Dust off your costumes, round up your ghoulish gang, and dive into This is Galway’s Favourite Ways to Celebrate Halloween 2026! Whether you’re craving spine-tingling Halloween parties, looking for family-friendly midterm fun, or just want to soak up the spooky spirit, Galway has it all. From eerie traditions to quirky local experiences, here’s your ultimate guide to marking Halloween in Galway, guaranteed to be frightfully fun for everyone!
Treats (No Tricks) from Aunty Nellies
No Halloween is complete without a stash of sugary treats! Whether you’re taking the little monsters door-to-door or prepping for the neighbourhood trick-or-treaters, make sure you’re well stocked with nostalgic sweets from Aunty Nellie’s Sweet Shop. They’ve got everything you need to make your Halloween plans even sweeter, with everything from chocolate bars, Halloween treat bags, gummy pops, snacking boxes and so so much more.
The Gory Details: Shop in-store on High Street or online (at the link below).
More information here
Autumnal Bouquets from Go Dutch Flowers
Embrace the beauty of the season with Go Dutch Flowers' autumn flowers. These are the perfect way to add a touch of romance to your Halloween décor. It’s ’Til Death Do Us Part… but floral! Go Dutch florists have captured the rich colours and cosy charm of autumn in every arrangement, blending deep reds, burnt oranges, golden yellows, and beautiful foliage. Whether you’re brightening your home, surprising someone special, or marking a seasonal occasion, these autumn bouquets bring a touch of Galway’s natural beauty indoors.
The Gory Details: Shop in-store at 196 Upper Salthill Road or online (at the link below).
More information here
Visit the Pumpkin Patch
Take your family out for a wholesome day at Galway Pumpkin Patch, where you can pick your perfect pumpkin, take loads of photos and carve your masterpiece for Halloween night. Each October, Galway Pumpkin Patch welcomes thousands of visitors from all corners of Ireland to celebrate the spookiest season of the year. A memorable day for both young and the young at heart, your pumpkin patch experience includes pumpkins (of course!), meeting some friendly farm animals, visiting the spectacular pumpkin house, taking part in family-friendly carnival games, and a toddler’s playground.
The Gory Details: Open for visitors on October 10th & 11th, 17th & 18th, 24th - 27th, 30th & 31st. Dog-friendly dates October 11th, 30th and 31st.
Address: Castletaylor Estate, Ardrahan, H91CX3W.
More information here
Step into your Nightmares at VR World
This Halloween, enter if you dare… into a terrifying new world, a VR world. At VR World Galway immerse yourself in pure terror with their Halloween Horror Games. Four chilling experiences await. Can you survive them all? From haunted houses to zombie apocalypses, choose from a terrifying range of VR horror games and good luck making it through the night. Games include; Propagation, Fear of the Dark, Paranormal Activity and Reiko’s Fragments.
The Gory Details: Play for €20 - 30 mins or €35 - 60 mins.
More information here
Dress Up & Look Bootiful on the Dance Floor
Costume lovers, this one’s for you! Find your frightful fit at Planet Retro’s Halloween Shop, then enter one of the many costume competitions taking place at Halloween Parties around for a chance to win some spooktacular prizes. This year, forget boring costumes and browse through rails upon rails of outfits and accessories at Planet Retro. Whether you’re costume hunting for your children, sorting costumes for a whole group of trick-or-treaters, or just looking for something wild for yourself, you’ll find everything you need waiting here. Thanks to their kilo pricing, you can mix and match to your heart’s content; think zombified hippies, alien cheerleaders, or vampire firemen. There’s no limits! Once you're donned in your Halloween finest tap here to check out what Halloween parties you need to be haunting this year.
The Gory Details: Planet Retro’s Halloween Shop is open right up until Halloween at Unit 120 in Eyre Square Shopping Centre.
More information here
above: photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Embrace all things Pumpkin Spiced
It’s that time of year again; pumpkin spice season! Indulge in the cosy autumnal vibes with limited-edition seasonal treats and drinks from your favourite Galway cafés. The ultimate taste of autumn in a cup is now available at coffee shops such as Little Lane Coffee Company and Espresso 44. Perfect for crisp Galway days and cosy catch-ups with pals, pumpkin spiced hot drinks are everything you love about autumn steaming, spiced, and irresistibly delicious.
