A Halloween Guide to Waterford 2024

Waterford Halloween 2024: A Guide to Spooky Celebrations and Haunted History

Planning to celebrate Halloween 2024 in Waterford Ireland? As Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford has a lot of reasons to be the perfect Halloween destination. The city boasts a wealth of historical sites that have been standing for centuries, and they sure come with eerie tales that aren’t for the brave of heart. We’re talking about stories about ghosts, witches, murderers, and other tormented souls from Waterford’s dark past. 

Seeking spine-tingling things to do in Ireland’s ancient city? In this guide, we’ll cover a range of activities, places, and events to help you make the most out of your Halloween visit to Waterford.

1. Witness Spraoi’s Dearg Due’ Fire and Shadows Procession

Award-winning spectacle company Spraoi returns to Waterford with an electrifying Samhain event, inspired by the chilling legend of Dearg Due, a creature deeply rooted in Irish folklore. Known as the “red bloodsucker,” the Dearg Due is a female demon who lures men with her beauty before draining them of their blood. This year’s procession weaves this haunting tale through fire, shadow, and captivating performances, transforming Waterford’s streets into a shadowy realm of myth and magic.

The ‘Dearg Due’ Fire and Shadows procession will commence on Friday, October 25th, at 7:30 p.m. by the Irish Wake Museum in the Viking Triangle. As the evening falls, Spraoi’s skilled performers and dramatic effects will lead visitors on a journey from Cathedral Square through the city centre, merging storytelling and spectacle. This is more than just a procession; it’s an immersive storytelling experience that revives Irish folklore in Waterford’s historic heart.

2. Visit Waterford Treasures 

Discover 1000 years of history in 1000 paces in Ireland’s first open-air museum– Waterford Treasures. The museum quarter is comprised of multi-award-winning museums where you can get in touch with the city’s rich history, which includes tales of knights, battles, and legends: 

• Irish Silver Museum
• The Irish Museum of Time
• Bishop’s Palace
• Medieval Museum
• Reginald’s Tower (Viking history)

Dark History Tour at Waterford Treasures

This Halloween, Waterford Treasures has spooky measures in place for visitors seeking a haunting experience. On October 25 to 30, they’ll host a 90-minute “Dark History Tour”, which will take you through Viking Triangle to Ballybricken Square. 

• Dates: 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th October 2024
• Tour Times: 7.00 pm each day
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Location: Meet at the Medieval Museum
• Suitable for: Ages 16 years old and over

But beware — vampires, ghosts, murderers, and other creatures from the dark past will make an appearance during this limited-edition tour. It’s not suitable for visitors under the age of 16… and those who are just too scared of the eerie stories, desperately dying to get out. 

3. The Urban Underbelly at the Irish Wake Museum

Waterford Treasures’ latest addition takes you into Ireland’s first-ever Wake Museum, a journey through life and death in a 14th-century Almshouse. Join the guided “Urban Underbelly” tour, revealing 15th-century Waterford’s grim realities, from body snatchers to plagues.

• Dates: October 26-31
• Time: 4:00 p.m. daily
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Location: Irish Wake Museum

Note: Due to the nature of the building unfortunately this building is not suitable for visitors with varying abilities

4. Stay in a haunted castle hotel

Are you brave enough to spend a night in a hotel rumoured to be haunted? Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort does not deny that guests have reported feeling a “supernatural presence” during their stay. 

One known haunting is said to affect the dining room and conservatory. The ghost of a woman has been seen in this area and she is believed to be the spirit of Mary, the last member of the Fitzgerald family to have owned Waterford Castle.

Or you could sleep with some peace of mind in a modern, cosy, and certainly “not haunted” hotel in Waterford. We don’t judge! 

5. Explore Waterford’s most haunted 

What’s Halloween without a good scare? Delve into the city’s haunted history by booking a guided ghost tour or plan your own chilling journey through the city’s most haunted locations. 

• The Quay Area: Known for ghostly sailors and tall ships.
• Bishop’s Palace: Rumored to host ghostly footsteps and figures.
• Lismore Castle: Famous for the “White Lady” and other spirits.
• Haunted Graveyards: Check out Dunhill Cemetery or the Church of Ireland Graveyard for eerie encounters.

While you visit these locations hoping for a paranormal encounter, don’t forget to enjoy the historical and architectural aspects of these attractions. 

Also read: A Guide to Oktoberfest in Dublin 2024

6. Keep your eyes peeled for Waterford’s Halloween Events

Aside from the parade, there are plenty of Halloween events Waterford has in store. We’re talking about movie screenings, gardens transformed into haunted trails, pumpkin carvings, Halloween parties left and right, and more! Check the event calendar for fun and lively ways to celebrate the season. 

Waterford, with its rich history and atmospheric surroundings, offers a unique and spine-tingling Halloween experience. Whether you’re exploring haunted locations or enjoying Halloween-themed events, you’re sure to have a memorable and spooky time in this charming Irish city^. Happy Halloween!

Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a free-spirited damsel who loves documenting her adventures. Her fondness for travel, food, and cultural appreciation makes it easy for her to write inspiring pieces of content about them. To know more about hotels and travel blogs, you may visit Viking Hotel Waterford.