Head to Trim and Athboy in County Meath to reconnect with Halloween's roots and get into some mischief at the Púca Festival. Bring the kids to the all-ages Sorcas na Samhna, a dazzling circus with aerial acts, Irish dancing and singing, thrilling daredevils and charming clowns. Older kids can join a mythology boat tour on the Boyne or a historical walking tour of the Hill of Ward before exploring the Harvest Market and immersive Déise Medieval Village.

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, 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, 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.

Parents and kids over 10 can walk through the ‘Gates of Hell’ on a tour of the historic dungeon at Wicklow Gaol. The immersive experience, bolstered by elements of virtual reality, will guide you through the gaol’s grisly history of corruption, rebellion and darkness. You’ll hear stories of the gaol’s most infamous prisoners – and you might see why it’s dubbed one of the most haunted places in Ireland.

The Sea Life Bray Aquarium turns into an Ascarium for October. Go in search of the Sea Witch and meet monsters of the deep along the way. Check out the venomous Red Lionfish and Dragon Moray Eel, then visit the Bay of Rays and Tropical Shark Lagoon. It's an educational deep-dive that happens to be a ton of fun.

It's all aboard the Rathwood Express for a jaunt through a forest full of surprises on the Spooktacular Train Adventure. Arrive at the Big Top where the Rathwood Halloween Pantomime stages an all singing, all dancing musical performance of A (teeny) Terror at the Toy Shop, an interactive family experience which invites all young spectators to help the beloved characters save Halloween from the evil Jack O'Lantern. Kids get a complimentary hot cocoa, as well as a pumpkin to take home with them.

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 Ireland’s oldest medieval city.

Halloween at Leahy's Open Farm allows kids quality time with farmyard favourites like Daisy the Cow and a gaggle of friendly geese. The outdoor Boo! Experience’s haunted hayride winds through a witchy wood, and children can cast spells and create their own spooky lollipops.

At the Sandy Feet Farm Halloween Hoe Down, families can enjoy fright-free fare with interactive stories, singing and dancing and pumpkin carving. Little cowboys and cowgirls can also visit with the farm's sheep, alpacas, cows and pygmy goats and explore the play area and sensory garden. 

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 on October 29 and 30. Kids can dress up for the Ghastly Ghouls Treasure Hunt around the garden, with spooky storytelling and a potion-making class in the roundhouse. 

Explore the mysterious wood and follow the fairy trail with Halloween Orienteering at Wildlands. Keep your eyes peeled for the Moycullen Mummy and Wicked Witch of the Wildlands – you never know who might be lurking around the next corner. There’s also an outdoor zip line 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 23 to November 3.

On Halloween weekend, head to Murtagh's Organic Farm in Westmeath for some wholesome fun. The Halloween Harvest will feature pumpkin picking, scarecrow making, a scavenger hunt an 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.

Based at the Nenagh Arts Centre in Tipperary, the Spleodar Halloween Arts Festival has loads of free and ticketed events for creative kids and the wider community from October 27 to 31. Young artists can craft electronic torches, make paper lanterns and masks or learn how to mix beats. Dance parties, movie screenings, masterclasses and more fill out the fest, which ends with a bang on Halloween with a parade and fireworks.

Say hello to the meerkats, lemurs, llamas and more at Secret Valley Wildlife Park. In October and November, the park turns into Scarecrow Valley 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 Ghostly Woodland Walk. Little ones will find ghouls, ghosts, skeletons and witches hidden among the flowers and trees, and learn about age-appropriate Japanese ghost stories as they explore. 

Bring the family to Clonfert Pet Farm in Kildare throughout October for the Clonfert Halloween Festival packed 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 on a spooky Halloween Trail that runs all Halloween weekend. Kids can dress up and head out on a guided adventure through the gardens, warding off goblins and ghouls as they go – they'll be rewarded with a pumpkin of their choice at the end of the trail.

Alongside the adorable farm animals that call Nore Valley Park Pet Farm home, visitors of all ages can gather in the run up to Halloween season to welcome the spooky season. Roam their fields of pumpkins 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 their Witching Hour events and get the whole family involved in the traditions behind Halloween. From immersive creative workshops for kids (and adults) to 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 Skypark After Dark in Ireland's biggest adventure park for a bounty of Halloween fun. Navigate through the Halloween Maze, share a s'more with the little ones by a campfire and catch a ride on the ghostly Halloween Train. Then cap the night off with a family boogy at the Monster Disco.