NI Halloween Events that are Fun and Family-Friendly

The range of NI Halloween events happening in this year is fang-tastic! Northern Ireland is home to many spooky stories, mystical mythology and ancient folklore, from frightening tales of banshees to the dark history of haunted hotels – it’s no surprise that there are some Spooktacular Halloween events planned.

You don’t need to wait until October 31st to start celebrations though, many of the upcoming events are scheduled throughout the whole month of October. Some events are suitable for young children to play and explore Halloween festivities, other Halloween events are more suitable for older children, who are feeling brave and ready to be petrified! 

We’ve put together a recommendation of spooky Halloween events that are happening across Belfast and NI. Check out these upcoming family-friendly Halloween events and celebrate the frightful season with the whole family.

Halloween events in Belfast:

1. Boo at the Zoo
2. Visit the Ghouls at Crumlin Road Gaol
3. The Ghost House at Cityside

NI Halloween events near me:

1. Zombie Race at Jungle NI
2. Fright Night at Jungle NI
3. The Scarecrow Night Walk at Hillsborough Castle
4. Colin ‘spooky’ Glen at Colin Glen Forest Park

Boo at the Zoo 

Visit the Belfast Zoo for some spooky fun and Halloween activities. The fang-tastic day will be filled with fun pumpkin decorating, frightening face painting and gross slime making. Let your little monsters run wild and enjoy the eerie atmosphere.

When is it? 

• Saturday 28th October, 10.00am – 4.00pm.
• Sunday 29th October, 10.00am – 4.00pm.

Please note that last emissions are at 2.30pm. 

How much does it cost? 

The normal rate of emission still applies, which is:

• Child (under aged 4) – FREE
• Carer – FREE
• Child (aged 4 – 16) – £6.75
• Students – £6.75
• Over 60s – £6.75
• Adults (aged 17+) – £13.50 
• Family Day Ticket (2 adults and 3 children) – £38.50 

For more information on the Halloween event at the Belfast Zoo, please click here.

Visit the Ghouls at Crumlin Road Gaol

This year Crumlin Road Gaol are launching their spooktacular Halloween event that’s suitable for all ages. From spooky tours in the haunted prison, to visiting the pumpkin patch to select your own ripe pumpkin ready for carving – there’s some spooky fun for the whole family to enjoy. 

The Crumlin Road Gaol have planned some fun filled Hallween activities, including: 

• A spooktacular Gaol tour 
• Pumpkin puffer train ride
• Pumpkin patch (grab your wheelbarrow and pick the perfect pumpkin). 
• Halloween petting zoo
• Live interactive halloween musicals

When is it? 

The Halloween celebrations at Crumlin Road Gaol are running between 11.00am – 6.00pm on these selected dates in October:

• Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th
• Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd
• Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th & Monday 30th October

How much does it cost? 

• £15 Per Person
• £13 Per Person (without a pumpkin)

This Halloween Extravaganza is sure to put a smile on all of your family’s faces. The perfect time to create long-lasting memories and take some fun Halloween photos. The Crumlin Road Gaol is located on the outskirts of Belfast City Centre. Find out more information and book a slot here. 

The Ghost House – Cityside (ages 8+)

The Ghost House has returned to the Cityside Retail and Leisure Park located in central Belfast. The haunted house takes you on a spine-tingling journey to discover the truth behind the legend of the man who once lived there – Black Hearted Benjamin, once a highwayman and now a frightening ghost!

Travel through The Ghost House and into a shadowy world of shipwrecks and sword fights. The Ghost House is a walk-through theatre experience featuring live performances, magic, digital technology and dance routines from Cahoots, makers of The Grimm Hotel (BIAF 2021).

When is it? 

Fri 14 Oct – Mon 31 Oct (closed on Tuesdays)

Various Times: Weekdays 5.00pm – 9.15pm | Weekends 12.00pm – 9.15pm

How much is it? 

Prices range from £12.50 – £15 per person. However, if you are booking for groups of more than 2 people, you can receive a group discount.

Get chased by Zombies! (ages 6+)

Get the adrenaline pumping and set the fear factor to 100 with this frightening Zombie Run hosted by Jungle NI. 

Zombies are right on your tail, you just need to make it to the end of the race with all of your lives intact. Escape the zombies by crossing lakes and muddy trenches, overcome challenging obstacles to avoid being bitten (not really bitten thankfully!) and run through the scary woods to reach the finish line.

The Jungle NI Zombie Run has three categories for the Zombie Race, each with varying levels of difficulty; Kids, Teens and Adults. Each race is designed to test the participants physical capabilities and prepare you for any unexpected Zombie apocalypses this Halloween. 

When is it? 

Sunday 8th October 

• Adult race at 10am.
• Kids race at 1pm.
• Teens race at 2.30pm. 

How much does it cost?

• Adults – £40
• Teens – £25 (aged 11-17 years old).
• Kids – £20 (aged 6-10 years old).

The Zombie Race is about having fun and creating a unique and memorable event for your family celebrating Halloween. Click here for more information and to book your place.

