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Dublin City Council’s Spooktacular Programme of Halloween Events

Dublin City Council in collaboration with community groups across the city have organised a spooktacular programme of FREE family-friendly events for Halloween this year.

Speaking about the programme of events, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul Mc Auliffe said “Halloween is a fantastic time of year for young people and their families. This year. Dublin City Council have organised an amazing programme of family friendly events across the city and I encourage everyone to sink their teeth into the local community based events that are taking place in their area and to stay away from Illegal bonfires.”

Below are the ghoulish details for some of the events taking place in the city over the Bank Holiday weekend!

SCARE D8

This year, a new community Halloween Festival called SCARE D8 will be held in Dublin 8. Some of the ghoulish events to look forward to on Thursday, 31st October, include ‘The Liberties Haunt’ which takes place in the SWICN, Digital Court, Rainsfort Street, from 5.30 pm – 8.30pm. Everyone should gather at 5.30pm at Oliver Bond Playing Pitch for the Parade. 

The ‘Cabbage Patch Cauldron’ event will also take place at the Cabbage Patch Gardens off Kevin Street from 5.30 pm – 10pm. Trick or Treat and a screening of the Halloween movie Hocus Pocus will happen at 8pm.

Free entry to all events and all ages are welcome!! (This is an alcohol free event).

Scare D8 is funded by Dublin City Council and is curated and produced by Joined Up & Happenings, in association with Local Residents, Schools and Youth and Community Services.

Ballymun Otherworld Halloween Festival

The Otherworld Festival will take place in Ballymun on Thursday, 31st October. The theme this year is ‘Samhain’, and a variety of spooky activities have been planned. In the lead up to the main festival event on 31st October. The Dublin Circus Company will be facilitating circus skills workshops with local Youth Projects and Community Groups/Individuals. Other activities taking place locally include, ‘Fright Night’ in the Trinity Comprehensive College from 6.45 pm to 9.30pm on the 23rd and 24th October, for children aged 10 years old and over and ‘Spooky Lair’ will take place in  Ballymun Youth Resource Centre on Thursday the 31st  October from 3pm.

The festival event kicks off on Ballymun Plaza at 6pm and there are lots of   activities to get your teeth in to including the Witches Brew Café, New Music Lounge, Spooky Tunnel, Fairground, Dublin Circus Company performers and Main Stage entertainment – Spring Break will be the Headline act on the night. There will also be a fireworks display at 8.30pm.

As in previous years, the local community are very involved in all aspects of the Programme, from the ideas stage to the final activities stage. The Otherworld Halloween Festival is brought to life by Dublin City Council, axix Ballymun and the Ballymun Festival Committee.

The Cauldron of Smithfield

The Cauldron of Smithfield event is back and it is guaranteed to thrill and terrify! From the 23rd – 30th October, the Smithfield and Stoneybatter Cauldron Tour will be visiting locations around Dublin 7 where it will be holding mini festivals in several locations. Please see the ‘Cauldron of Smithfield 2019’ Facebook event page http://bit.ly/SmithfieldCauldron for more for details.

On 31st October, in Smithfield Square, there will be some fantastic activities for you to sink their teeth into, including our 300ft zip line and our daunting Giant Climbing Wall. This year, we are also delighted to introduce our new ‘House of The Damned’ Scare Tent and ‘Night Creatures’ Parade brought to you by local youth organisations and young people. We have also added ‘Halloween Town’, a special area for families with younger kids. Featuring Magic Shows, Puppet Theatre, Circus Acts and more…

The ‘House of The Damned’ Scare Tent will be open during the following times: 4:30pm – 5:30pm / 5:45pm – 6:45pm / 7:00pm – 7:30pm, so make sure to come early to ensure your place. 

We have all of your favourites again this year, including; Dublin Circus Project, Big Screen Playstation Tournaments, Food Stalls, Art Workshops, Art Installations, Giant Bouncy Castle, Face Painting and much more…

Our Main Stage will feature some very special local talent, SingStar Finals, Dancers, Drummers, DJs and special guest rap outfit Temper-Mental Miss-Elayneous and DJ FunkTom. The night will be hosted by MC Andrew Stanley and will feature spot prizes and special guests. 

The event will kick off at 4:30pm with an incredible 54 piece Brass and Chottlebotzer all the way from Switzerland! So don’t be late!

All activities are free and all ages are welcome!! (This is an alcohol free event).

