Samhain - The Summoning at Dun na Si

What to Expect

Samhain - The Summoning is a two-evening Halloween festival held across the 27-acre grounds of Dun na Si Amenity and Heritage Park outside Moate. The event is built around storytelling and performance exploring the myths, folklore and customs behind Samhain, the old Irish festival marking the start of winter that gave rise to modern Halloween. Visitors move through the park’s heritage grounds as the light fades, with the programme framed around interactive storytelling elements rather than a straightforward haunted-house walk.

The festival runs on the Saturday and Sunday of the October bank holiday weekend, giving it a longer window than a single-night event, and both evenings follow the same 4:30pm to 8pm slot. Dun na Si’s grounds are already used for the county’s National Heritage Week programming in August, so this Samhain date is a second annual use of the same park for a themed evening event, run separately through the park’s own booking system rather than through the council’s heritage listings.

Good to Know

• Dates and time: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2026, 4:30pm to 8pm
• Venue: Dun na Si Amenity & Heritage Park, Lake Road, Knockdomny, Moate, Co. Westmeath
• Pricing varies; book through the park’s own ticketing page
• Dun na Si also hosts National Heritage Week events earlier in August, but this is a separate, dedicated Samhain event
• Suitable for families, though an evening event with uneven ground underfoot in places
• Booking and full pricing are handled through the park’s own website rather than a third-party ticketing agent

Getting There

Dun na Si Heritage Park is signposted from Moate town on the Lake Road, a short drive from the N6 Dublin to Galway road. Moate itself sits roughly midway between Athlone and Kilbeggan, so the park is a straightforward stop for visitors travelling from either direction along the N6 corridor, with parking available on site for the two evenings of the festival.