The Bram Stoker Festival returns to Dublin this Bank Holiday Weekend. The event, which takes place from 27th-30th October, playfully celebrates the legacy of Dublin-born Gothic writer Bram Stoker and his infamous novel 'Dracula'.
Get ready to summon the supernatural with over 25 events confirmed in eerie graveyards, hauntingly evocative theatres and the mysterious surroundings of venues across Dublin.
By day, the Festival programme offers a series of family-friendly events, talks and interactive experiences. At night, the city will embrace the darkness as a host of venues deliver deadly adventures for festival goers.
This year’s Bram Stoker Festival has events suitable for all ages including Turning Vampire (Sunday 29th, Vicar Street, Tickets €29), a Hallowe’en party with a devilish twist, an evening of scary songs, giggles, ghouls and collaborations bringing together some of Ireland’s most successful musicians including Lisa Hannigan, Saint Sister, Paddy Casey, Saoirse Casey, Niamh Farrell, Adam Matthews, and more.
Meanwhile, if you fancy heading to the theatre, Whitby (Thursday 26th – Monday 30th, The Boy’s School, Smock Alley, Tickets €12-€15) is a haunting experience from Colin Dunne and Joan Sheehy which explores the chilling, tension filled voyage of the Demeter as it brings Dracula from Romania to the port of Whitby.
For the ‘less fright more fun’ seeking festival goers, there is plenty of entertainment behind the gates of St. Patrick’s Park with pop-up Victorian fun park. Stokerland features a kids comedy club Punch Lion with comedians Andrew Stanley, Damian Clark and Totally Wired, street theatre and even a kids vs. adults edition of the ever popular Sing Along Social, alongside Victorian rides, face-painters, olde-worlde games, interactive and gruesomely funny theatre show Morbid & Sons and more. Fancy dress is encouraged at this family-friendly event.
There's a brand new addition to this year's programme in the form of The BRAM Audio Ghost Experience (October 29th to 30th) is an audio horror experience inspired by the creepy works of the legendary Bram Stoker.
Meanwhile, horror fans can enjoy Horror Expo (Sunday 29th and Monday 30th, Freemasons' Hall,). In celebration of all things gory and gruesome, Horror Expo is calling upon all horror fans to join in for an evening of Q&As, SFX demonstrations and special screenings featuring some of the most celebrated experts from the world of horror including esteemed critic and author Kim Newman, Bram Stoker Expert David Skal, horror expert Dr Bernice Murphy and more.
The Light House Cinema will be hosting a Dracula Screening Party on Friday 27th at 9pm.
Macnas will be closing the festival with a hauntingly beautiful parade, Memory Song, through the streets of Dublin’s northside.
Check out the full programme here.
