15 things to do in Dublin for Halloween 2025

The North of Dublin is going all out for their Halloween celebrations with the Fingal Festival Fire. The festival will take over three prime locations across the region: Balbriggan’s Bremore Castle, Swords Town Park and Millennium Park in Blanchardstown. 

Each location will celebrate Ireland as the official Home of Halloween on October 31 with impressive musical performances, vibrant firework displays and even a spooky DJ set. 

Bremore Castle, Swords Town Park, Millenium Park, Co Dublin; October 31; free.  

Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate are getting in the Samhain spirit with Pumpkins After Dark – Ireland’s newest outdoor Halloween event that’s ideal for the family. 

Level up your typical pumpkin patch experience with their 1km-long illuminated pumpkin pathway, where each step you take is lit up by an intricately carved sculpture. Along the way, you’ll meet fairies, dragons and other classic Halloween characters. You can also pick up carving tips from talented artists so that your pumpkin stands out from the rest. If all the excitement leaves you starving, feel free to indulge in the tempting selection of seasonal snacks and treats on-site. 

Newbridge House and Farm, Co Dublin; October 3-31; tickets starting at €23. 

Media captionExperience Newbridge House at night.

Media credit@pumpkinsafterdark_ireland

Set in the shadow of the iconic windmills, the Skerries Mills Fireshow Spectacular will feature fire performances, spooky spectacles and a mysterious special guest lighting up the night. This event overlaps with the Skerries Community Garden’s annual Scarecrow Festival, so you can wander the menagerie of straw figures before night falls. 

Skerries Mills, Skerries, Co Dublin; October 23 – 27; tickets starting at €24.50. 

Media captionGet in the Halloween spirit at the Skerries Mills.

Dracula is often a go-to Halloween costume, but did you know that its creator, Bram Stoker, was born in Dublin city? To celebrate the mind behind the fanged villain, the Bram Stoker Festival draws inspiration from the writer’s life and explores Dublin’s Gothic side. Kicking off on October 31, the four-day event will include a family-friendly Macnas Parade inspired by Stoker’s long-lost tale Gibbet Hill, the Irish premiere of Kwaidan in the National Concert Hall and fairground fun Stokerland for the kiddos. There’s plenty to sink your teeth into. 

Various venues across Dublin city; October 31 - November 3; tickets starting at €14. 

Media captionBring the family for a day out at Stokerland.

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie or just simply love a good murder mystery, keep your calendar free for A Traitorous Tale – an immersive experience filled with intrigue, suspense and surprises. Set on the stunning grounds of Malahide Castle and Gardens, you will need to roam the historic grounds once the sun has gone down and follow the clues to uncover the identity of the murderer.  

Once you have successfully found the culprit, reward yourself with a mocktail and Halloween-inspired bites. 

Malahide Castle and Gardens, Co Dublin; October 25-27; tickets starting at €35. 

Media captionUncover the little details of Malahide Castle.

You'll find scary movie masks decorating shopfronts in the lead up to Halloween, but the Irish masquerade tradition is much older than any horror franchise. Spend An Afternoon with the Fingal Mummers – a group of performative storytellers who have been sharing the history of masquerade rituals through song and dance for the last 42 years. Don your own mask to the family-friendly show and enjoy as they share Irish traditions like Vizards, Biddy Boys and Strawboys.  

Draíocht Theatre, Blanchardstown; November 1; tickets starting at €5. 

If you’re craving a level of fear that runs down your spine, see how you’d fare at The Nightmare Realm. From October 4 to November 2, step inside the country’s only indoor scream park and take on one of the terrifying attractions like Gallows Hill Asylum, Clowns in the Attic or The Little Museum of Horrors.  

Or save your bravery for another day and bring the kids along for their Trick or Treat Family Day on October 31. Enter Halloweentown – a frightfully sweet village filled with friendly characters, fun activities and plenty of sweets.  

Royal Liver Assurance Retail Park, Inchicore, Co Dublin; October 4 - November 2; ticket prices vary. 

Another Irish custom with ancient origins is the art of hurling. The GAA Museum – Croke Park combines the sport with Samhain to create their Hurloween Tours. GAA-crazy kids will learn all about the ancient sport, get a tour of the whole stadium, hear the story of Irish legend Setanta and get the chance to play some fun interactive games, all while in fancy dress. 

