Dublin really turns it up to eleven for the season, and Halloween's not the only spooky holiday on the cards. Samhain Festival crosses over with the festivities, celebrating the end of the Harvest. With ghosts, ghouls, and goblins galore, here's our guide to everything Dublin has to offer around Halloween.
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Murder Mystery Hunt
Whodunnit? Well, that's exactly what you're going to find out at Dublin's National Wax Museum where a murder's taken place and imposing Viking Joe is a major suspect. Help him prove his innocence by following the clues (in costume of course) to discover what really happened. A great Halloween pick if you've got kids in tow.
Halloween at Dublinia
Halloween at Dublinia
Take a step into Ireland's dark past at Dublinia, where the entire space will be transformed into medieval Dublin at the height of the Black Death. Dubliners will be roaming the halls, looting corpses for treasure as they share their stories about the plague, clutching at healing herbs to keep them healthy as they pass. Crafted by the Delig Inis theatre group, it's an immersive experience designed to be enjoyed by the entire family.
Spooktacular Boo!
Spooktacular Boo!
Every year, Dublin Zoo gets in on the festive fun and decks out its sprawling enclosures with Halloween-themed decor. With a long list of fun activities including a monster disco, spooky arts and crafts, and face painting for all those who want to up their fancy dress game, one of the highlights of the season is watching the elephants play with masses of pumpkins, joyfully smashing them to pieces.
Ghastly Glasnevin Tours
Ghastly Glasnevin Tours
There's nowhere eerier than a graveyard and Dublin's iconic Glasnevin Cemetery is a prime location for Halloween. This Halloween, they'll be running a number of horrifying tours where they delve into the unsavoury characters buried in the cemetery and its spooky past. Naturally, fancy dress is a must and it's ideal for younger children right before you delve into the trick or treat circuit.
Bram Stoker Festival
Bram Stoker Festival
While books like Twilight may have altered our perception of vampires forever, it's great to remember how terrifying, sensual, and complex they once were at the Bram Stoker Festival. Held over several days, there'll be everything from screenings of film adaptations to a Victorian-themed amusement park to get you into the Halloween spirit. Just remember to have a garlicky meal beforehand and bring a vial of holy water with you - you know, just in case.
Macnas Parade
Macnas Parade
Yes, this is technically part of the Bram Stoker Festival, but it deserves a whole category of its own. Held on the 30th of October, this gigantic parade turns Dublin on its head and brings chaotic revelry to its streets as an eerie monstrous procession navigates its twists and turns. With gigantic monsters and creepy entertainers ruling the capital after dark, it's a unique way to spend the spookiest time of the year - don't forget to come dressed the part.
The Nightmare Realm
Think you're brave? Prove your metal at The Nightmare Realm, one of Dublin's scariest haunted houses. It's not at all for the faint of heart and best explored with a group, with the house straying firmly away from lame cliches like ghosts in sheets - instead drawing on horror films and the stuff of nightmares to terrify you. One of the top things to do this Halloween in Dublin, it's been known to be so gruesome and scary that people regularly bow out - you in?
Horror Expo
Bram Stoker's not the only one in town with a convention. The Horror Expo is coming to Dublin and if you're a fan of the genre, it's an absolute must. With horror-themed Q&A panels, movie screenings and live paranormal investigations, there's so much to see and do. If you're looking to brush up on your fancy dress skills, there's a few SFX make-up artists ready to share their tips on getting zombified and ready for the monster ball.
Halloween at the Lighthouse
Halloween at the Lighthouse
All month long, the Lighthouse Cinema will be showing a string of horror flicks including classics like the Creature from the Black Lagoon through to modern day theatre epics like NT Live's rendition of Frankenstein. While some of the screenings are a part of the Bram Stoker Festival (yes, Dracula's in there somewhere in the line up), you'll be able to rock up and make the most of the cinema's festivities - all with a bucket of popcorn.
Save up to 50% on Dublin attractions
Discover our full line-up of Dublin attractions from Dublin Castle to the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
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