What events to expect across Waterford this halloween
The Samhain Festival returns to Waterford from October 25-27.
This Halloween, Waterford has an abundance of events set to roll out over the spooky season.
Samhain, the Celtic festival of the dead, returns to its home in the Déise. From October 25 to November 2, the city and county will transform, offering visitors a chance to wander through haunted history, confront forgotten spirits, and uncover the darker side of Waterford’s rich past.
At the Samhain Festival, taking place from October 25 to 27, the Samhain Fire & Shadows procession will set the tone with torchlight, puppetry, and the haunting tale of An Dearg Dua, Waterford’s infamous female vampire who has stalked local lore for centuries.
Alongside the parade, there will be tarot readings, ghostly storytelling, candlelit concerts, and the Monster Mosh, which will rattle the city with gothic sounds until midnight.
As dusk falls, the city becomes an open-air theatre of shadows with fire dancers, roaming spectres, and haunting light installations illuminating the Viking Triangle and Cultural Quarter.
Market stalls will also be available, and fortune tellers invite the curious to glimpse their fate, as musicians keep the night alive with rhythms that echo into the dark.
Also available this Hallowe'en are the Dark History Tours of Waterford Treasures, which will take guests on a 90-minute plunge into the underbelly of the city.
On Waterford Greenway, the Ballyvoile Tunnel becomes the “Spooky Tunnel” once more.
Halloween at Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore blends Celtic and Japanese folklore in a night of ghostly apparitions, samurai spirits, and glowing lanterns.
The Waterford Suir Valley Railway Spooky Express will carry families through eerie countryside where costumed spirits appear at bends in the track.
On October 31, Mount Congreve Gardens opens its gates after dark for the adults-only Poison & Petals Halloween Tour.
Families can also look to Lismore Courthouse Theatre, which becomes a hub of Halloween magic this year.
On October 24, Voices from the Veil invites audiences to an evening of paranormal discussion at the theatre with Irish paranormal investigations.
The same venue hosts Whispers of the Workhouse on October 26 and 27, bringing the stories of Lismore’s long-abandoned workhouse to life through shadow and performance.
On October 29, the theatre welcomes children once more for a Halloween Camp, a morning of spooky creativity, games, and crafts.
Waterford’s waters also take on a festive edge on October 25 with the Three Sisters Halloween Cruise.
