Hey all,
It's a bank holiday weekend, Halloween is getting closer and Dublin is about to get a little strange.
The Bram Stoker Festival is back from Friday to Monday, with spooky performances, walking tours, family activities and a massive parade through the streets of Dublin.
There's plenty happening for free too.
One thing to keep in mind: the Dublin Marathon is on Sunday, so getting into and around the city centre could be a bit of a nightmare.
There'll be road closures, bus diversions and plenty of people making their way around the course. Check your route before heading in, particularly on Sunday.
Anyway, here's what I've found.
What's On This Week
Stokerland
Macnas Parade: Fiáin
On the Hunt in the National Library
Bram Stoker Festival 2026
Dublin Book Festival: Coming Soon
Stokerland 2026
Location: St Patrick's Park, Dublin 8
Date & Time: Saturday 24th – Monday 26th October | 11am–4:30pm daily
This is probably my pick for families this weekend.
St Patrick's Park is being transformed into a wonderfully strange little world of spooky characters, street theatre, storytelling, music, games and activities for children.
There'll be free face painting, performances, a Victorian-style carousel and plenty of odd characters wandering around.
The carousel is completely free too, which is a nice bonus.
There's also a quieter, relaxed session on Monday morning from 11am–1pm for families who might prefer a less busy experience.
Macnas Parade: Fiáin
Location: Dublin's North East Inner City
Date & Time: Monday 26th October | 7pm
If you've never seen a Macnas parade, this is well worth making the effort for.
The Galway-based spectacle company is bringing Fiáin to Dublin, a huge outdoor parade inspired by the wild landscapes and stories of the West of Ireland.
Expect giant creations, performers, music and the sort of strange sights that Macnas does particularly well.
The parade will travel through streets including North Great George's Street, Gardiner Place, Mountjoy Square West and Gardiner Street.
It's free to watch, and there's no booking required.
I'd expect a decent crowd for this one, so give yourself time to find a spot.
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On the Hunt in the National Library
Location: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Date & Time: Saturday 24th October | 11am–1pm
Something a little different for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
The National Library is running a research challenge where participants have to work against the clock to solve clues using its collections and catalogues.
You'll get a quick introduction to using the library before being sent off to find the answers.
No research experience needed, although you'll need to bring a phone, tablet or laptop.
A nice way to explore one of Dublin's great buildings while doing something a bit more hands-on.
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Coming Soon: Dublin Book Festival
A little heads-up for next month.
The Dublin Book Festival has some lovely free events coming up in November, particularly for families.
A few that caught my eye:
Let's Be Trainee Banshees! – Saturday 7th November, 10:30am at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. A free workshop for children aged 5–8, with storytelling, drawing and a chance to practise their best banshee wail. Booking required.
DBF Family Treasure Hunt – Saturday 7th November, 11am–3pm at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. A free drop-in treasure hunt for families.
Off the Scéal – Sunday 8th November, 5pm at Teeling Distillery. A free multilingual open mic and storytelling evening featuring poetry, music and comedy. Booking required.
Worth putting in the diary now.
That's your lot for this week.
There's a good mix of things happening, but I think Stokerland and the Macnas parade are the two I'd be looking at.
And one final reminder about the marathon on Sunday.
If you're planning to drive into the city, check the road closures first. Some roads will be closed from early morning until late evening, and there are also closures beginning on Friday.
You don't want to spend your bank holiday sitting in traffic while 20,000 people run past you.
Enjoy the long weekend, and catch you next week!
