family friendly activities! Design your own scary hanging bat to take home at our arts and crafts station & have your face painted. We’re also giving away prizes for the best costumes, so there’s plenty to keep your little monsters happy!
Samhain Tours and Tales at the Gaa Museum - 28 Oct - 1 Nov
The GAA Museum is marking the ancient Irish festival of Samhain in a new specially-created family event – Samhain Tours & Tales – this Halloween. The Samhain festival traditionally marked the end of the harvest season and was the most important of all the Celtic celebrations. With this in mind the GAA Museum will be celebrating in style and invites families to take part in a unique experience which includes a stadium treasure hunt and a performance from one of Ireland’s leading ‘seanchaithe’ or storytellers. Visitors will follow harvest-themed clues around Croke Park to find Séamus the Samhain Scarecrow as he guards Harvest treasure somewhere in the stadium! The clues will lead through the dressing rooms and to pitchside in the hunt for the elusive Séamus who, when found, will have a small gift for all younger guests.
Halloween at Lullymore Heritage Park - 28 Oct - 3 Nov
Lots of ghastly ghouls and terrifying treats in store at Lullymore including Haunted Holograms, Terror Train Trips, Terror Treasure Hunts and freaky fun in the devilish den of play—the Funky Forest.
Halloween at Dublinia - 28 Oct - 3 Nov
Halloween Family Fun at Kildare Maze - 28 Oct - 5 Nov
Halloween at Red Mountain Open Farm - 28 Oct - 5 Nov
Glendeer Fantastic Halloween Event - 28 Oct - 5 Nov
Halloween Mid-term Activities at The Ark - 28 Oct - 5 Nov
Over eight days, come and enjoy our mid-term music workshops, marvel at the aerial performers in Strange Feathers and have a boogie in our free outdoor Dracula's Disco!
Children's Mid-term Tales at Glasnevin Cemetery - 28 Oct - 5 Nov
Designed especially for children this brand new tour will showcase some of the cemetery's most entertaining stories. This Mid-Term, bring the whole family to hear fascinating tales of torpedoed ships, assassinated parrots and graverobbing galore. €7 per person.
Halloween themed self-guided woodland walk at Airfield Farm - 28 Oct - 5 Nov
Halloween Seasonal Fun at Killruddery House - 28 & 29 Oct
If ghosts and ghouls aren’t your kind of thing this Hallowe’en, bring the family to Killruddery for a weekend of bright and seasonal fun! Go to the pumpkin patch in the Walled Garden and choose a pumpkin of your own with help from our farmer. Then you can design it and have it carved out by a master craftsman! Family tickets from €35.
Samhain 2017 in Marlay Park - 29 Oct
We don't know why they choose the Sunday before Halloween each year but we have been warned that ghouls and goblins like The Gate Keeper, The Witches of the Woods, The Phantom Tailors and The Banshee will all make an appearance. Remember these creatures of the night practice dark magic and can take many forms. Take care not to get too close! As always, Samhain will feature a spook filled walk with Halloween Spirits, Chills, Freaks and Frights. For one petrifying night only, the woods will be alive with ghouls, goblins, and menacing manifestations. Dress your worst and join us for a fright in the forest.
Halloween Family Drop-in Workshop at the National Gallery - 29 Oct
Families will be encouraged to doodle and draw different monster characters – both those hidden and in plain sight in the gallery collection, and those found only in the imagination! Tarsila will talk about mythical beasts and monsters, and offer suggestions and ideas for the monster parts. Extra eyes, heads, noses, fur, scales welcome! Admission is free, no booking is required.
Sunday Sketching in Hugh Lane Gallery - 29 Oct
During these free sketching workshops for families we invite you to explore and respond together to our collection and temporary exhibitions through discussion and drawing. Bring your own sketchbook along or avail of the drawing materials provided. No booking required, although numbers may be limited. Suited for ages 6+.
Halloween Marionettes at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - 29 Oct
The Moon & Sixpence Puppet Theatre will present marionette peformances of "Red Riding Hood" at 1.30pm and 3pm on Sunday, 29th October 2017 at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre. Admission is free, as the shows are funded by the Visitors Centre. “Red Riding Hood” featuring the classic fairy-tale characters and a talking dustbin, who encourages children to pick up litter. The production, lasting fifty minutes, is performed live with music and sound effects and draws plenty of audience participation, as much from adults as from children. This string puppet production includes a moral in the tale, showing the importance of helping others.
Jackula at Mill Theatre - 29 Oct
Being a vampire sucks, but being Dracula’s younger brother is driving Jackula batty. Join Jackula on a spooktacular quest to to step out of his older brother’s shadow and become the world’s most magical vampire. Laugh as Jackula makes his pet ghost dance. Gasp as Jackula balances five glasses of water on his face. Smile as children help him perform fun magic tricks. After the show Jackula invites everyone to stay, perform a trick and receive a treat. This is a fun magic for the whole family and perfect for Halloween. Tickets are €7 per person.
Stay Bright on Fright Night at Kill-O-Grange Fire Station - 29 October
Family Movie Night at Rathfarnham Castle - 29 October
We are so excited to announce our latest festival event - a free family movie night at Rathfarnham Castle. This is a free event, but you will need to register. Keep an eye on this page for further updates in the coming days. And don't forget that it's an ourdoor event, so please dress accordingly!
Children's Events in the Botanic Gardens - 30 Oct - 1 Nov & 3 Nov
