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festivals · Tuesday 20 October 2026 · 6:30pm 
Leap Scarecrow Festival 2026
At Leap Village · Leap, Co. Cork
At Leap Village · Leap, Co. Cork
Leap Scarecrow Festival turns the small West Cork village of Leap into a Halloween-themed scarecrow trail every autumn, and 2026 sees it return for a two-week run from 20 October to 1 November. What began as a local scarecrow competition has grown into a proper community festival, with the whole village decorated and a full opening night to kick things off.
The festival centres on scarecrow displays made by residents, businesses and community groups, turning shopfronts, gardens and green spaces along the village into a self-guided trail that visitors can walk at their own pace. The opening event runs at Leap Hall from 6.30pm with refreshments, followed by musical performances at Leap Church of Ireland from 7.30pm. From there, the scarecrow trail is open through the two-week run, with the village drawing day-trippers and families from across West Cork looking for a low-key, free Halloween outing that isn’t a big-city event. Expect the mix of homemade humour and genuine craft that gives this kind of village festival its charm - some entries are elaborate, others are just funny.
Leap is on the N71 in West Cork, roughly 20 minutes west of Clonakilty and about an hour and 20 minutes from Cork City by car. There’s no rail service to the village; the practical options are driving or the Bus Eireann route along the N71 corridor connecting Cork City, Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Bantry, which stops in Leap. Parking in the village is informal and limited, so arriving outside peak weekend afternoons makes for an easier visit if driving.
Heading to Leap Village in Leap? Cork has plenty more to see. Read the Leap area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
In town for Leap Village? These Cork tours book out in summer.