As night falls, Trim’s walls blaze with light as shape-shifting creatures take over the streets. A few kilometres 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 spread across two historic destinations in Ireland’s Ancient East: Trim and Athboy.
Trim will host much of the festival’s concerts, shows, market and evening entertainment. Its medieval castle will provide the setting for projections and several fire performances.
Athboy will offer a programme more closely focused on Samhain traditions, folk tales, food and the Hill of Tlachtga, also known as the Hill of Ward.
A free shuttle 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 sites without having to use your car for every trip.
Created in 2019, the Púca Festival celebrates the legacy of Samhain, the Irish festival at the origin of Halloween. In the Gaelic calendar, Samhain marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark season.
Medieval traditions and accounts describe this period as a time of transition, when the boundary between the world of the living and the Otherworld became more fragile.
The festival draws on this rich imaginative world without seeking to recreate ancient ceremonies exactly, as they remain 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 allows 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 of it carrying off unwary travellers on wild nocturnal rides before abandoning them far from their route.
It is particularly associated with the Samhain period. 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 figures from 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 yet to be confirmed.
After dark, artists, musicians, dancers and fantastical creatures will make their way through the streets in a staging inspired by nature, ancestors and Irish myths.
Drums, flames and costumes will turn Trim town centre into a vast nocturnal theatre. The procession will take place outdoors and standing only. It is therefore best to arrive early 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 striking 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 a particularly 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 on 30 October 2026 near the Barbican Gate of Trim Castle. This free performance will combine fire choreography, aerial acrobatics and atmospheric effects.
The show will take place outdoors and 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 festival’s wider 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 the 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 exact details of the ceremonies held there in ancient times remain debated.
The main celebration takes place at Fairgreen in Athboy town centre. Its 2026 timing has yet to be confirmed by the organisers.
Several paid activities offer the chance to discover the landscapes and traditions associated with Tlachtga. The 2026 programme includes meditation sessions, walks focused on wild plants and various experiences centred on ancestral memory.
The hill is located beside a working farm and has no public parking. For booked activities, a shuttle 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 offer several concerts, cabaret shows and comedy events in Trim.
Artists announced 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 open only to those aged 16 and over. Proof of identity may be requested on entry.
Other shows, including certain cabarets and banquets, are strictly reserved 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.
Beyond the Veil – The Púca Trail takes visitors through Trim’s Porchfields in search of spirits and shape-shifting creatures. This storytelling walk is held throughout the festival’s four days.
Workshops on Irish trees, the ogham alphabet and woodcraft 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 certain 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 apply mainly 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 the same day.
Trim hosts most of the concerts, the market, projections and major shows. It is therefore the most practical base for visitors wishing to enjoy several events.
Athboy offers a more intimate atmosphere, focused more closely on the Samhain Fire, storytelling and experiences around Tlachtga. Accommodation options there are more limited, however.
A free shuttle will run hourly between the two towns throughout the festival. The journey is estimated to take between 20 and 30 minutes. Final timetables should be checked before making bookings.
Special coach services are also announced 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 programme 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, County Meath, Republic of Ireland, Tourist sites in Ireland ; Trim, County Meath, Republic of Ireland, Tourist sites in Ireland
53.62375929308756, -6.915551199799953
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 reserved for those aged 16 and over or 18 and over.
