Luckily, there will be no shortage of events for Dubs to enjoy.
Luggwoods Hooky Spooky Halloween
Set at the base of the Dublin Mountains in Saggart, a guide will bring you along a forest trail to find the ingredients for a friendly witch’s Halloween brew.
Described as an “outdoor Halloween Family Experience in the most beautiful and natural surroundings imaginable”, families are encouraged to dress up and embrace the fun.
Children also get to pick their own pumpkin at the end of the tour.
The Hooky Spooky Halloween will take place from October 19 to 31. Tickets cost €15.95 for adults and €19.95 for children. For more information visit luggwoodswevents.com
Paranormal Investigation at the Mansion House
A brand-new event will take place at Dublin’s historic Mansion House this Halloween.
Lord Mayor James Geoghegan identified a lack of activities for teenagers to do in Dublin city centre around Halloween and is hoping this event will help fill that void.
“For the first time ever, we are transforming the Mansion House into a scare-filled Paranormal Investigation theatrical show,” councillor Geoghegan said.
“The Mansion House is over 300 years old, so who knows there might already be some ghostly activities in the building. But this year I’m making it official, so come along…if you dare.
“While the main event is for teenagers 13+, we are also going to provide a pumpkin patch in the Mansion House Garden transformed for the occasion to welcome children of all ages,” he added.
Over four days, starting Wednesday, October 30, 1,500 teenagers will venture through the eerie rooms and haunted halls, delving into the supernatural hair-raising special effects, and chilling ghost stories from Dublin’s past.”
Tickets are priced €5 per person, inclusive of a €1 booking fee, with a charitable contribution being made to Barnardo’s.
A number of tickets will also be made available for use by inner city community groups and other community initiatives located around Dublin city.
Bram Stoker Festival
This year’s programme has tricks and treats for all the family, plus a few adult-appropriate jump-scares.
There’ll be the Haunting of Gusty Nook stage show at Axis Ballymun; pyrotechnics at Dublin Castle; Spooky Stories at Marsh’s Library; DJ Donal Dineen’s daytime disco at The Ark; a Horrorthon of movies at the IFI; and a Stokerland fun fair in St Patrick’s Park.
Events will take place from October 25 until the 28. There’s something for everybody, and you can find out more on the programme here.
Halloween at Dublin Zoo
For some family-friendly fun, head to Dublin Zoo from October 29 to 31 for their annual Halloween celebration – all treats, no tricks.
There’ll be pumpkin carving and animal-themed Halloween crafts, while the zoo’s resident animals will also be getting into the festive spirit, with special themed enrichment activities.
Activities will include a Spooky Trail, facepainting in the Farmhouse from 10am to 3pm, and creepy keeper talks throughout the day, all included in the cost of entry, but tickets must be prebooked.
One child in costume will receive free entry to Dublin Zoo per full paying adult on each of the three days.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
For Halloween this year, EPIC has two spine-tingling events to captivate families and history enthusiasts alike.
The Beware of Dracula Halloween Family Tour explores the dark and mysterious world of Bram Stoker’s famous creation.
Families can locate clues hidden in the museum’s galleries that point to Dracula’s whereabouts. They can learn more about the Dublin-born writer’s life and the novel that shaped how we interpret vampires today.
Meanwhile, Ghosts, Ghouls and Goodie Glover Day: The Irish Origins of Halloween, is an exploration of Halloween’s Irish roots through talks, interactive exhibits and themed activities.
Visitors will learn how Samhain evolved into the Halloween celebration we know today and how Irish ghost stories travelled with the Irish diaspora to America and became part of the local customs, shaping the story of the Jack-o-Lanterns in the US.
Tickets for adults are €23 and €15 for children which covers admission to the museum.
Tallaween
A virtual Halloween theme park will take over Tallaght from October 19. The Tallaween Festival will begin as part of the annual Red Line festival taking place this month.
Tallaween transforms the streets of Tallaght into a living, breathing storybook. Inspired by Dante’s Inferno, this multimedia experience will bring to life creatures from mythology, horror and science fiction.
The library’s darkest tales will come to life with monsters, demons, and zombies escaping the pages and descending upon Parthalán Place.
The multimedia spectacle features an augmented reality mobile game, a thrilling video projection with a laser light show and a live performance kicking off outside the Civic Theatre.
There’ll also be performances on the night from celebrated singer Claudia Boyle, hip-hop featuring Fortune and Saibh who had a Number 1 in June on the Apple Charts with Siren Song. Tickets are free but must be prebooked, find out more here.
Dublin’s Ghostbus Tour
For a unique way to see the city and hear some of its scariest stories, book a seat on the Ghostbus Tour. The two-hour tour takes you through Dublin’s darker side, visiting key haunted locations while learning about the dark side to Dublin’s fair city.
The Ghostbus storytellers bring tales from Dublin’s dark history to life and you’ll experience a crash course in the art of body snatching form the handbook of Dr Samuel Clossey himself, as well as visiting the scenes of some of Dublin’s most horrific and shocking paranormal activities.
You’ll be brought on a whirlwind tour of Dublin’s darkest corners and meet the sinister characters. Tickets start from €35.