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 Spraoi Fire and Shadows: Dearg Dué Procession, a family-friendly parade by award-winning street spectacle creators Spraoi. 

This year's procession is inspired by An Dearg Dué, 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. 

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. If they like what they see, they can even learn the art of juggling and hula-hooping at the Circus Workshop. Meanwhile, older kids can join the Beyond the Veil Trail for spooky storytelling, and watch shapeshifting spirits roam the streets at the Púca Procession on November 1.

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.

It's all aboard the Rathwood Express in Carlow for a jaunt through a forest full of surprises with the Rathwood Halloween Spook-tacular. Brave the winding paths on the Pumpkin Hunt in the Maze of Ireland – kids get a complimentary pumpkin to take home with them. After, head to the Big Top for a performance filled with magic, mystery, and Halloween surprises.

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 one of Ireland’s oldest medieval cities.

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. At the Halloween Boo Event, 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. 

Get your cowboy boots on for the Halloween Hoedown at Sandy Feet Farm just outside Tralee in County Kerry. Families can enjoy fright-free fare with an interactive story about Cowboy Billy – little ones will help gather ingredients for Wizard Wiley to craft a potion. Alongside some tasty Halloween treats from the on-site café, each child gets their very own pumpkin to bring home and carve.

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 25 to 27. Kids can dress up for the Gruesome Ghosts' 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 21 to November 1.

From October 18, head to Murtagh's Organic Farm in Westmeath for Halloween fun. 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.

Say hello to the meerkats, lemurs, llamas and more at Wexford's Secret Valley Wildlife Park. In October, the park opens its doors for the Halloween Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch, 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 their Haunted Harvest Festival, 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 the Guardians of the Gardens: Interactive Dragon Trail that runs from October 24 to 27. Kids can dress up and head out on a guided adventure through the gardens, encountering colossal animatronic dragons along the way, each with its own fiery spirit and lifelike movements. You can visit the gardens on a daytime tour, or watch them transform into a world of glowing magic on the nighttime adventure that starts at 5pm. You can also book add-ons like family portraits and a play zone for the little ones.

Alongside the adorable farm animals that call Nore Valley Park Pet Farm in Kilkenny home, visitors of all ages can gather in October for the Nore Valley Park Halloween Experience. Roam the 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 the Witches and Wizards Pumpkin Festival. From funfair rides and pumpkin picking to a wizard show and 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 with Spooktacular Halloween at Beyond the Trees Avondale in Wicklow. Book into a treetop walk between October 25 and November 1 to take part in the fun – daytime walks will feature a "Who Done It?" mystery game for kids, while evening walks will let you explore the Twilight Trail with storytellers and hidden digital voices creating an eerie atmosphere. 

The seasonal Killarney Pumpkin Farm is back this October. 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. 

Limerick's first-ever city pumpkin patch will be taking over the Milk Market as part of the Limerick Harvest Festival on October 26. This vibrant, family-friendly festival will feature pumpkin picking and crafts, delicious local food and garden stalls and some distinctly Limerick storytelling.

Bring the little ones for a wholesome pumpkin-picking experience at Tonagh Pumpkin Hollow in Cavan. Meet resident donkeys Donald and Dolly and get a snap with the whole family on the farm.