Spooktacular Events Taking Place In The Midlands This Halloween

There's Plenty of spine-tingling events for young and old in the Midlands this Halloween.

There’s a range of events happening across Westmeath, Offaly and Laois to keep the whole family entertained this Halloween mid-term break. Here are just some frighteningly good festivals and attractions to check out:

Westmeath: 

Mullingar's Ghost Tours - feel the fear with Mullingar's famous Halloween Ghost Tours.  

To mark the ancient Irish festival of Samhain/Halloween when the spirits of the dead returned to this world, these Tours will explore haunted old Mullingar.

Hear about the haunted window, the ghosts of the arts centre, the military barracks, the banshee of the Green Road, the death coach, the phantom army and the story of Bobby Bawn.

This Ghost tour of haunted Mullingar is on Sunday October 27th and Monday October 28th at 7:00pm from the market square, with local historian and guide Ruth Illingworth. 

Moate Library Spooky Storytime - Moate Library are hosting a spooky story-time and craft this Halloween.

Dress up is encouraged and no registration is required for the event on 29th October, 2pm and on the 31st October at 12.30pm there is a Halloween  'Jam Jar' Lantern making creative class. Registration is required for this and the event is suitable for age 8+.

The Samhain Spread - Community Supper Mullingar -The Refill Mill on Austin Friars Street in Mullingar is hosting 'The Samhain Spread - Community Supper', a 2.5 hour long special community supper celebrating the spirit of Samhain and the end of the harvest season.

Share delicious food, meet new friends, and embrace the autumn vibes.  This will be a potluck type of event. Attendees should bring a dish to share, be it main, side or dessert. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or even homemade. 

Whether you're looking to meet new people or just offload your excess apples, this event is perfect for anyone wanting to connect with the community. Due to limited space make sure to get a free ticket for everyone who will be attending with you, and if you cannot make it cancel your space or get in contact with the refill mill so they can offer it to someone else.

Halloween events and workshops, Athlone - Luan Gallery is hosting a series of events over the Halloween midterm from Friday, October 25, to Thursday, October 31.

Set against the backdrop of the gallery’s current exhibition,  the event lineup offers arts and crafts workshops, pumpkin carving sessions, and a free film screening of the cult horror classic The Fog.

These events will encourage audiences to explore the dark and eerie themes in Kevin Mooney’s paintings and sculptures and celebrate Halloween's magic at Luan Gallery.

Luan Gallery will host a screening of the 1980 horror cult classic ‘The Fog’ at 7pm on Friday, October 25. The screening will take place in the surroundings of Luan Gallery’s current exhibition, a solo exhibition by Kevin Mooney.

Laois:

Halloween costume swap, Portarlington - Solas Eco Garden Centre in Portarlington are hosting a Halloween costume swap rail on the 20th-31st of October, where attendees can donate your costume and swap for a new one at solas eco garden centre in Portarlington. 

Spooky Parkland walk, Emo - Emo Court are hosting a trail walk on Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th - 10:00 to 17:00.

Pick up a free trail map at the Visitor Hub in Emo Court to discover the spooky side of the parklands. Attendees can complete the trail and collect your souvenir at the end!

During the upcoming October Bank Holiday Weekend, why not make the most of Emo Court and Parklands with their Tall Dark Tree Trail.... 

Fancy Dress in Mountrath - Get ready for a spooktacular night of frightful fun at The Pub, Mountrath, on October 26. They’re hosting a hair-raising fancy dress party, not only will you be creeping it real in your costumes, but they’re giving away two €50 Bar Tabs for the best-dressed male and female. This event is free, starting at 6pm, and ending at 12.30am, on October 27 with Music by DJ Danny Maher.

Fancy Dress Ball, Portlaoise - Coppers in Portlaoise are hosting a Halloween’s fancy dress ball on October 27, with doors opening at 9pm. John Gibbons the Irish DJ, record producer and remixer, best known for his 2016 single Would I Lie to You, which remixes the original song by Charles and Eddie. This will be a night of House dance-pop electronic tropical house deep house. 

Parent and Child Craft table, Portarlington - Portarlington library are hosting a free parent and child craft table with all you need to design your own haunted house from 11am on Thursday, October 31.

Then at 3pm staff can help you get into the witchy mood with a spooky storytime. All your little ghouls and monsters are welcome.

Portlaoise Movie Screening - Portlaoise Library are screening the classic movie The Lost Boys, on Wednesday at 5.30pm, October 30, for Over 17s. Follow the thrilling story of Michael and Sam as they navigate a world of vampires and danger in a small California town. 

Dark Arts in Dunamaise - There are dark arts to be seen in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, with two pop up exhibitions celebrating Halloween week. In the Café Rebecca Deggan will present a group exhibition of Alternative Irish Artists, with their Spooky Showcase.

You can also check out the artist Gubu Man with his one of a kind, special Pop Up Showcase in their foyer glass cabinet.

Halloween Children's Activities - Mountmellick Library have Halloween Children’s Activities on Tuesday, October 29 at 2.30 pm for a Witches Hat Craft for 6-9 year old's. Places are limited so please call 0578689382 to book a place. Then come along on Wednesday, October 30 at 2.30 pm for a Halloween Parent and child pop up craft table, until the supplies run out.

Offaly: 

Shocktober Spooky Crafts - Birr Library are hosting spooky crafts on Wednesday 25th October at 3:30PM for some Halloween-themed crafts for ages 7 to 12. This event is free and all are very welcome to attend, but places must be booked. Contact via email: birrlibrary@offalycoco.ie or phone: (057) 912 4950

Creative movement session - St. Mary’s Primary School in Edenderry, have organised a family-friendly creative movement session led by yoga instructor Helen Keenan. The event is part of the Creative Places: Edenderry Step it Up! project funded by Healthy Offaly. Fancy dress is encouraged. 

PÚCA Spooka - Dust off your capes and polish your broomsticks, as PÚCA Spooka, returns to Tullamore – and it’s expected to be bigger and better than ever. Taking place at Lloyd Town Park, PÚCA Spooka features a range of attractions and entertainment.

These include the popular B*Witched in the Woods, where resident witches will be doing scary storytelling and street circus activities, the Scarecrow Pumpkin Patch, a pop-up Monster Market, art installations, a funfair and food trails. There’s also a variety of new attractions added to the line-up for 2023.

There’s the new Disney Disco, the Viking Village, the Afterdark Fireshow, The House of the Dragon (featuring a live dragon!) and much, much more. There’s something for all ages at this family-friendly event – it’s one that’s not to be missed this Halloween season! PÚCA Spooka is taking place on Saturday, October 28^th and Sunday, October 29^th 2023.