The Cauldron of Smithfield is funded by Dublin City Council and is curated and produced by Joined Up & Happenings, in association with the NWIC Children & Youth Action Group.  

The Phantom of the Flats

After the success of last year, this community – led Halloween festival is back! 

This year it’s bigger and better with more ghoulish activities for all ages.

The event will take place on 31st October from 5pm – 9pm in the playing grounds of Dorset Street flats in Dublin 1.

The deadly activities on offer include; Big Screen FIFA and Just Dance tournaments, Face Painting, Fancy Dress, Live Acts, DJ, Circus Performers, Craft Workshops, Giant Bouncy Castle, Delicious Food and Incredible Prizes!! 

All activities are free and all ages are welcome!! (This is an alcohol free event). 

This event is funded by Dublin City Council and is curated and produced by Joined Up & Happenings in association with the local community.

Dockers & Demons Festival

The Dockers and Demons Festival which is a celebration of ‘Oíche Samhna’ takes place again this year in the Irishtown/Ringsend/Docklands area from 24th  – 31st October. The Theme for 2019 is The Seven Deadly Sins.

The Festival includes a Cabaret, art installation, local street parties, lots of spooky fun workshops, entertainment, walkabouts and educational tours and it concludes with the Dockers & Demons Circus of Sin in Ringsend Park from 7.00 pm on Halloween Night. Look out for the Seven Demons! For more information, visit www. dockersanddemons.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Dockers & Demons Festival is brought to life by Dublin City Council.

Finglas Fright Night Halloween Festival                            

The Annual Finglas Fright Night Halloween Festival will take place at the Civic Centre, Mellows Road on 31st October from 6pm to 9pm. This year the ghoulish entertainment will include a Path of Misery, Colm Dawson’s Magic Show and Fancy Dress competition. There will also be Fairground attractions including, a Merry go Round, Kiddies Roller Coaster, Teenage Terminator, Chair-o-Planes and Obstacle Courses. A live interactive art exhibition will also take place. 

Music on the night will be provided by bands from the Finglas Youth Resource Centre and ABBA Girls. The night will conclude with a Fireworks display.

For the safety and enjoyment of all attending, An Garda Siochána and Dublin City Council request that patrons leave their bags at home on Event day. In line with standard protocol for all recent events, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed. Only small bags measuring no bigger than A4 (8.27in/21cm x 11.7/ 29.7cm) will be permitted into the venue. This is also an alcohol and drug free event. Management reserve the right to refuse admission.
Bram Stoker Spooktacular                                     

The annual Bram Stoker Spooktacular event will take place in Marino Crescent/ Bram Stoker Park, Fairview, Dublin 3, on Wednesday 30th October from 6pm – 8pm. For one night only, you will be transported into Dracula’s lair. There will be an interactive light and sound show with music and special effects. The event is run in collaboration with Fairvew Business Association and other local residents groups.  (All children must be accompanied by an adult).

Haunted House – Darndale Community Hall & Sphere 17

The Community Hall & Sphere 17 Youth Facility in Darndale Dublin 17 will be transformed for Halloween. On Tuesday, 29th October from 12 noon to 3pm, families are invited to visit the Haunted House. The will be a number of deadly activities to sink your teeth into including; Bouncy Castles, Face Painters, Balloon Makers, a Magician, Arts & Crafts and Giant Games.

Admission is free to Witches, Scary Monsters, Ghouls & Ghosts. Small charges will apply for refreshments! (All Children must be accompanied by an adult). This event is brought to life by Dublin City Council and Sphere 17 in conjunction with local agencies.

Bram Stoker Festival                                                

This October Bank Holiday weekend one of Dublin’s most anticipated festivals, and now one of its biggest, with more than 80,000 attendees in 2018, the Bram Stoker Festival will once again thrill and terrify Dubliners and visitors alike with a packed programme celebrating the legacy of one of Ireland’s most treasured authors.

Brought to life by Dublin City Council and Fáilte Ireland, programme of deadly adventures over four days and nights; from a séance held in complete darkness to daring new theatre, a spectacle on water, dress-up film screenings, a devilishly delicious food trail, a haunted Instagram adventure, a Victorian pop-up fun park for families and much, much more. For events information and tickets check out www.bramstokerfestival.com

For more information on all local Halloween events http://www.dublincity.ie/halloweenevents

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