It's the bank holiday, mid-term starts today and Halloween is on Saturday. So this week is mostly fireworks, face paint and haunted houses, and 11 of the 12 kids' picks are free.
If you're around tonight, the Macnas parade is on in the north inner city. There's no school in the morning, so let them stay up for it.
I went back through every organiser's page on Monday morning, 26 October. It's Halloween week and with events filling up fast, I left it late to double check the listings before I sent out the issue. If there's something you want to book, don't leave it till Friday.
12 PICKS · 4 AREAS
With The Kids
Three in every part of Dublin. If you're happy to drive, the other areas are fair game too.
City Centre
Macnas Parade: Fiáin
North Great George's Street to Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 · tonight, Monday 26 October, 7pm. Gather from 6.45pm, not earlier, and it takes about 20 minutes to pass
Free · all ages · no booking
The big night parade of the Bram Stoker Festival, through the streets around Mountjoy Square. You don't need to be at the start. But do wrap them up and be prepared if any rain is forecast.
Fright at the Museum
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 · any day the museum's open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday and Monday 1pm to 5pm, and till 8pm on Thursday 29 October
Free, like the museum itself · all ages · no booking
A self-guided trail of riddles and objects, all indoors. It's the one to keep in your back pocket for a wet day, and there's nothing lost if they're bored early.
The Liberties Haunt
The Digital Hub Depot, Roe Lane, off Thomas Street, Dublin 8 · Saturday 31 October, 4.30pm to 8.30pm. The first hour, to 5.30pm, is sensory-friendly
Free · families, but it's a circus-clown haunted house
If yours are small, or not mad about clowns, go for the first hour. The proper scares come after that.
North Dublin
Fingal Festival of Fire, Swords
Swords Town Park, behind the castle, Swords · Saturday 31 October, Halloween music from 6.30pm, fireworks at 7.30pm
Free · just turn up
Halloween night fireworks on the northside. If Swords is a trek, there are fireworks that night at Millennium Park in Blanchardstown and Bremore Castle in Balbriggan, though there's no parking at Bremore.
Belcamp Park Halloween Fireworks
Belcamp Park, Priorswood, Clonshaugh, Dublin 17 · Saturday 31 October, 7.15pm
Free · kids with an adult, costumes welcome
A council fireworks display that starts a little earlier than Swords, which helps if yours fade fast. Let them go in costume.
Monster Mash at Maypark
Maypark (Donnycarney Park) · Malahide Road, Dublin 5 · Saturday 31 October, 1pm to 4pm
Free · kids with an adult
Storytelling, face painting, a DJ and magic. It's the daytime one on the northside, so you could do this and still make the fireworks that night if you've the energy.
South Dublin
Mask-making at the Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum, Dún Laoghaire · Monday 26 October, 12pm to 3pm
€20 a child, adults go in free, so €40 for two kids · ages 6 to 12, with an adult · book ahead, 15 places only
Masks, face painting, photo zones, games and treats, all indoors. It's on today and it's small, so check there's a place left before you head down.
Scéalta Scanrúla
dlr LexIcon, Dún Laoghaire · Thursday 29 October, 3.30pm
Free · all welcome · no booking listed, and the library's number is 01 204 7219
Spooky stories told in Irish. A nice one if they've a bit of Irish from school. The library doesn't say how long it runs, so give them a ring if that matters.
Cabinteely junior parkrun
Cabinteely Park, Park Drive, Dublin 18 · Sunday 1 November, 9.30am, every Sunday, a 2k run
Free · ages 4 to 14 · register once beforehand and bring the barcode
Register them during the week and print the barcode, and they're set for every Sunday after. Mid-term's a good week to start.
West Dublin
Tallaween
Parthalán Place, Tallaght · Friday 30 October, noon to 6pm
Free · families
The council's Halloween day in Tallaght: puppet shows, a magic show, circus workshops, a Monster Dance Party and retro games. There's a sensory play area too, if yours need a break from the noise.
Pumpkin Playland, Liffey Valley
Liffey Valley shopping centre, Clondalkin · Monday 26 to Saturday 31 October, 12pm to 4pm every day, with a Boo-gie Bash disco on Saturday 31
Free · little ones · drop in
Crafts, games and face painting in the dry, every afternoon of mid-term. Handy if you're out there for the shopping anyway.
