Well folks, we’ve got two weekends of jam packed events coming up. So, to make things a bit easier for everyone trying to plan a Halloween themed night out with friends, we have a little easy-to-follow guide of when and where they are taking place and what extra surprises are planned for the night!
From fancy dress to ghoulish gowns there are plenty of reasons to get dressed up and partying hard in Galway this Halloween. In this list we’ve got top prizes of €1000 for best costume, drinks specials, and fearsome musical performances.
Keep reading to find out where you and your pals need to be making a dramatic entrance this Halloween!
above: photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige from Planet Retro's Halloween Shop
First off, get your Halloween costumes
Before we jump into all the craic we first need you to be dressed in your Halloween best. Thankfully we know exactly where to send you, to Planet Retro’s Halloween Shop at 31 Eyre Square. It’s Galway’s coolest Halloween pop-up shop and this year it is back and better than ever. Here they have outfits suitable for all members of the family (that’s right, even for the youngest members of the family!) ranging from the classics and family-friendly, to the eerie and unsettling. With prices at just €25 for 1kg or €15 for 0.5kg, it’s a dream for friends shopping together or for anyone planning multiple outfits. Experiment, layer, and create a costume that no one else will have. Shop at Planet Retro and you’ll be ready to hit the streets for a bit of trick-or-treating, and the dance floors to monster mash with pals. For more on Planet Retro please see here.
Tom Sheridans Bar & Restaurant: Haunted House Halloween Party
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 9.30pm
Entry fee: free
Prizes: €50 oneforall voucher for Best Female Costume / €50 oneforall voucher for Best Male Costume / €100 oneforall voucher for Best Couples Costume
Tom Sheridans Bar & Restaurant is just giving you plenty of time to get your costumes together because their favourite time of year is creeping up again… Halloween falls on a Friday this year, and if that’s not a sign to throw a party, we don’t know what is! They’ve got a frightfully great night planned and they want to see you all arriving in your finest fancy-dress attire. The more creative the better. With live music ‘til late, specials, and plenty of prizes, it’s going to be the best party yet!
More information here
Address: Clybaun Road, Knocknacarra
Electric: Sinister Circus
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 10pm
Entry fee: €10(plus booking fee)
Prizes: €1000 for best dressed
Get ready for a night of pure chaos and electric energy, as Sinister Circus takes over Electric for the biggest Halloween event in the country. This is not your average costume party. It’s a full venue transformation into a twisted circus world packed with mind-blowing visuals, top DJs across multiple floors, immersive performances, and thousands of costumed partygoers. The madness kicks off from 10pm and runs late into the night. And if you’re turning heads? There’s a €1000 prize for Best Dressed up for grabs. Massive. Wild. Unforgettable. Sinister Circus is the Halloween event everyone will be talking about, miss it and you’ll hear about it all year. Costumes essential. Limits ignored. This is Halloween, Electric style.
More information here
Address: 36 Abbeygate Street Upper
above: photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige from Planet Retro's Halloween Shop
O’Connell’s Bar: Spooky Shindig
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 9pm
Entry fee: free
Prizes: €100 for best costume
Is that cackling we hear in the distance? Something wicked this way comes… and you’re all invited to embrace your dark side this Halloween at O’Connell’s Bar. On the night there will be spooktacular live music to raise the dead, frightfully good drinks to keep your spirits high and a cash prize for the best costume, so dress to kill! Expect thrills, chills, and a tomb-raisingly good night. Don’t ghost them, gather your crew & mark your calendars, it’s gonna be the party of all parties.
More information here
Address: 8 Eyre Square
Pálás Cinema: The Dirty Circus Halloween Extravaganza
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 7pm
Entry fee: €25
The Dirty Circus invites you to a Halloween night of decadent darkness at Pálás Cinema. This full-building take-over will be your one stop shop (of horrors) for your Halloween celebrations. With burlesque, big screen fun and cabaret entwined with fire, pole, and creatures from the realm of the strange and undead. Step into a sinister spectacle of haunting visuals and twisted artistry. Your host Slick’O will be joined by burlesque performers Memphis Shell & Scarlett Van Tassel, bellydancer Janina and an array of freaks including Grimm Squeaker and many more.
