As night falls, Trim’s walls blaze with light as shape-shifting creatures take over the streets. A few miles away, Athboy reconnects with the ancient fires of Samhain. Welcome to the Púca Festival, one of Ireland’s most distinctive Halloween celebrations.
From 29 October to 1 November 2026, the festival takes over two towns in County Meath with processions, fire shows, projections, concerts and experiences inspired by Irish folklore.
The Púca Festival 2026 will run from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November. Its programme will be split between two historic destinations in Ireland’s Ancient East: Trim and Athboy.
Trim will host much of the music, entertainment, market and evening activities. Its medieval castle will provide the backdrop for projections and several fire performances.
Athboy will offer a programme focused more closely on Samhain traditions, folklore, food and the hill of Tlachtga, also known as the Hill of Ward.
A free shuttle bus is due to run hourly between Trim and Athboy throughout the festival’s four days. The journey takes around 20 to 30 minutes, making it possible to explore both locations without having to use your car for every trip.
Created in 2019, the Púca Festival celebrates the heritage of Samhain, the Irish festival from which Halloween originated. In the Gaelic calendar, Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark season.
Medieval traditions and tales describe this time as a period of transition, when the boundary between the world of the living and the Otherworld became more fragile.
The festival draws on this imagery without attempting to reproduce ancient ceremonies exactly, as they remain only imperfectly understood. It brings together folklore, contemporary artistic creation, music, fire and food in a spectacular celebration.
The event is one of the highlights of the national ‘Ireland, Home of Halloween’ programme, supported in particular by Fáilte Ireland. It enables the Boyne Valley region to showcase its history while offering an accessible cultural experience for international visitors.
The festival takes its name from the Púca, a mysterious creature from Irish folklore. This shape-shifting spirit can take the form of a black horse, dog, goat, hare or even a human being.
Its behaviour varies from one story to another. The Púca may be mischievous, frightening or sometimes benevolent. Some legends tell how it carries off unwary travellers on wild night rides before abandoning them far from their route.
It is particularly associated with Samhain. After the harvest, a small portion of the crops could be left in the fields for spirits and supernatural creatures.
At the festival, the Púca becomes the symbolic guide to a world in which the characters of the Otherworld reappear among the living.
The Púca Procession is among the main free events of the 2026 edition. It is scheduled to take place in Trim on Friday 30 October, with the start time still to be confirmed.
After dark, artists, musicians, dancers and fantastical creatures will make their way through the streets in a production inspired by nature, ancestors and Irish myths.
Drums, flames and costumes will transform Trim town centre into a vast nocturnal theatre. The procession will take place outdoors and will be standing-only. Arrive early enough and bring clothing suited to the weather conditions.
Admission will be free and no booking will be required, unless the arrangements change at a later date.
Trim Castle provides one of the festival’s most impressive settings. After dark, its façades host audiovisual projections inspired by Irish mythology and the Celtic Otherworld.
Light displays, music and visual effects bring the thick walls of this medieval fortress to life. The show brings together historic heritage and contemporary creation in an especially photogenic setting.
The projections will be free to attend. Exact dates and times will be announced in the festival’s final schedule.
The Pyro Collective will perform near the Barbican Gate at Trim Castle on 30 October 2026. This free performance will combine fire choreography, aerial acrobatics and atmospheric effects.
The show will take place outdoors and will be standing-only. No ticket will be required, but the space around the castle may fill up quickly.
Pyrotechnic performances are also planned as part of the wider festival programme. They remain subject to authorisations and weather conditions.
In Athboy, one of the festival’s key moments is the lighting of the Samhain Fire. This free celebration brings together music, storytelling, dance and fire performances in remembrance of ancestors.
The ceremony refers to Tlachtga, now known as the Hill of Ward, an ancient ceremonial hill near Athboy. Medieval Irish texts associate this site with Samhain gatherings and fires.
It is important, however, to distinguish cultural tradition from archaeological certainty. Tlachtga has genuine historical significance, but the precise details of the ceremonies held there in ancient times remain debated.
The main celebration takes place at Fairgreen in central Athboy. Its 2026 timing is still to be confirmed by the organisers.
Several paid activities offer the opportunity to discover the landscapes and traditions associated with Tlachtga. The 2026 programme includes meditation sessions, walks focusing on wild plants and various experiences centred on the memory of ancestors.
The hill is located beside a working farm and has no public parking. For booked activities, a shuttle bus operates from Athboy Rugby Club.
The ground is uneven and can become very muddy. Suitable footwear and waterproof clothing are essential. The site is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Dogs are not permitted during organised activities on the hill.
The Púca Festival is not limited to processions and mythological tales. The 2026 edition will feature several concerts, cabaret shows and comedy events in Trim.
Announced artists include The Coronas with Roísín O, Hothouse Flowers, Jerry Fish, and Qween & The Dublin Gospel Choir. Comedians and cabaret performers complete the programme.
The main concerts held under the Púca Big Top are for those aged 16 and over. Proof of identity may be requested at the entrance.
Other shows, including certain cabarets and banquets, are strictly for adults aged over 18. The minimum age should be checked separately for each booking.
The festival offers several paid experiences that explore Irish folklore and culture in a more intimate format.
The Beyond the Veil – The Púca Trail leads visitors through Trim’s Porchfields in search of spirits and shape-shifting creatures. This storytelling walk takes place on all four days of the festival.
Workshops on Irish trees, the ogham alphabet and woodworking are also offered. In Athboy, dinner shows combine ghost stories, traditional music and Samhain food.
The Púca Samhain Banquet includes a four-course dinner accompanied by music and dance. This adults-only experience is scheduled for 30 and 31 October.
Trim’s Harvest Market also brings together craftspeople, producers and food stalls. It offers a chance to enjoy the festival atmosphere without necessarily booking a paid show.
A large part of the outdoor programme is suitable for families. The projections, procession, market and street performances favour wonder and spectacle over realistic horror.
Crowds, flames, loud sounds and the appearance of some creatures may nevertheless unsettle sensitive children. In that case, it is best to attend events as early as possible and stand at a distance.
Age restrictions mainly apply to Big Top concerts, cabarets, the Samhain Circus and events serving alcohol. Each ticket listing states the applicable minimum age.
As the festival is spread across several locations, families should also factor in travel times and weather conditions before planning several activities in one day.
Trim hosts the majority of the concerts, market, projections and major shows. It is therefore the most practical base for visitors wishing to enjoy several events.
Athboy has a more intimate atmosphere, centred more on the Samhain Fire, storytelling and experiences around Tlachtga. Accommodation capacity is more limited, however.
A free shuttle bus will run hourly between the two towns throughout the festival. The journey is estimated at between 20 and 30 minutes. Check the final timetable before making bookings.
Special coaches are also planned from Dublin, Drogheda, Navan, Slane, Kells and Mullingar. Booking arrangements will be published by the festival.
It is advisable to book accommodation and paid shows several weeks in advance, as Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026.
The full schedule and tickets are available on the official Púca Festival website.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
entre Athboy, Trim et Drogheda, Athboy, Athboy, Trim, Trim - Republic of Ireland
53.62375929308756, -6.915551199799953
3h00
General admission to the Púca Festival is free, but many experiences require a ticket.
The Púca Procession, the Samhain Fire, projections at Trim Castle and certain outdoor performances are free to attend.
Tickets are sold separately for each activity. Some shows are restricted to those aged over 16 or over 18.
