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23rd October 2015
08:00am BST
To celebrate Halloween, your little spooked-up artists can create their own Lego horror movie, get crafty with handprint Vampire cards, make cool monster sun catchers, funky pumpkins and little zombies. The kids will be able happily scare the beyjaysus out of unsuspecting grown-ups on Halloween night. If you need a bigger thrill, take a trip to the most haunted house in Ireland, Loftus Hall nearby or get an eerie feeling at Wells House and Gardens, for another outdoorsy spookfest.
The details: October 24 and 30. €15 for tickets. Workshops are for: 4 - 6 or 7 - 11-year-olds.
2. Galway Aboo Festival
This is one of the biggest Halloween festivals in Ireland. The parade is choreographed by magical event and puppeteer company, Macnas, the infamous experts in International street theatre. The event kicks off on Sunday 25th at dusk. Galway is well-known for its lively bars – epic for mom zombies who love a bit of the red stuff.
The details: October 24, 25 and 31. Everywhere in the Latin Quarter from Shop Street onwards.
3. The Ark Dublin - Mid-term popular music week
As always, The Ark has a freakishly good line-up of events. Get into the spooky spirit and don your costumes for the anticipated Halloween DJ Disco with prizes for the best-dressed family. There's also some awesome craft workshops,the 'Bram Jam' for little Dracs who like to boogie and spooky storytelling for those who can cope with the fright and want to wind down.
The details: October 26 - 31. Book tickets for certain events here.
4. Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Cavan
Four days and nights of bloodcurdling fun in Cavan. Every year the ‘Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in’ attracts growers with pumpkins weighing from 500lbs to 1,000lbs. Your little creeps will be blown away trying to comprehend how farmers grew pumpkins to these gigantic sizes. For families, there's a 'haunted' forest walk, street theatre, artisan food and craft fair. Other amazing interactive events throughout the festival make it one of the best in Ireland, hands-down. Go here if you want a Halloween full of activity. Epic.
The details: €15 for the evening fancy dress party. The daytime event is free. Beginning with the Forest of Fear walk on October 23 –31 October.
5. Belfast Halloween Food Tour
The foodie's tour of Belfast will put the love of food and fear of unwanted ghoulish dinner guests into your family Halloween weekend away. You'll visit eight different spots around the city where you'll get to eat and drink over 23 local foods including homemade witches' punch and creepie-crawlie pies!
The details: October 30, €45 for tickets (probably one for the adults, not the kids!).
6. The Dragon of Shandon Festival and Parade
Cork Community Art Link group go all-out for this event each year – it's a festival for 'beasts, visionaries, ghouls, and misfits' according to the organisers with workshops, art and literary events for families. Culminating in a huge parade where the 'Dragon of Shandon' emerges from the underground. That will give you the heebie-jeebies for suresies. Check it out.
The details: October 29 - 31.
7. Spirit of Meath Festival
The site of Tlachtga on the Hill of Ward is believed to have been the first site of the celebration of Samhain (Celtic Halloween). This festival began the new Celtic year, and rituals have taken place in the spot as far back as 1000 BC. Priests, augurs and druids travelled there to light the winter fires in tribute to the Newgrange Fire Festival. Under penalty of law, all fires that were lit within the kingdom on the now modernised Halloween night, were to be kindled from the fire at Tlachtga Samhain. Cool, eh?
Our ancestors believed the graves would open and Gods and spirits would walk the earth again. Yikes! Anyway, the festival in Meath is so authentic with Halloween hunts, quizzes, farmaphobia events, a megalithic man challenge – for daring Dads – and literally dozens more events. If that's not hair-raising enough for you, visit nearby Tayto Park and ride the new terrifying Cú Chulainn roller-coaster at night. Yep, you'll be shaking after that one.
The details: October 16 - 31. Booking recommended.
8. Derry tops it in the Halloween party stakes
It's just been announced that this city is the outright winner for best Halloween Parade in an International poll, according to our bro's over on Joe.ie. The city will be celebrating the Mexican festival 'Dia del Los Muertos' (Day of the Dead) this year too so the colour and spectacle will be heightened more than ever. Derry will finish the fun weekend with Europe's Biggest Street Carnival and a huge fireworks display.
The details: October 29 - November 1.
9. Bram Stoker Festival Dublin
The life, work and legacy of Dublin horror novelist Bram Stoker and his dark novel ‘Dracula’ is the basis of this three-day Halloween festival for kooky kids, trickster teens and grown-ups. Inspired by the Dublin-born writer of the notorious novel 'Dracula', the festival celebrates the Gothic, the mysterious, and the after-dark with a devilish mixture of family fun, arts, giant installations, great literature and guaranteed drama. Just remember to expect the unexpected peeps. There will even be an unnerving exhibition by Ireland's favourite street artist Maser and for the parents, a superb performance by Una Mullaly and Vicky Curtis, I got the Seanchaí, I go the Secret. You are in for a treat.
The details: October 23 - 26. Tickets available for certain events here.
10. Not sure where you're going this Halloween? What about a Halloween road trip to one of these spooky festivals:
In the Midlands? Venture to Aisling Arts Festival in Longford, or Hulabaloo, Offaly's Children's Arts Festival. Hullabaloo showcases the amazing 'Pitschi the Kitten with Dreams' as their show highlight this year.
In Mayo? Check out the famous Roolaboola Children's Theatre Festival with top-class national and International children's theatre and a 'Song of the Sea' exhibition based on the Oscar-nominated, animated film by Cartoon Saloon.
In Kerry? Get yourselves to the Haunted Hall at Kerry County Museum where a wrong turn can end in screams! You'll be entertained and terrified in equal measures.
The details: October 23 – 31. Have a peep for further info and gruesome encounters right here.
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