Samhain in the Heartlands 2026

What to Expect

Samhain in the Heartlands is the umbrella programme that carries Longford and Westmeath through the Halloween season, and it opens on 1 October 2026. It sits under the national Ireland, Home of Halloween banner, and the all-island launch of the 2026 season was hosted by the Longford and Westmeath Hub. The framing is the ancient Celtic origins of Halloween rather than imported horror, so the programme leans on folklore, storytelling, music, fire and family activity tied to the turning of the year.

Longford County Council and Westmeath County Council have said the season carries around 50 events across the two counties, with a Samhain map published to help visitors plan a route between them. Named strands include a Spirit of Samhain tasting dinner involving Lough Ree Distillery, Skellys Bar and Droimeann Beef, the immersive Last Wake at Doory Hall, and the Spooktacular Summoning at Dun na Si. Individual Longford dates already confirmed include the Dead of Night Festival, the Harvest Food Festival supper at Temperance Hall, Feile na Samhna at Corlea Trackway and Samhain mask making at the Maria Edgeworth Centre.

Good to Know

• Programme opens Monday 1 October 2026 and runs through the Halloween season.
• Events are spread across County Longford and County Westmeath, not held at a single site.
• Prices vary by event. Many listings are free, while ticketed items such as the Harvest Food Festival supper are charged separately.
• The councils have said further event listings are released in stages, so check Visit Longford before travelling.
• Booking is handled by each individual event organiser rather than centrally.

Getting There

Longford town sits on the N4 between Dublin and Sligo, roughly two hours from Dublin by road. Irish Rail serves Longford station on the Dublin Connolly to Sligo line, and Bus Eireann route 23 stops in the town. Individual programme events are scattered across the county, including Keenagh, Edgeworthstown, Drumlish and Abbeyshrule, so check each venue separately for parking.