Things to Do in Dublin at Night
Live music venues, traditional pubs and a lit-up walk along the Liffey — Dublin after dark, beyond Temple Bar's main strip.
Bram Stoker Festival Guide
Dublin's Halloween festival, named for its Dracula-writing native son — why it exists, when it happens every year, and what to expect.
By Ireland Spots Team.jpg?width=1600)
Photo: Ingo Mehling / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Dublin leans into Halloween with a citywide festival named after one of its own — the man who wrote the most famous vampire novel in the English language.
Who was Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker was born in Clontarf, Dublin, in 1847 and is best known for writing Dracula, published in 1897. Dublin City Council and Fáilte Ireland launched the festival that bears his name in 2011, with the first event held in late October 2012 to mark 100 years since Stoker's death in 1912.
When it happens
The Bram Stoker Festival runs every year over the October Bank Holiday weekend — Ireland's last bank holiday weekend of the month, ending on the bank holiday Monday. Because the Irish October bank holiday moves with the calendar, the exact dates shift slightly from year to year.
What to expect
The festival programmes a mix of free and ticketed events across multiple venues in Dublin city centre, generally themed around Gothic literature, folklore and the macabre side of Dublin's history — the kind of city that produced both Stoker's Dracula and Sheridan Le Fanu's vampire fiction decades earlier. Expect a blend of family-friendly daytime activities and more adult-oriented events after dark, often making use of the city's older buildings and medieval quarter, such as the area around Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin Castle.
The specific programme is announced closer to the date each year — check the official site for what's actually on before you plan around anything specific.
This year's confirmed dates
Planning tips
- The October bank holiday Monday is a public holiday in Ireland, so some services run reduced or holiday hours.
- Late October in Dublin is reliably cold and often wet after dark — dress for the weather if you're attending evening events.
- Ticketed events can sell out; if something specific catches your eye in the programme, book it rather than assuming you can turn up on the night.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Bram Stoker Festival?
Bram Stoker, author of Dracula (1897), was born in Clontarf, Dublin, in 1847. Dublin City Council named the festival after him to tie the city's Halloween celebrations to its own Gothic literary heritage.
When does the Bram Stoker Festival take place?
It runs annually over the October Bank Holiday weekend — the last weekend in October, ending on the October bank holiday Monday.
Is the Bram Stoker Festival free?
It's a mix. Dublin City Council programmes both free and ticketed events across the weekend; check the official programme each year for which is which.
Practical details last verified 23 September 2026. Source: https://bramstokerfestival.com/about/
More in Dublin
Hidden Gems in Dublin
A few Dublin spots that don't make the typical top-ten list, from a converted distillery chimney to a Victorian garden most visitors walk straight past.
Dublin Theatre Festival Guide
Europe's oldest specialised theatre festival — how it started, how it's programmed today, and how to plan a visit around it.