Before Halloween, there was Samhain, an old Celtic tradition to mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter, or the "darker half" of the year. Celebrating Samhain in style, Waterford is kicking off its Halloween weekend on October 25 with the Samhain Shadows and Fire Procession, a family-friendly parade by award-winning street spectacle creators Spraoi. 

This year's procession is inspired by An Dearg Dua, a mythical vampire and unique piece of Waterford folklore. Follow the street performers and towering floats as they make their way from the Irish Wake Museum all the way through the city centre. 

You'll find another thrilling Samhain Fire and Shadows Procession at the tail-end of the Dead of Night Halloween Festival in Longford. Running across the Bank Holiday weekend, the festival will feature street performers and family-friendly events and culminate on Monday in the procession through the town, with a fiery finale in Connolly Barracks.

Head to Trim and Athboy in County Meath to reconnect with Halloween's roots and get into some mischief at the Púca Festival. While much of the lineup is focused on adults-only performances, there's also family fun to be had all weekend long at the sprawling Púca Harvest Market at the Porchfields, Trim. Kids can turn back time with ancient cooking, weaving and arrow-making demonstrations at the immersive Déise Medieval Village, or join along in a bread-making workshop. Little archeologists can even dig for treasures and artefacts with 'The Big Dig' excavation workshop. 

You can also bring the kids to the all-ages Sorcas na Samhna, a dazzling circus with aerial acts, Irish dancing and singing, thrilling daredevils and funny clowns. Older kids can join a historical walking tour of the Hill of Ward or the Beyond the Veil Trail with spooky storytelling.

During the Luggwoods Hooky Spooky Halloween Experience, a guide will bring you and your crew along a forest trail to find the ingredients for a friendly witches Halloween brew. Set at the base of the Dublin Mountains in Saggart, this fully outdoor experience is a great spot to enjoy a safe Halloween evening in natural surroundings. Dress up, get some family photos and let everyone’s imaginations run wild in the hills.

Crisp, clear days make for memorable family outings in the great outdoors. At the Halloween Happenings event at Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park in Kildare, the natural history of the Irish peatlands unfolds in the breathtaking Bog of Allen. Go flora and fauna spotting on the Biodiversity Boardwalk before setting out with older kids on a Terror Treasure Hunt or Terror Train Trip.

Parents and kids over 10 can walk through the ‘Gates of Hell’ on a tour of the historic dungeon at Wicklow Gaol. The immersive experience, bolstered by elements of virtual reality, will guide you through the gaol’s grisly history of corruption, rebellion and darkness. You’ll hear stories of the gaol’s most infamous prisoners – and you might see why it’s dubbed one of the most haunted places in Ireland.

It's all aboard the Rathwood Express in Carlow for a jaunt through a forest full of surprises on the Spooktacular Train Adventure. Brave the winding paths on the Pumpkin Hunt in the Maze of Ireland. After, head to the Big Top where the Rathwood Halloween Pantomime stages an all singing, all dancing musical performance of A (teeny) Terror at the Toy Shop, an interactive family experience which invites all young spectators to take part. Kids get a complimentary hot cocoa, as well as a pumpkin to take home with them.

See the sights while you get a good scare on a paranormal journey of discovery with Kilkenny Ghost Tours or Kilkenny Haunted Dark Tours. Walk the cobbled lanes of Kilkenny city from St Mary’s Church to Kilkenny Castle. Follow in the notorious footsteps of Dame Alice Kyteler, the Kilkenny Witch. Tales of torture will have you looking over your shoulder as you meander through Ireland’s oldest medieval city.

Halloween at Leahy's Open Farm in Cork allows kids quality time with farmyard favourites like Daisy the Cow and a gaggle of friendly geese. Each child has the chance to carve their own pumpkin and craft a tasty Halloween-inspired lollipop before hopping on the haunted hayride through a witchy wood. 

Hop on your broomstick and attend the Sandy Feet Farm School of Witchcraft and Wizardry just outside Tralee in County Kerry. Families can enjoy fright-free fare with interactive lessons in potion-making, flying, wand-making and spell-casting. Alongside some tasty Halloween treats from the on-site café, each child gets their very own pumpkin to carve and bring home.