More information here
Address: 15 Merchant Road
Seven Bar: Student Halloween Party
When: Thursday, October 30th
Start time: 9pm
Entry fee: €10
Prizes: €300 to the best dressed, €200 to second best, and €100 to third best
Don’t be a basic witch this Halloween, because Seven’s student fancy dress Halloween party promises to be hex-tra special.. With DJ John Murphy playing until 2am, the first 80 in the door will receive a free Jameson & Ginger, and when the prizes are this good you know you don’t want to miss out on all the craic! Tell your friends, tell your foes and get ready to time warp your way past midnight. Don’t forget to get sheet-faced!
More information here
Address: 5-7 Bridgestreet
Busker Brownes: Halloween Party
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Entry fee: free
Prizes: 1st Place: €200, 2nd Place: €100 & 3rd Place: €50
It’s time to join the Halloween fun at Busker Brownes and be in for the chance to win big for dressing to impress. It’s going to be a night with all your favourite songs, and live performances. Do not miss this! Costumes will be judged between 10pm and 11.30pm.
More information here
Address: Cross Street Upper
Sally Longs: Halloween Rock Party
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 9pm
Entry fee: free
Prizes: prizes for best costumes
Brace yourselves for one of Sally Long’s most anticipated nights of the year... a night of fangtastic music and mighty craic! Sally Long has got three amazing live bands playing on the night and it’s all kicking off from 9pm; Where Gomies Dare (Misfits Tribute), Genuflection (Doom Metal), and Béchamel Boys (Pint Punk). Join them if you dare..
More information here
Address: 33 Abbeygate Street Upper
Seven Bar: Halloween Party
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 10pm
Entry fee: free
Prizes: €300 to the best dressed, €200 to second best, and €100 to third best
Ghouls just wanna have fun… and the ultimate Halloween Night Party coming up at Seven, with €600 worth of cash prizes for the best dressed! Dress to impress (and terrify!) and for the first time you might leave the pub with more money than when you arrived! With DJ John Murphy providing the tunes until 2am, we’ll see you on the dancefloor!
More information here
Address: 5-7 Bridgestreet
Beacon Salthill: Boo-zy Party
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 8pm
Entry fee: free
Prizes: €150 bar tab for best dressed
The Beacon in Salthill is throwing the ultimate BOO-ZY PARTY on Halloween Night and it’s gonna be a bloody good time. Step into the shadows for a night where spirits flow, fortunes unfold, and the music doesn’t die till the witching hour. Come dressed in your most boo-tiful costume for a chance to win their costume contest! Don’t miss out on the thrills and chills and mark your calendar for this wickedly awesome event! Expect eerie lighting, deep beats, tarot tables, and a crowd that knows how to haunt the dance floor. The party will include tarot readings, cocktails, and tunes by Corey Herself Dress Code is fancy dress so go wild, go weird, go witchy. They are dying to party with you, so make sure you call in.
More information here
Address: 163 Upper Salthill Road
above: photo by Mariah Bushek
The Front Door: Casamigos Haunted House of Friends
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 9pm
Entry fee: free
Prizes: Prizes for best dressed
The Front Door Pub is transforming into the Casamigos Haunted House of Friends. Step inside the front door and discover the immersive haunted Halloween experience with all the works with killer installs & backdrops for those all important pics…it’s gonna be a thriller! But that’s not all…on Halloween night your devilish host, Will, is going to be waiting to tempt you to the spooky ‘Spin to Win’ wheel of fortune for your chance to win some epic prizes, if you dare. There’ll be all the usual craic too from DJ playing deadly good tunes to scarily good drink offers, so gather your ghouls and dress to slay as they’ll be picking their fav costumes with cash prizes up for grabs. The door’s open… everyone welcome but come early!
More information here
Address: 8 Cross Street
An Púcán: An Spookán Silent Disco
When: Thursday, October 30th
Start time: 10pm
Entry fee: €6
Get ready for a spook-tacular night at An “Spookán’s” Silent Disco this Halloween! Join An Púcán for a night of hauntingly good tunes, spooky vibes, and plenty of Halloween fun. Grab your headphones, choose your channel, and dance the night away with three different DJs playing everything from spooky classics to party anthems. With costumes encouraged and good vibes guaranteed, it’s going to be a Halloween party you won’t want to miss. Just one tip: whatever you do, don’t take off your headphones!