If you and your older teenagers are looking for something that will get your adrenaline pumping, try out the park's brand new tour, Tales from the Pale. Brave the famous stadium's rooftop walkway while your tour guide shares sordid tales of Dublin's ghosts, ghouls and thieves.

GAA Museum – Croke Park; October 25-November 2; tickets starting at €12. 

Share even more stories and legends with the little ones at Scarecrows of Samhain in the Casino Model Railway Museum. Here, they’ll hear all about Samhain traditions, folklore and even craft their own scarecrow in one of the guided workshops. 

Casino Model Railway Museum, Malahide, Co Dublin; October 25-31; tickets starting at €9. 

Media captionFeel like a giant at the Casino Model Railway Museum.

For those who appreciate the finer things in life, The Dining Club at Whitestown House is ringing in the Celtic new year with a lavish Samhain feast. Doll up for a seven-course, candlelit banquet featuring seasonal dishes, all inspired by Irish folklore and made using Irish produce. The meal is made all the more immersive by a live harpist plucking ancient melodies.  

Whitestown House Estate, Co Dublin; October 24-25; tickets starting at €140. 

Media captionEnjoy an atmospheric dinner at Whitestown House.

Media credit@thediningclub

Looking for a wholesome autumnal day out with the family? The Luggwoods Fall Festival is back for another season of fun. Think spooky forest trails, rides on the Spookwood Express, a visit to the Witch’s Cabin and winding mazes. Plus, there’s a huge pumpkin patch where the little ones can pick out their own pumpkins to take home. 

Luggwoods, Co Dublin; October 18 - November 2; tickets starting at €24.95. 

Uncovering Dublin’s eerie underbelly can work up an appetite, so why not learn all about the city’s ghost-ridden cemetery with a cup of tea in one hand and a scone in the other? Vintage Tea Trips hosts their own Glasnevin Dead Interesting Tour – a Halloween-inspired tour of Glasnevin Cemetery, Ireland’s largest cemetery. Cap off the day with a pint in the nearby Gravediggers Pub, which is rumoured to be the residence of a certain ghostly patron.  

Vintage Tea Trips, Stephen Court, Dublin city; October 4-27; tickets starting at €65. 

Media captionRoam Ireland's largest cemetery.

If you’re a music lover, the Howth Hooks and Reels Samhain Festival will have you tapping your foot late into the night. Taking place over three evenings in October, the festival welcomes musicians, writers and storytellers to share Halloween-themed songs and stories inspired by the mischievousness of Samhain.  

The Abbey Tavern, Howth, Co Dublin; October 16, 23 and 30; tickets starting at €15. 

Scary movies are back at the Irish Film Institute with their annual IFI Horrorthon. From October 23 to 27, catch spine-chilling new releases like Chris Stuckman’s Shelby Oaks and Bryan Fuller’s Dust Bunny alongside cult classics like The Descent. 

On October 25, the IFI is partnering with District Film Club to host their first Vampire’s Ball featuring three fanged classics: the Swedish original Let the Right One In, Stephen Norrington’s Blade and Clive Barker’s Lord of Illusions, which will be preceded by an intro on the filmmaker’s work by Dr Sorcha Ní Fhlainn of Manchester Metropolitan University. Once the credits roll, join your fellow cinephiles in the foyer for drinks, a DJ set and even a few prizes at the afterparty. 

The Irish Film Institute, Dublin city; October 23-27; tickets starting at €16.50. 

Media captionThrow yourself into the world of horror at the IFI.

With its manicured lawns and coastal views, Ardgillan Castle makes for a peaceful day out – but when the sun goes down, its ghostly residents may make their presence known. Experience the castle’s dark side at Fire and Folklore: a Samhain Journey – an interactive Halloween tour led by costumed actors. Admire the grounds as you learn about Samhain traditions, harvest customs and the tragic tale of the ghostly Lady of the Stairs.  

Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan, Co Dublin; October 25-31; tickets starting at €12. 

Media captionDiscover a different side to Ardgillan Castle.

Feel the fright

Embrace capital’s dark side and explore the most haunted locations in Dublin.