Located in Roscahill, the gateway to Connemara, Brigit’s Garden – or rather, four gardens – takes you on a journey through the Celtic cycle of the seasons. Pay a special visit to the Samhain garden at the Howling Halloween event from October 26 to 28. Kids can dress up for the Ghastly Ghouls Treasure Hunt around the garden, with spooky storytelling and a potion-making class in the roundhouse. 

Explore the mysterious wood while trying to solve a spooky murder mystery with Halloween Orienteering at Wildlands, County Galway. Join forces with fellow kid detectives and keep your eyes peeled for clues which will help you solve the murder which haunts the forest. There’s also an outdoor zipline and indoor play areas to explore.

Dubbed Ireland's "Gate to Hell," the cave of Uaimh na gCat (Oweynagat) in County Roscommon has strong ties to the ancient festival of Samhain. Take a guided visit to the cave and down to the bowels of the Earth with the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre on their special Origins of Samhain Cave Tour running from October 23 to November 8.

From October 19, head to Murtagh's Organic Farm in Westmeath for Halloween Fun on the Farm. The Halloween Pumpkin Patch will feature pumpkin picking, a mini maze and a meet-and-greet with the animals. Get the little ones in their costumes for a family photo op – there's a prize for best costume.

Based at the Nenagh Arts Centre in Tipperary, the Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival has loads of free and ticketed events for creative kids and the wider community from October 29 to November 2. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, expect five full days of arts and crafts, innovative performances and Halloween fun for the whole family. 

Say hello to the meerkats, lemurs, llamas and more at Wexford's Secret Valley Wildlife Park. In October, the park opens its doors for its Fall Festival, with special seasonal treats like pumpkin picking, tractor rides and a corn maze. Kids can feed the goats and learn to handle smaller animals before heading out into the park for an autumn adventure.

The serene Lafcadio Gardens in Tramore provide a relaxing escape most days of the year, but in the lead up to Halloween, the Japanese-inspired gardens are transformed into something spooky for the Spirits of the Kwaidan Ghostly Woodland Walk. Little ones will find ghouls, ghosts, skeletons and witches hidden among the flowers and trees, and hear the age-appropriate Japanese ghost stories from Hearn's book, Kwaidan. 

Bring the family to Clonfert Pet Farm in Kildare throughout October for Halloween at Clonfert, packed with seasonal activities that are fun for all ages. Little ones can pick a pumpkin and say hi to the animals, while older kids can head to the fun fair with rides and a haunted house. 

Explore beautiful Mount Congreve Gardens in Waterford on a spooky Halloween Trail that runs from October 26 to 31. Kids can dress up and head out on a guided adventure through the gardens, warding off goblins and ghouls as they go – they'll be rewarded with a pumpkin of their choice at the end of the trail.

Alongside the adorable farm animals that call Nore Valley Park Pet Farm in Kilkenny home, visitors of all ages can gather in the run up to Halloween to welcome the spooky season. Roam their pumpkin fields and let the kids pick their favourite, put your costumes to the test in the Fancy Dress Competition, explore the grounds on the Torchlight Treasure Hunt, or – if you're feeling brave – delve into their Scare Maze for a night of fright.

Make your way to Castlecomer Discovery Park in Kilkenny for their Witching Hour events and get the whole family involved in the traditions behind Halloween. From immersive creative workshops for kids (and adults) to a treasure hunt in the heart of the woods, it's the perfect way to get everyone into the Halloween spirit. 

Wait for the sun to go down and head to Carlingford for the Adventure Lights at Skypark, Ireland's biggest adventure park. Follow the lit outdoor path and enjoy the spectacle of their illuminated 3D statues, fun activity zones and creative installations. 

Reach new heights and make friends with ghosts and ghouls at Beyond the Trees Avondale in Wicklow. Dress the whole family up in their best Halloween costumes and enjoy a spin on the Spooky Train. Or stop by the Halloween Workshop and let the little ones learn a few frightfully fun art and crafts before designing their very own Halloween-inspired cookie. If their sweet tooth still isn't satisfied, there are Trick or Treat bags filled with tasty goodies that they can bring with them for the journey home. 

The seasonal Killarney Pumpkin Farm is back from October 2. From pumpkin picking and petting adorable alpacas to navigating the ghost bus to taking a peek inside the witch's haunted cottage, the little ones will have plenty of spooktacular activities to choose from.