More information here
Howling Halloween at Brigit’s Garden
Bring the whole family to Brigit’s Garden for a magical Halloween experience full of folklore, nature, and fun activities that celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It’s that time of year again when the veil between this world and the other is at its thinnest. You would be well advised to disguise yourself so the fairies can’t find you! So, dig out your costumes and join Brigit’s Garden for their Gruesome Goblins’ Treasure Hunt, Spine-Tingling Storytelling with Rab Fulton, and Spells & Smells with the Wacky Witch! And, don’t miss the marquee! Here you’ll find frightfully fun face-painting, spooky crafts, and games to keep your little monsters entertained. Hit the link below for even more gory details!
The Gory Details: Howling Halloween is a family-friendly event and will take place from October 24th to 26th, between 12pm and 4pm.
More information here
Gaillimh Ah-Boo! - It’s Halloween, Galway-style.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, Gaillimh Ah-Boo! is back and better than ever! As part of Fáilte Ireland’s Home of Halloween Destination Development Scheme, this year’s programme is even more diverse, capturing the vibrant atmosphere and unique cultural backdrop of Galway City. The season marks an extra-special milestone for the city’s arts landscape, celebrating both Macnas’s 40th Anniversary and the 30th Anniversary of the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children. From spine-tingling street spectacles to immersive sound and light installations, Gaillimh Ah-Boo! invites locals and visitors alike to experience Halloween in its authentic, original form, rooted in folklore, feasting, and fire. Visit the link above to see what spooky delights await!
More information here
Macnas Halloween Parade
Get ready for a wild Samhain as Macnas celebrates its 40th anniversary with Fiáin, a Halloween spectacle that’s set to transform the streets of Galway City. Pronounced fee-awn, Fiáin is a celebration of the wild - from the untamed landscapes and elements of the West of Ireland to the wild inspirations that have shaped Macnas’ extraordinary work over the past four decades. This year, the parade is only the beginning of an exciting 40th anniversary programme of celebratory projects and events, honouring Macnas’ remarkable creative legacy while looking towards the future. So, save the date and prepare to experience Halloween at its most spectacular, unpredictable and wild. Fiáin is coming.
The Gory Details: Taking place on Sunday October 25th through Galway City’s streets.
More information here
above: photo by emjcamera
Halloween Paint N’ Sip
Get ready for a spooktacular evening of creativity, cocktails and Halloween fun at WYLDE! Gather your friends, grab a glass of bubbly and unleash your inner artist at this guided Halloween Paint N’ Sip. Tickets include all the art equipment/materials you’ll need, 2 glasses of prosecco or nosecco, a killer soundtrack of all your favourite Halloween bops, as well as fun themed games and activities throughout the night. Come for the painting, stay for the thrills, and leave with your very own Halloween masterpiece!
The Gory Details: This event takes place on October 30th at 7pm in WYLDE Café.
More information here
Halloween Silent Disco for Kids
Taking place as part of Galway Comedy Festival and Gaillimh Ah-Boo! 2026, parents and their younglings are welcome to Róisín Dubh for a brilliant Halloween Silent Disco. Before you hit the streets for some trick or treating - get your Halloween costume on and hit the dancefloor for a family-friendly fancy dress shindig.
The Gory Details: Taking place on October 31st at 12pm in Róisín Dubh.
More information here
Halloween Spooktacular
Galway Concert Band and Galway Musical Society invite you to attend their upcoming Halloween Spooktackular. Dancers, singers, and actors from Galway Musical Society will bring to life music from The Addams Family and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and you’ll tap your toes to floor-fillers Ghostbusters and Thriller while musicians from Galway’s premier concert band will leave you spellbound with the music from Harry Potter and spooky classics to send shivers down your spine. Expect spooky tales, captivating choreography and Halloween tunes you know and love.
The Gory Details: This event is taking place on November 1st at 2.30pm in the Black Box Theatre.
More information here
Murder Mystery & Wine Tasting
Join The Wine Buff for a fun and slightly mysterious evening of wine, charcuterie plate, secrets, clues and murder! During the evening, you’ll taste 4 different wines, enjoy cheese and crackers, meet your fellow suspects and investigators, and gradually uncover clues that will help you work out: WHO DID IT? You don’t need any previous wine knowledge or murder-mystery experience — just come along, enjoy yourself and be prepared to question everyone around you!
The Gory Details: Taking place on October 23rd at 7pm in The Wine Buff Galway.
