For some off-the-wall alternatives to chocolate stuffing and scary films, the Bog of Allen Nature Centre is holding a Creepy Crawlie Fun Camp on Thursday.
Lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about furry crawling things) seven- to 13-year-olds will get to experience pond dipping, creepy-crawlie hunting, bat crafts and a visit to a flytraps exhibition. For booking information, contact the Bog of Allen Nature Centre on 045-860133.
There is nothing like a scary movie to make the hairs stand up and the spine tingle, which is just what Halloween is all about. With this in mind, the IFI is presenting its 11th Annual Horrorthon, which runs till Monday, with a weekend of guts, gore and sheer terror promised for genre-aficionados and the brave of heart.
Today's line-up include Child's Play, starring the dread-filling doll Chucky, as well as French mystery horror Martyrs, with plenty more fearful flicks to come. More information is available at www.ifi.ie.
Children's theatre, a boogie-baby disco, an arts and crafts workshop and drama workshop are all on offer at this year's Children's Fringe at the Wexford Fringe Festival, for those looking to occupy midterm breakers with a low boredom threshold.
As if that weren't enough, the Goose Festival is also kicking off tomorrow with face painting, wildlife walking and a Family Wild Goose Chase Treasure Hunt at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. For more information, see www.wexfordfringe.ie.
Fancy a fright without shelling out? Then Dublin's Marlay Park is the place for you today, with all manner of grim and ghoulish happenings promised, and all free of charge.
Key to this year's haunted happenings is an afternoon of monstrous movies on a big screen, with screenings at 3pm and 4.30pm followed by a self-described scary "spooktacular" Samhain Halloween parade at 6pm and capped off with a fireworks show at 7pm. www.dlrevents.ie.