Many Samhna Attractions Planned

The hospitality sector is planning to boost business over the Halloween holiday with a varied programme of "spooky" events.

In Dublin, EPIC will have two Halloween special events suitable for families – one featuring the tale of iconic vampire Dracula, while other events focus on the Irish origins of Halloween. 

The popular Bram Stoker Festival returns to Dublin for four days and nights of frightening entertainment from Friday October 25th through to Monday 28th. The celebration pays homage to Bram Stoker, the Dubliner who created the novel Dracula, which was first published 126 years ago.

In Waterford, a Samhain festival is on offer with a celebration of folklore, magic and myth of Ireland’s ancient Halloween traditions throughout the October Bank Holiday weekend. The city’s streets will be awash with a fusion of spooky, spectral and bewitching events under the watchful eye of An Dearg Dua, a 2,000-year-old female vampire with binding Déise connections.

On Friday, October 25th, the award-winning street spectacle creators, Spraoi, return to the streets of Waterford with a shadowy Samhain procession.

Stretch your legs along the Grand Canal Greenway in Offaly and venture towards Lloyd Town Park where the Púca Spooka will return this October with new attractions and experiences, along with many returning favourites. The festival starts on Saturday, October 26th, and runs until Sunday, October 27th.

For leaf peepers and ghost peepers, you’ll find everything along the Lough Derg Blueway under the canopy of Portumna Forest Park, which will offer an enchanted fairy village or trails of terror on Sunday October 20th.

Step into the spooky world of Lough SpooKey this Halloween at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, where a mix of outdoor and indoor displays promises fun and frights for the whole family. On Sunday, October 27th, from 2pm to 4pm, enjoy the excitement of Giant Inflatables and the Walking with Dinosaurs spectacle. For younger visitors, the hilarious Custard Pie Puppet Shows will keep everyone entertained.