Calling all Halloween lovers - check out the top things to do this spooky season

Halloween lovers rejoice as spooky season officially kicks off this Tuesday 1 October!

As Met Éireann's recent weather warnings prove that summer has well and truly ended, you might be thinking of what events and activities are taking place around the country this autumn season. 

There is a wide variety of family friendly, and not so family friendly, events taking place up and down the country throughout the month of October.

With so much to do and so much to see, we've compiled a list of things to check out this Halloween:

Visit a pumpkin patch

The American tradition of pumpkin patches have become increasingly popular in Ireland around Halloween time. Taking a trip to visit a pumpkin patch is a great idea for kids and can also be a festive date idea! There are lots of charming pumpkin patches around the country such as Clissmann's in Wicklow or Alright Pumpkin in Meath. 

These pumpkin patches tend to be designed with some light spooks in mind, ideal for the smaller ones to get into the Halloween spirit. So make sure to check out any local pumpkin patches this October and pick up the perfect pumpkin!

Celebrate Samhain with Halloween Festivals

Of course, being the birthplace of Halloween, Ireland hosts numerous events to celebrate the holiday. The Púca Festival in County Meath is a well know festival that takes place every year where people can: "Dance with otherworldly creatures, revel in the richness of Irish music and storytelling, and experience Halloween in its most authentic form." The Púca Festival will take place from October 31 to November 3.

If you're interested in visiting the largest Halloween festival in Europe, you should check out Derry Halloween. Derry Halloween celebrates Samhain in style through illumination, aerial performance, pyrotechnics and music all on the streets of Derry. This beloved festival will take place from October 28-31.

Throughout the October Bank Holiday weekend, the Galway Aboo Halloween festival will be taking to the streets of the city with many of the events taking place for free! The famous Macnas Halloween Parade will also be returning to this year's festival. This parade is known for its captivating and family-friendly visual story-telling. 

Leave the light on after some spooky Halloween movies

One thing we all love doing during this time of year is watching our favourite classic Halloween movies. Hocus Pocus will always be on the top of the watch list for kids and adults, but what about other family-friendly flicks? Older kids, and nostalgia prone adults, may be interested in checking out the new 'Beetlejuice' movie coming to theatres this month. 

Ireland's film industry continues to grow in strength, and the country has produced some top quality horror movies in recent times. Netflix has some great Irish horrors such as 'Nightingale' and 'You Are Not My Mother' which are definitely worth checking out once the little ones are in bed. 

If you want to venture out from behind your couch to watch a Halloween movie, Leopardstown's Retro Drive-in Movies will be showing a huge selection of Horror classics this October. There's a wide variety of movies on show for families and adults, ranging from 'Monsters Inc.' to 'The Shining.'

Dare to venture into Ireland's Big Haunts

If movies aren't enough to get you into the Halloween spirit and you instead want to immerse yourself in your own nightmarish experience, there are plenty of events available to get your adrenaline pumping. The Nightmare Realm is returning for its 15th year this October in Dublin. If you're brave enough, you can purchase tickets online to visit the major scare attraction dubbed Europe's best scream park.

Have your own ghostly encounters

Halloween is known as the time of year when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, so it's a perfect time to take a ghost tour! If you want to have your own paranormal encounter this Halloween then you should check out Spike Island After Dark. 

Guided by an expert storyteller, you can explore the haunting corridors of the abandoned prison infamously known as 'Ireland’s Hell.' If you have the guts, you can dive into the dark history of what was once Ireland’s most notorious prison with spine chilling tales of the murderers and deviants who once roamed its halls.

So if you're looking to fill up your calendar this October, make sure to check out all of the Halloween events taking place near you.