Pumpkin Season is truly upon us, with crisp leaves underfoot, cool autumn air, and nature warm is awash with warm rusty hues. While many celebrate this spooky holiday with classic traditions like pumpkin carving and haunted houses, here in Ireland, we embrace Halloween with a spirited sense of adventure and playfulness that’s truly our own.
Delve into some of the many possilibities to really immerse yourself in the action especially if you own a motorhome or campervan! All you need is four wheels, a lust for life to embark on a Halloween Adventure that thrills and delights.
The Nightmare Realm (Dublin)
Voted one of Europe’s award winning top scream parks, the Nightmare Realm is located in Dublin and is filled with live actors, elaborate sets and five horrifying new mazes each year. For 2025 it runs from the 4th October to the 2nd of November. It’s an unmissable stop for thrill-seekers - but tickets sell out weeks in advance, so book early via thenightmarerealm.ie. For younger children they have a toned down version called Halloweentown, which is a spooky village that's fully indoors where friendly characters are excited to celebrate Halloween with younger kids. This particular event only runs on the 31st of October from 12PM to 2PM so it's best to plan in advance to secure your spot.
If looking for somewhere nearby to stay in your motorhome, there are several options look up: Camac Valley Tourist Caravan & Camping Park or North Beach Caravan Park in Rush, they both offer easy access to Dublin city by public transport.
Macnas Halloween Parade 2025
Get ready for spine-tingling excitement as Macnas, the infamous masters of storytelling and spectacle, are set to light up the streets of Galway once again. Their legendary parade promises an unforgettable mix of imagination, artistry, and eerie thrills — a must-see stop for anyone touring Ireland by motorhome. An Treun – The Summoning Of The Lost Procession, will take place in Galway city on Sunday, October 26 at 5.30pm.
Púca Festival (Trim)
This is a remarkable annual event that takes place in Trim, Co. Meath every year - a vibrant 4-day festival spanning from October 30th to November 2nd. It's geared mainly toward adults with some family attractions, and is a celebration of Samhain and the Celtic New Year with a strong underlying Irish mythological theme. This year, the Púca Festival holds live street performances from the 2 Johnnies with Chasing Abbey & Mark McCabe, the High Kings, Blind Boy, Jason Byrne, Emma Doran, and events such as the exhilarating Puca Procession, Lighting of the Samhain fire, Pyro Collective Performance, Samhain Circus, Heritage walking tours and River tours, and these are just the highlights.
Castles and Haunted Houses
Plan a road trip around Ireland’s most haunted locations while taking in some stunning Autumn scenery along the way. Halloween highlights include Leap Castle, located in Offaly which claims to be the worlds most haunted castle and also hosts daily tours. For a cool but creepy vibe Coolbawn House in Co. Wexford is a derelict Castle full of turrets and columns with overgrown ivy and will certainly leave a haunting impression, however it is privately owned and permission must be sought by landowners to enter. In Dublin there is also Malahide Castle, which is reported to have had numerous and consistent sightings of at least five ghosts who reside there. Another spooky location is Ballyheighue Castle, situated on a golf course on the coast of Kerry with local folklore telling of buried gold bullion treasure, ghost sightings and even photographic evidence of paranormal activity. Of course this is just a tiny sample of haunted landmarks all throughout Ireland, so set your spooky destination into the navigation and let the adventure begin.
Samhain Shadows and Fire Procession - Waterford with Spraoí
Samhain Shadows and Fire Procession starts in Waterford October 25th - 27th with the award winning Spraoi Theatrical Street performance company. This year’s theme is inspired by An Dearg Dua, Waterford’s infamous mythical female vampire who has stalked local lore for centuries. The procession will commence at approximately 7.30pm adjacent to the Irish Wake Museum in Waterford’s Viking Triangle before it processes with its audience to the city centre toward a dramatic finale.
Samhain Shadows and Fire Procession - Limerick with Lumen St Theatre Company
Performances start in Limerick on the 25th of October as part of the wider Samhain: Limerick's Halloween Festival celebrating the Irish Origins of Halloween. The parade starts at 7.30 pm by the Court House in Merchants Quay.
Samhain Shadows and Fire Procession - Longford
To close out the weekend the final Shadows and Fire procession namely the Dead of Night Halloween Festival in Longford will work its way from Connolly Barracks on October 31st at 7.30pm culminating in a spectacular fire and music finale.
Only for the very Brave
For thrill seekers who enjoy a spine tingling experience, Discover Ireland have put together a list of 13 Halloween activities that will have the hairs standing on the back of your neck. Venues include the Scare Factory in Limerick, Spike Island Prison Night Tours in Cork, Farmaphobia along with the Grave digger ghost bus in Dublin and more. For more details visit https://www.discoverireland.ie/guides/halloween-events
Family Fun
Jam packed with fun Halloween activities for all the family to enjoy, check out the following Discover Ireland webpage which lists 25 events taking place throughout Ireland. https://www.discoverireland.ie/guides/halloween-family-events, just be sure to check the schedules and book tickets in advance, as they can get quite busy during the Halloween season. Of course there is always the simple traditional way to enjoy halloween, simply set your destination and get take part in the fun. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Decorate your motorhome
- Tell ghost stories by the campfire
- Dress up
- Have a pumpkin carving contest
- Go trick-or-treating
- Watch a scary movie
- Share the fun on social media
Conclusion
Unleash your mischievous nature and get ready for some spooky fun with something for everyone.Celebrating Halloween in a motorhome is a thrilling and unconventional way to enjoy this spooky holiday. With the freedom to choose your route, decorate your mobile home, and explore haunted attractions, you can create unforgettable Halloween memories. Whether you're a family looking for a unique Halloween experience or a group of friends seeking adventure, this motorhome Halloween adventure is sure to be a hauntingly good time. So, pack your costumes, grab your goody bag, and hit the road for a Halloween on wheels that you'll remember for years to come.
If you are interested in purchasing a motorhome or campervan, come and see the range at our showrooms in Shannonside Business Park, Birdhill, Co. Tipperary V94VY98. Anchor Point Motorhomes is your Burstner, Hymer, Carado, Weinsberg and Westfalia Motorhome Ireland dealer, we pride ourselves on delivering a 5-star service to all our customers.
Call us on 353 (0)61 379903 or pop in to see us. A warm welcome awaits!