More information here
Storytelling Night: Tales of Irish Mythology
As Halloween, otherwise known as the Irish pagan festival of Samhain, approaches, it’s the perfect time to get cosy, grab some ale, and hear some ancient stories of Irish mythology. Settle in by candlelight to hear the heartbreaking tale of the Children of Lir; a war story for the ages known as the Táin Bó Cuailigne, or the Cattle Raid of Cooley; and Fionn and the Salmon of Knowledge. Meet some of the most iconic characters in Irish mythology from Queen Meadhbh and Cú Chulainn to Fionn MacCumhall as the protagonists of stories that have been handed down from bards and seanchaís for centuries.
The Gory Details: This event takes place on October 21st at 7pm.
More information here
The Gloway Co Presents - Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice
Come along for an afternoon filled with pumpkin spice lattes, delicious pastries, creativity, music, and all the cosy autumn vibes. On arrival, guests can settle in, mingle, enjoy a delicious pumpkin spice latte and a selection of pastries, listen to music, and soak up the relaxed autumn atmosphere. Each guest will receive two artificial pumpkins, approximately 3 inches in size, to paint and decorate. All painting materials and supplies will be provided, so all you need to bring is your creativity! The workshop is beginner-friendly and requires no previous experience. This event is suitable for both children and adults, making it a great afternoon to enjoy with friends, family, or on your own. At the end of the afternoon, you’ll have two beautifully painted pumpkins to take home and enjoy as part of your autumn décor.
The Gory Details: Taking place on October 24th at 1pm in The Connacht Hotel.
More information here
Rocky Horror Disco Dinner
Step into a world of glitter, fishnets, fabulous costumes and Halloween mischief at this unforgettable disco dinner that’s inspired by some of the legendary spooky musicals! Your ticket includes an ample picky bits dinner and a complimentary cocktail served at HYDE Bar while talented live performers bring the room to life with spooktacular vocals and audience interaction. Expect a celebration of timeless spooky musical favourites from Addams Family, Heathers, Rocky Horror and more! Come dressed to impress—glam, gothic, outrageous, or completely original—and get ready for a night of and celebration.
The Gory Details: This event is taking place at HYDE Bar on October 23rd.
More information here
Café Lates: Held by the Dark
Held by the Dark is a candlelit evening of Yin Yoga and cacao, inviting you to slow down, turn inward and connect with the quiet of the Samhain season. Presented as part of the Stillness & Spark Café Lates programme at 56 Central, this intimate gathering will be led by Gill Carroll, creating a warm and welcoming space to pause as we move into the darker months. Rooted in the spirit of Samhain, join them in honouring and welcoming the Irish Goddess Cailleach. Expect gentle movement, deep rest and space to reflect, reconnect and simply be. Whether you have a regular yoga practice or are completely new to Yin, you are warmly invited to join us.
The Gory Details: This event is taking place at 56 Central on October 29th at 6.15pm.
More information here
Growler + Áine Tyrell present Daughters of the Cailleach
Growler and Áine Tyrrell have admired each other’s work from afar for years, trading wisdoms and encouragement from the hedges. Rumblings of difficult Irish women, echoing from every corner of the world. Both daughters of the Caillieach, who emigrated to find their strength of voice, now return, iconically to unite in Galway for a Samhain special. Two fierce voices in an Irish performance, called together for one night. Come be part of this ignition. Join their Samhain circle, song and performance art, side by side. Expect ancestral voices, Irish feminine reclaimed, vulnerability and strength in the same breath. Expect the unexpected from these two mná, in a collaboration that invites ye around the fire at this threshold, together.
The Gory Details: This event is taking place on Halloween, October 31st at 8pm in The Mick Lally Theatre.
More information here
Howl-O-Ween Festival 2026
Get ready for a fang-tastic celebration at Slieve Aughty Centre, where Halloween magic comes to life with exciting activities for children of all ages! Featuring: new themed scary rooms where children will get a sneak peek through a curtain into spine-chilling scenes that are sure to set their imaginations ablaze! Scary face painting that’ll transform your child into your favourite Halloween character. Cosy fireside fun. Self-guided nature walks with spooky surprises. Pony game rides such as balancing an eyeball on a spoon and conquering other quirky challenges in a thrilling 10-minute adventure. In addition to all this there will be delicious treats in the café, where they will be serving up a scrumptious menu of lunch specials, steaming coffees, and rich hot chocolates to warm your belly.
The Gory Details: Howl-O-Ween Festival is a family-friendly event and will take place from October 24th to November 1st, between 12pm and 4pm.
More information here