Fright Night at Jungle NI (over 12s only)

Jungle NI are also hosting their horrifying Fright Night. This spine-tingling event is sure to scare the most hardened of souls. Due to the heart palpitating intensity, Fright Night is only suitable for over 12s, under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult throughout the night. 

You can choose to creep through the haunted woods in the Woodland Trail or attend the petrifying Scare Attractions, maybe both if you are brave enough!

Woodland Trail 

The Woodland Trail is a spooky and immersive Halloween experience. You’ll meet lots unsettling characters with creepy backstories and feel the woodlands close in on you as the trail disorientates and startles you. For an adrenaline rush and thrill seeking experience, book the creepy and unforgettable Woodland Trail. 

Scare Attractions 

The Scare Attractions are an even more intense and petrifying experience. From unexpected jump scares to being chasen by insane criminals, it’s sure to put a lump in your throat and keep you on edge throughout the whole experience. This Halloween, Jungle NI is bringing back 6 of their infamous scare attractions:

The Inbred Horror House 

Think of the Hills Have Eyes, still want to go? Escape the terrorising horror house filled with an insidious gang of inbreds. You’re not a visitor in their home, you’re fresh meat. 

The Circus

Like being chased by creepy killer clowns, in a disorientating maze and through a spinning vortex? If so then enter The Circus, at your own risk!

The Ward

Enter the deranged asylum filled with immoral doctors and wicked nurses who inflict pain and torture on their patients. You don’t want to wait around for a check up here.  

The Cornfield 

Run through the maze like you’re set in The Shining. Avoid the dangers that lurk around every corner and keep your wits about you to escape. Don’t call for help though, no-one will be able to find you. 

The Haunted Haycart 

Sit back and freak out on your journey with The Haunted Haycart. Cross over gruesome acts and don’t fall off! You don’t want to be captured by the deranged characters nearby. 

The Claustraforest

Exactly what it sounds like claustrophobic. This eerie and uncanny experience makes you squeeze through tight gaps and fit into confined spaces in order to make it out alive. It’s a sure way to get your heart thudding and ramp up those anxiety levels. 

When is Fright Night? 

Jungle NI are hosting 11 nights of the much anticipated Fright Night. Each event starts at 7pm till late. The upcoming dates in October are as follows: 

• Friday 13th & Saturday 14th
• Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd
• Thursday 26th & Friday 27th
• Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th
• Monday 30th & Tuesday 31st

How much does it cost? 

Fright Night lets you design your own schedule of events, you can pick and choose from Scare Attraction options or the Woodland Trail. They also offer some packages combining the price of both. 

Woodland Trail – £27.50 per person 

Scare Attractions pass – £12 per person 

• x 2 attractions – £20 per person
• x 3 attractions – £26.50 per person
• x 4 attractions – £33 per person
• x 5 attractions – £38.50 per person

The scare attractions pass gets you entry to the park and some Scare Attraction tokens, which you use to choose your Scare Attraction(s) on the night. More tokens can then be purchased on site for £10 per person.

For more information and to book your place at the Fright Night, visit here. 

Hillsborough Castle – Grimm Tales and Scarecrow Trails

Visit Hillsborough Castle this Halloween to see the scarecrows that have come alive to stalk the Hillsborough gardens. Make your way through the mysterious gardens and experience a spooktacular walk. This experience lasts approximately 40 – 45 minutes. 

This NI Halloween event is sure to bring a fang-tastic time to the whole family. With prizes for the best dressed costume and hot season food available, it will be a wholesome family friendly Halloween event for all to enjoy. 

When is it? 

The Hillsborough Scarecrow Night walk is scheduled to take place on the following October dates: 

• 26th October (6:00 – 9:00pm)
• 27th October (6:00 – 9:00pm)
• 28th October (6:00 – 9:00pm)
• 29th October (6:00 – 9:00pm)

How much is it? 

• Under 5s – FREE
• Child –  £9.80
• Adults – £15.00
• Concession –  £12

The Hillsborough Castle is known for its all out celebrations and Halloween will surely be one for the family to remember. For more information and to book your tickets please visit here. 

Gruffalo Halloween at Colin Glen

Colin Glen forest Park is hosting a really amusing Halloween event this year, suitable for the whole family to enjoy. Meet Halloween characters from the Nightmare before Christmas, Pumpkin Jack, Sally and even the Oogie Boogie Man will all be there to help your family celebrate the most wicked time of the year.

This Halloween event includes scary stories, live entertainment from the Jump, Jiggle and Jive dance crew and even toasted marshmallows to end the night with.  It’s a frightfully good adventure for all the family this Halloween!

When is it? 

The Colin-spooky-Glen Halloween event is scheduled to take place on the following October dates:

• Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd
• Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th
• Monday 30th & Tuesday 31st

How much does it cost? 

Tickets starts at £16 per person. For more information on prices and bookings, please visit here. 

Halloween events in Northern Ireland

Whether your family is looking to have terrifying fun with adrenaline pumping activities or pleasant Halloween experiences that will create long lasting memories, NI will have a Halloween event suitable for your whole family to enjoy. 

As a hotspot for entertainment and culture, NI celebrates Halloween in a truly unique way. Enjoy NI Halloween events throughout the whole month of October and find a family friendly activity that will be spook-tacular for all ages.