Brickfield Halloween Festival
Brickfield Park, Drimnagh · Saturday 31 October, 12pm to 4pm
Free · families
A magic show, live music, a ghost train and face painting in the park. It's outdoors, so bring the coats.
2 IDEAS FOR A NIGHT OUT
With the missus
Get grandma or the babysitter lined up. These two are just for the pair of you.
ANIMALS at the Abbey
Abbey Theatre, Abbey Street, Dublin 1 · Monday 26 to Saturday 31 October, 7.30pm, plus a 2pm matinee on Saturday 31. 2 hours 55 minutes with an interval
€15 to €55 a ticket plus a booking fee, so €30 to €110 for the two of you, plus fees · 16+, with smoke, haze and flashing lights
It's a long one, so eat first. Or go to the Saturday matinee and make an afternoon of it.
Dublin in Flames
From the Guinness Storehouse through the Liberties to Temple Bar · any day this week, about 80 minutes at your own pace
Just under €10 a ticket, no booking fees · buy it in the Questo app, then start from the Guinness Storehouse
A puzzle walk on your phone, past Roe & Co, Teeling and the Dublin Liberties Distillery, built around an old story about a whiskey fire. It's all outdoors, so pick a dry afternoon and finish in Temple Bar.
2 PICKS · SOLO OR WITH MATES
Useful dad picks
Foy Vance
3Olympia Theatre, Dame Street · Thursday 29 October, doors 7pm, with Bonnie Bishop and Niall McCabe
From about €46, booking fee included · tickets still available when I checked
A Thursday night gig in one of the best old theatres in the city.
The Poetry Stroll
James Joyce Tower, Sandycove Point · Sunday 1 November, 1pm or 2.30pm, an hour
Just over €22 a ticket
Joyce through poetry and song, and part of it's a walk round the point, so dress for the weather. An hour to yourself on a Sunday, beside the sea.
1 PICK · COUNTY MEATH
Worth The Spin
Worth the drive, if the weather holds.
Pooka Spooka at Causey Farm
Causey Farm, Co. Meath · Monday 26, Thursday 29, Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, 12pm to 4pm
€14 a head, adults and kids the same, so €56 for four, and under-2s go free · ages 2 to 12 · book ahead online
Mineshaft tunnels, a train ride, a corn maze, a mirror maze and the farm animals. It's mostly outdoors, so wellies. It's the dearest day out in here for a family.
2 IDEAS FOR HER DAY OFF
Just for the missus
A bit of time to herself on Sunday afternoon, while you take the kids.
Christmas gifting afternoon with Poco Beauty
The Townhouse, Arnotts, Henry Street · Sunday 1 November, 12pm to 2pm
Just over €33 to book, with €30 to spend on Poco Beauty products on the day
It's a brand afternoon, so there'll be selling alongside the make-up masterclass. And who knows, she might tick off a few Christmas presents while she's there. Win win.
Ring Making for the Girlies
Clink i Lár, 35-36 Upper Abbey Street · Sunday 1 November, 1pm to 2pm or 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Just under €28 with materials, her ring and a drink included · 18+, beginners welcome
She comes home with a ring she made herself. She can go on her own or bring a friend. It's a short walk from Arnotts, so she could do both.
What I did
On Sunday evening we did Samhain in Marlay Park: me, the missus, the little one and Grandad. €10 for the four of us, which is as good as free these days.
If you're ever going to do it, leave about 25 minutes for the walk down from the College car park. It's a fair walk on small legs.
Along the trail there are actors playing different parts. Drama students, I'd say. A girl in a box. A witch up in a window.
The little one is three, and she was already wondering what they were all at. In the pitch dark I think a few of them would have frightened her. So parts of it are a bit scary, but it's well put together.
It's fine for the really small ones too, just go before it's fully dark.
It only ran the weekend, so you've missed it this year. Make a mental note for next October, though, because it tends to come back every year.
The bigger point is you don't have to break the bank for the kids to enjoy Halloween. There's plenty like it on this week, and 11 of the 12 kids' picks up top are free.
Quick one before you go. Did you get to anything from last week's list?
Hit reply and tell me which one, even one word. I read every reply.
One favour. Send this to a dad in your WhatsApp group who's stuck for ideas.
He can get it every Monday at newsletter.thedublindad.com.
That's the mid-term sorted, hopefully.
Talk to you next Monday.
Alan,
The Dublin Dad