A family adventure returns to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum this midterm, inviting young Van Helsings to track down Dracula, uncover hidden clues and discover the Irish folklore behind one of the world’s most famous vampires.
Looking for something a little different to do with the kids this Halloween midterm? Dracula is back on the loose at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, and Bram Stoker needs some help bringing his most famous creation back under control.
Running 26 October to 1 November, the Beware of Dracula! Halloween Family Tour transforms a visit to the museum into an interactive adventure, as families work together to track down the notorious vampire before he can cause any more mischief.
The story begins in EPIC’s Storytelling Gallery, where Dracula has somehow escaped from the pages of his book and disappeared into the museum’s vaults. With Irish author Bram Stoker calling on a new team of Van Helsings, it is up to visitors to follow the clues, search the galleries and discover where Dracula is hiding.
Led by a guide playing the role of Bram Stoker, the tour combines a museum treasure hunt with storytelling and hands-on activities. Along the way, children will learn more about Stoker’s life and the novel Dracula, which helped shape the way vampires are imagined around the world today.
There is more to the adventure than hunting down a fictional bloodsucker, however. Families will also hear tales of creatures from Irish history and folklore that may have inspired Stoker’s imagination. Through an interactive storytelling session, young visitors will even get the chance to invent their own vampire myth, reimagining the legend for Ireland today. Spell-casting and imagination games add to the fun, making this an engaging way to introduce children to Irish storytelling traditions.
This year’s tour comes with some new hiding places to explore, too. Following a major transformation of its first three galleries, which reopened in March 2026, EPIC offers an enhanced visitor experience with more immersive, multi-sensory storytelling.
One of the highlights is the new Isle of the Senses experience, which evokes the landscapes Ireland’s emigrants left behind through sights, sounds and scents. From the green hills of Kerry to the Giant’s Causeway and the Cliffs of Moher, it brings a vivid sense of Ireland’s natural heritage into the museum. It also offers plenty of potential hiding spots for a vampire on the run.
The family tour is designed for children aged six to 12, and visitors are encouraged to arrive dressed in their scariest Dracula or Halloween-inspired outfits. With a combination of mystery, folklore and interactive fun, it offers a Halloween outing that goes beyond the usual pumpkin picking and spooky decorations.
The family tour proved a hit last year, selling out quickly, so booking ahead is recommended.
For adults looking to explore Halloween’s darker roots, EPIC is also running a separate Halloween tour focused on the Irish origins of the festival. Taking place daily at 1pm from 26 October to 1 November, it explores how the ancient festival of Samhain evolved into modern Halloween, alongside Irish ghost stories, funerary traditions and the ways Irish emigrants carried their customs around the world.
Whether you are helping the kids hunt down Dracula or delving into the history behind Ireland’s most enduring Halloween traditions, EPIC offers a timely reminder that some of the best spooky stories have their roots much closer to home.
Beware of Dracula! Halloween Family Tour
- When: 26 October to 1 November 2026
- Times: 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm
- Where: EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublin
- Suitable for: Children aged 6–12
- Tickets: €24 for adults and €16 for children up to age 12
For tickets and further information, visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.
