Family-friendly Halloween events in Cork to add to your calendar this weekend
The Dragon of Shandon is one of the highlights of Halloween in Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney.
The clocks have gone back by one hour, darkness is falling earlier, and nights have become colder and crisper, which can only mean one thing — Halloween is upon us.
All Hallows' Eve, commonly referred to as Samhain, is celebrated by families each year with spooky fun, costumes and trick-or-treating, and games such as snap apple.
In Cork, there are plenty of fun, free events taking place across the county for the whole family to enjoy.
The popular Dragon of Shandon will see creatures re-emerge from the underworld and parade down the streets of Cork City at 7pm on Saturday, October 31.
The 36-foot Dragon, which is the main attraction, has been made by the hands of the Cork City community and will once again prowl the streets escorted by her legion of loyal ghouls, beasts, misfits and spooky creatures, to celebrate the ancient tradition of Samhain in a thrilling nighttime parade and finale show.
Thousands of spectators are expected to line the city’s streets for the popular event, which is free to attend.
An Tulca is Kinsale’s community Samhain festival, celebrating Irish Halloween traditions through creativity, music, storytelling and shared experiences.
Rooted in years of community spirit, the festival brings people of all ages together to create lanterns, sing, share stories and take part in two spectacular community parades.
The festival features free workshops and events for families, residents and visitors, with an aim to make culture accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
The festival will take place in Kinsale town on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 Visit the Tulca Festival Instagram page for more information here.
The Spirit of Samhain in Youghal is a two‑day Celtic‑themed festival featuring ritual performances, storytelling, historical talks, and the iconic figure An Bhean Uisce, with events centred on Mall Beach and locations across the town.
The festival transports people back in time to the ancient Celtic traditions of Samhain.
An Bhean Uisce will once again walk through the streets collecting the hopes, dreams, and wishes of her town’s people. Youghal Library will come alive as storytellers weave haunting tales of spirits, lost souls, and eerie encounters.
The highlight of the Samhain festival will be the Witches’ Ritual. Guests are welcome to observe this ritual from the Mall walls, witnessing the blending of ancient traditions with our modern-day ones.
Visit the Spirit of Samhain Instagram page for more information here.
The Old Waterworks Experience on Lee Road is hosting a day of spooky science fun with a hand-on camp for children aged seven to 10 years.
The camp, taking place on-site, will explore the world of spooky bats and creepy crawlies with fun creations to take home.
The camp will run from 10am to 2pm on Friday, October 30. Visit here for more information.
The Samhain Parade of Light has returned to Killeagh, East Cork, offering a host of family-friendly fun over the mid-term break.
The festival, now in its fifth year, comes to a head this weekend with its main attraction, the parade of light.
The parade, led by artists Caoimhe Dunn and Martin O'Donoghue and which has grown into one of the East Cork arts centre's most anticipated community traditions, takes place at Glenbower Woods on October 30.
Celebrations began earlier this week with three family lantern-making workshops, which will be shown off during the parade of light procession, co-ordinated and led by master of ceremonies Martin O'Donoghue.
This year also brings a new feature to the programme. Helena Breathnach, a keeper of old lore, will introduce a Cailleach, the mythic hag figure of Celtic tradition, to the procession.
Leap has undergone a spooky transformation this Halloween. The West Cork village’s streets have come alive with a quirky army of straw creations in celebration of the Scarecrow Festival, which takes place until November 1.
The village will buzz with indoor festivities, gigs, arts and crafts workshops, dances, storytelling, street entertainment, family fun, and spooky surprises designed to capture the imagination of all ages.
Bandon’s Banshee Festival will feature arts and crafts workshops, parades and more across the week leading up to Halloween.
The Banshee party, parade and fire show will take place on October 30 from 3.30pm to 7pm. People attending will enjoy free burgers, and ghoulish face painting by Tracey Irwin of Mumbo Jumbo.
The Banshee parade will take place from 5.30pm and will end with the well-known ROGU fire show at 6pm.
For more information, visit Creative Bandon on Facebook here.
The perfect Halloween event for the whole family, Spike Island’s Spookfest Trail invites people to take the ferry across Cork Harbour to embark on a spooky adventure.
Little ones can trick or treat their way around the fortress while keeping an eye out for friendly tour guides who will be handing out sweet treats.
Along the trail, there will be fire juggling performances every hour by Cork circus skills performer, Circus Cake. Once the trick-or-treating is complete, families can relax at the cafe and kids playground.
Visit spikeislandcork.ie for more information and tickets.
Taking place in Doneraile across the Halloween weekend, Doneraile Samhain Festival invites people to celebrate all things Samhain.
A craft fair will take place on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 from 10.30am to 4pm in the town’s main street.
At 3.30pm on Saturday, October 31, a Halloween parade will head through the town. There will be dancing witches, a fire show and a Shakespeare troupe. The parade starts from Hickeys Pub and will walk down the town, entering the park via Fish Pond Lane.
Emily’s Bar will have a Halloween party on Saturday, starting from 8pm. Prizes will be awarded to those with the best costumes.
On Sunday, Doneraile Park and Tea Room will host a family fun day. Birds of prey and a kids’ party club will form part of the fun.
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