More information here
Address: 11 Forster Street
above: photo by HellphoX
The Cellar: ABSENT Halloween Special & 3 Year Anniversary
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 8pm
Entry fee: €15 (plus booking fee)
Prizes: prizes for best costume
Come down to The Cellar on Halloween Night to sell your soul to ABSENT! It’s their 3 year anniversary and they are back with a banger! With live sets from New Enemy/Aaron J & Cell Games, followed by Absent Emo Night. Get ready for a night full of live music, DJ sets, fancy dress, prizes and a whole lot more! Get ready for the best Emo night ever.
More information here
Address: 12 Eglinton Street
Electric: TABÚ X Téigh Síos: Samhain Party
When: Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st
Start time: 10pm
Entry fee: €15
Tabú are delighted to announce a very special Halloween collaboration with Téigh Síos. This event has been a long time in the making with two Galway collectives who have been running parties over the last few years finally joining forces. They will be launching a newly built Galway soundsystem by Seisún Sounds on the night to fill the room with hot, bass heavy bangers. Expect Pagan drag queen performances, fire performers and DJs from around the country. Cooking up a delicious line up they can’t wait to share with you all. Your Halloween plans have been answered! Dress code = fancy dress, of course!
More information here
Address: The Space, 36 Abbeygate Street Upper
above: photo by Fernando Paleta
Róisín Dubh: The Bog Project’s Halloween Party
When: Wednesday, October 29th
Start time: doors at 8.30pm
Entry fee: €11
Prizes: prizes for best costume include meal vouchers, vinyl, and much more
For their fourth consecutive year, the Bog Project are resurrecting their Halloween Party for another night of local talent, with this year's bands bringing funk, soul, and indie rock. This year's costume competition includes some tasty prizes; meal vouchers, vinyl, and much more! Be sure to have your costumes ready! Support on the night from Galway locals the Cherrypickers and Donegal’s newest addition to the Galway gigging scene, Proton Pool Party.
More information here
Address: 9 Dominick Street Upper
The Liquor Lounge: Halloween Party Weekend - Day of the Dead
When: Halloween Weekend, Friday to Sunday, October 31st to November 2nd
Entry fee: free
Prizes: prize for best costume (only given out on Halloween night)
It is officially spooky season and you’re going to be dead impressed with what The Liquor Lounge has planned! Whether you’re out for a boo-gie or just chasing spirits, they are transforming the bar for Halloween Weekend for Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations, in partnership with Don Julio Tequila. Guests can enjoy cocktails served in skull glasses, (trust us, they’re creepy & classy!), Tequila drink specials all weekend, live music which kicks off at 9:30pm so bring your dancing bones, unreal prizes for best costume and immersive Don Julio installations perfect for some spooky snaps and ghostly vibes. It’s a Halloween party that’s too good to keep to just one night so they’re celebrating all weekend long. Come for the scares, stay for the spirits.
More information here
Address: The Dáil Bar, 42 Middle Street
above: photo by Chait Goli
Electric: Count Trakulas Dracula Disco
When: Saturday, October 25th
Start time: 2pm
Entry fee: €10/€15 (plus booking fee)
This Samhain, the Count summons you to the PBBRCs Count Trakulas Dracula Disco at Electric! It’s gearing up to be an all-day party packed with delectable and devilish tunes, served by a myriad of curators fresh from the cauldron. They call upon all ghastly ghouls, delightful divas and anything in between to join them for a spooky spraoi this bank holiday weekend at the rooftop garden. Expect boogying bones and flailing limbs as they celebrate this ancient Gaelic festival, while the sky above turns dark and the Sidhe come out to haunt. Featuring both local DJs and PBBRC residents you do not want to miss this! Costumes encouraged!!
More information here
Address: 36 Abbeygate Street Upper
The Cellar: ‘Heart Attack’ Halloween Party
When: Friday, October 24th
Start time: 9pm
Entry fee: €9.30
You are all invited to this year’s Heart Attack Halloween Party and for the occasion they’re going all out. A massive lineup of live acts, exclusive merch drops, spooky giveaways, and a legendary costume contest with prizes up for grabs. Expect haunting visuals, eerie decorations, and a night packed with energy from start to finish. Whether you’re coming for the music, the madness, or to show off your best costume, this is the Halloween party you don’t want to miss.
More information here
Address: 12 Eglinton Street
Feature photo by Lisett Kruusimae on Pexels.
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