I listened to the Talking Bollox podcast this week, and they talked about how Bram Stoker created Dracula, a world wide known vampire. It’s somewhat overlooked with the success of other literaries in Ireland. However this weekend, Bram Stoker is celebrated with a haunting festival in Dublin.

1. Stokerland

2. Fado Fado Storytelling

3. Making Faces: Mask Making at the Museum

4. Péisteanna – Exhibition by Paul McKinley

5. Frank & McStein’s Monster Laboratory

Stokerland

Saturday 26th - Monday 28th | St Patrick's Park

Roll up, roll up and enter Stokerland, a free, pop-up Victorian fun park for families and the eternally young! Now an annual festival highlight for Dubliners of all ages, it’s the perfect family-fun-day out this October bank holiday weekend in Dublin.

With the stunning cathedral as a gothic backdrop, this ghoulish gathering features street theatre, a performance tent, free face-painting, a food market, a free Victorian style carousel, macabre thrills and ghoulish games for everyone to enjoy.

Fancy dress is encouraged, and it is a really great day for the Kids in the city.

Admission to Stokerland is free and for the first time there is no fee for the carousel this year. Read all about Stokerland now

Fado Fado Storytelling

Now until 2nd of November | Various Location

Join dlr Libraries this October for the third year of our annual storytelling festival, delivering a range of professional Irish and international storytellers for families, adults and schoolchildren to enjoy. Invited storytellers include Fiona Dowling, Baden Prince Junior, Masako Carey, Steve Lally, Senem Donaten Mohan and Pádraig Ó Briain.

Suitable for all ages, Venues include: Dalkey, Deansgrange, dlr LexIcon, Dundrum and Shankill Libraries

For full details, check out the flyer.

Making Faces: Mask Making at the Museum

28th of Oct | 14:00 | Collins Barracks

Join visual artist Carrie Lynam for a vibrant exploration of colour and texture at this drop-in mask-making workshop.

Draw inspiration from the intriguing objects displayed throughout the National Museum: Decorative Arts and History’s galleries and unleash your creativity to design and construct unique faces or characters.

Using a wide range of techniques and materials, this hands-on workshop encourages a playful approach to art, inviting you to experiment and discover the joy of artistic creation in these historic halls.

It’s aimed at 7-12 year olds, and you can join at any time and stay for as long as you like! More info? Right here

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Péisteanna – Exhibition by Paul McKinley

25th to 28th of Oct | 10am-4pm | Casino Marino

Péisteanna is visual artist Paul McKinley’s response to Gibbet Hill, the long-lost ghost story by Bram Stoker unearthed by Brian Cleary, which will be the focus of discussion at An Extraordinary Bram Stoker Discovery.

This exhibition at the Casino at Marino presents new artworks which explore the themes, characters and setting of Stoker’s story.

This is more suited to adults, with a minimum age of 16 for entry into this terrifying exhibtion. Get more info on Péisteanna here.

Frank & McStein’s Monster Laboratory

25th til 27th of Oct | 18:00 - 21.30 | Tours every 30 mins

Step into the historic and atmospheric Dublin Castle for a fiery festival highlight like no other: Frank & McStein’s Monster Laboratory!

Over three spellbinding nights, witness science’s greatest and most terrible achievement of all time at this interactive fire show – if you dare!

With the sole intention of waking the most frightening, horrific and disgraceful creature known to nature, Professors Frank and McStein have set up their dastardly M.O.N.S.T.E.R. LAB

This is an outdoor event. Please dress appropriately. The event contains fire installations, bright lights, loud noises and likely crowds.

It’s free, but you will need to pre book a ticket. 

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