The countdown to Halloween night is on, with a packed programme of events and activities still to come as Halloween in Limerick 2026 builds towards a frightfully good finale across the city and county.
Plan a thrilling weekend: Halloween in Limerick 2026
Download the Halloween in Limerick Event Guide
From family adventures and ancient folklore to atmospheric storytelling, community celebrations and after-dark thrills, there are plenty of reasons to get into the Halloween spirit during the midterm break.
Running until 1 November, Halloween in Limerick 2026 brings together experiences supported by Limerick City and County Council and funded by Fáilte Ireland through the Ireland, Home of Halloween initiative, alongside a wide range of community-led and independently organised events.
Get an Early Jump Scare with Twilight Thursdays
The Halloween weekend gets an early start in Limerick city on Thursday, 29 October, as Twilight Thursdays brings an added mix of entertainment, culture, activities and late-night openings to the city.
The Halloween City Centre Fancy Dress 5km will bring runners, walkers and plenty of costumes through the illuminated city streets before finishing at King John’s Castle. Twilight Thursdays at Limerick Milk Market presents an Animal Roadshow with face painting and appearances from some spooky characters, while elsewhere The Wickham Witching Hour Workshop is ready for some devilish fun.
At venues across the city you can expect costumes, stories, entertainment and a few early scares as Limerick counts down to Halloween night.
Full details are available on Limerick.ie/Twilight-Thursdays
Halloween Fun in the City
Families can enjoy Trick or Treat in the City on Friday, 30 and Saturday, 31 October, following a trail of Halloween characters from The Crescent to the Halloween in Limerick Hub at Arthur’s Quay Park. The Hub will feature characters, lantern decorating, funfair rides, food and entertainment, culminating in a fire performance at 7pm on Halloween night.
King John’s Castle will also host Oktoberfeis on Friday, 30 October, while the Mystery Samhain Banquet will lead guests from the castle to a secret historic venue for an immersive evening of folklore, music, performance and seasonal food. For those seeking something scarier, The Scare Factory continues at Cleeves Factory until Sunday, 1 November.
Folklore, Fireside Tales and Family Adventures
Samhain at Lough Gur: Where Myth Meets Memory runs from Thursday, 29 October to Sunday, 1 November, bringing ancient traditions to life while Samhain Tales by the Limerick Fireside brings storytelling, music and song to Kilmallock, Abbeyfeale and the People’s Museum of Limerick.
The Rathkeale Halloween Festival ‘Dullahan to Darkness’ includes family activities and a Halloween-night parade, while Halloween at Desmond Castle will bring storytelling, music, street performers and family entertainment to Newcastle West on Saturday, 31 October.
The Play All Day, Panic All Night Northside FRC HallowNight Festival continues throughout the week, culminating in its community Haunted House on Friday, 30 October.
Other family attractions include Fossett’s Circus Halloween Spooktacular at Cleeves, Halloween Funderland at Groody Road, the Woodlands Pumpkin Patch in Adare and the Curraghchase Pumpkin Patch.
Camps, visitor attractions, creative workshops and other seasonal activities are also taking place at venues across Limerick throughout the midterm break.
Visit Limerick.ie/Halloween for full details.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran is encouraging residents and visitors to make the most of the remaining programme, saying:
“The final days of Halloween in Limerick offer a fantastic mix of experiences for people of all ages. Whether you want to enjoy family fun in the city centre, explore the ancient traditions of Samhain, discover Limerick’s darker stories or simply dress up and join the celebrations, there is still so much to see and do.
“I would encourage people to celebrate safely, explore the programme, support the participating communities, venues and businesses, and make the most of what promises to be a very special Halloween in Limerick.”
Príomh Chomhairleoir of Limerick City and County Council, Cllr Tom Ruddle, highlighted the contribution of communities across Limerick, saying:
“One of the real strengths of Halloween in Limerick is the way communities across the city and county have embraced the festival. From Rathkeale and Newcastle West to Lough Gur, Abbeyfeale and Limerick city, local groups, performers and venues have created a fantastic variety of experiences for families and visitors to enjoy. With so much still to come, I would encourage everyone to explore the events taking place in their area and join in the Halloween celebrations.”
Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly, said the festival showcases Limerick’s distinctive cultural and heritage offering:
“Halloween in Limerick is bringing together tourism, culture, heritage and community activity across the city and county. The range of events taking place during the closing days of the programme reflects Limerick’s creativity and its ability to provide distinctive experiences rooted in our heritage and sense of place. A tremendous amount of work has gone into delivering this year’s programme, and we look forward to welcoming residents and visitors to the many events still to come.”
Halloween in Limerick 2026 continues until 1 November.
The full programme, including event times, booking information and details of additional activities across the city and county, is available at Limerick.ie/Halloween.
Events are subject to change, and those planning to attend are advised to check the individual event listings before travelling.
About Ireland, Home of Halloween
Ireland, Home of Halloween is an all-island initiative led by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, celebrating Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween and sharing the ancient traditions of Samhain through authentic festivals and visitor experiences.
Limerick is one of seven participating destinations, inviting residents and visitors to experience Halloween events across the city and county.
About Twilight Thursdays
Twilight Thursdays takes place on the last Thursday of each month, bringing together cultural events, live entertainment and late-night business openings to encourage people to stay later, explore more and enjoy Limerick city after dark.
The initiative forms part of the national Night-Time Economy pilot programme, supported and funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. FREENOW and Uber are offering a 40% discount on taxi journeys for Twilight Thursdays, alongside other public transport options.
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