Tucked in after the chaos of ‘Back to School’ and before the madness of Christmas, Halloween and mid-term is a busy time for Irish families. Here are our top tips to have a successful (and relatively calm!) spooky time this October.
Plan your Family Schedule Now
Where once Halloween was about dunking apples and finding rings in homemade barmbrack, local authorities and public spaces are increasingly using Halloween to organise several days of family-friend activities and events, and it’s no different in 2026. From the Fingal Festival of Fire at Swords Castle, to Emerald Park’s After Dark spectacular, and Cork city’s Dragon of Shandon Samhain parade, check out local activities in the coming days and get organised!
Get your Costumes on and Walk!
If you need to dress Adults and Kids alike, look no further than one of the biggest ranges of Halloween costumes in Ireland at Halloween HQ. Whether you want a family theme or to allow for individual choices, our costumes are made with the everyday challenges of family life in mind and will last over the course of the mid-term and beyond. Add a dash of fun to the celebrations, by dressing up and taking a spooky walk in a local park or woodlands before indulging in the usual trick or treat tasks.
Ireland’s haunted past
You cannot venture far in Ireland without passing a local castle, Gaol (jail) or local church, so why not spend time learning about the country’s ancient past and its haunted history along the way? From the Púca Festival in Meath, to Glasnevin Cemetery, to Dublin’s haunted bus tour, or St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, there are family-friendly daytime activities to occupy mid-term minds and ensure the entertainment stretches beyond October 31st.
Create your own Haunted House
One activity growing in popularity with Halloween HQ customers is creativity at home. Online and in-store, we stock a range of Halloween home decorations including skeletons, inflatable graveyards and pumpkin patches, and freaky window creepers. These decorations and our range of accessories will help you get ready for the hordes of trick or treaters that arrive to your door, but get the kids involved in making, painting, and displaying their own creepy creations – think spiders, ghosts, and fake dead bodies that can be made from everyday items in your home.
Finally, Get the camera Out!
Halloween was always for the Kids but, increasingly, adult Halloween parties and work events are all the rage. But what about the rest of the family? Halloween costumes for babies and young infants is one of the fastest growing ranges at Halloween HQ – both for parents planning their first Halloween and for people buying Halloween gifts. From baby dragons and pandas, to pint-size firefighters and skeletons, there are plenty of options to ensure everyone gets something to wear. And don’t forget the family furry – for those unforgettable family portraits that capture wonderfully unique Halloween moments.