Leap Scarecrow Festival 2024

Leap Scarecrow Festival is an annual celebration of Halloween. Into our ninth year, the festival well and truly brings the spirit of Samhain to West Cork.

From the 21st October Scarecrows will be proudly displayed and entered into our yearly competition – which looks for the most humorous, most scary and controversial among a range of other entry categories. All are welcomed to enter, young and old. This year we have our biggest prize pot, so everyone has a fighting chance to win a prize!

The whole village gets behind the festival, putting on fantastic entertainment for visitors and locals. For a full list of events we have upcoming visit LeapScarecrowFestival.com. Donations from our events will be going to the development of Leap’s children’s playground and other local charities.

12 October – 02 November 2024

‘A Scare at Samhain’ – Bláth na Gréine woodland.

Daily tours exploring local Samhain myths & lore. Pre-booking essential on gormu.com.

Mom, the scarecrow ate my homework

22 October 2024

Local Storytelling, Poetry, Music & Song from 7:30pm – The Leap Inn
Join local story teller, Conor Ó Buachalla & friends during Leap Scarecrow Festival for an evening of local tales and songs at the Leap Inn Bar.

Dont miss this unique opportunity to experience the magic of words and music in a cozy setting. Grab a drink, sit back, and let the stories & music unfold!

23 October 2024

Festival Bingo starting at 8:30pm – The Harbour Bar

24 October 2024

Festival Pub Quiz starting at 8:30pm – The Harbour Bar

SEANCHOÍCHE from 7:00pm – Connollys of Leap, Book HERE or see ConnollysofLeap.com
Ordinary people telling extraordinary stories

25 October 2024

Wellness day in Leap 10am-7pm – Leap village Hall.
See times for each activity and contacts details for booking HERE
Enjoy some time out in Leap on Oct 25th, embrace your day with gentle yoga, pilates, head & neck massage, oracle card reading, watercolor art class and more.

Set Dancing & Fun 4pm-6pm – The Harbour bar

Irish Mythology in photography Leap Hall & Musical evening in Leap Church of Ireland

7:15pm – Leap Hall Photography, Art with Cheese & Wine reception

8:00pm – Church of Ireland Music with West Cork Ukulele Café and more!

Live Music in Bars

The Leap Inn with Crooked Jack (Folk Music) from 9:30 PM

Connolly’s of Leap with Róis. RÓIS transports listeners to a different realm by blending elements of folk, sean-nós, electronics, and jazz harmony. Book HERE or see ConnollysofLeap.com for more details.

Skwelington Dog Scarecrow

26 October 2024

Family Fun in Leap Hall

  • Face painting (12-3 PM)
  • Special Effects Makeup (12-5 PM) – by Samantha O’Callaghan (MUA)
  • Harvest Crafting for Kids (12:30 to 2:30 PM)
  • Wand & Broom Making Workshop (1-3 PM)
  • Kids’ Halloween Disco (3:30-5PM)
Live Music in Bars

Connollys of Leap with Susan O’Neil. Susan is a critically acclaimed folk singer from Clare, Book HERE or see ConnollysofLeap.com for more details.

Witchy prom queen scarecrow

27 October 2024

Children’s Harvest Service starting at 10am – Church of Ireland. Refreshments included.

Halloween Market from 10am-4pm – CECAS, Myross Wood

Family Fun in Leap Hall

  • Face painting (12-3 PM)
  • Special Effects Makeup (12-5 PM) – by Samantha O’Callaghan (MUA)
  • Puppet Show (2 to 3 PM)
  • Kids’ Halloween Disco (3:30-5PM)

Festival Parade ‘Blessing of the Crows’ starts at 5:45pm – Leap Catholic Church Yard
Join the parade from Leap Catholic Church Yard to the bottom of the village.

Witches Dance start at 6pm – The Leap Inn Carpark
Join the Witches at the Leap Inn carpark after the parade.

Halloween Fancy Dress Party at 8pm – Harbour Bar
Enjoy the evening at Harbour Bar. Don’t forget your best fancy dress! Prize for best fancy dress!!

Live Music in Bars

Connollys of Leap with Susan O’Neil from 1:30pm.
Susan is a critically acclaimed folk singer from Clare. This is a Kid Friendly Daytime Show. Kids go FREE with adult ticket holders. Book HERE or see ConnollysofLeap.com for more details.

The Leap Inn music with Ger Deasy at 9:30pm.

Dead and breakfast scarecrow

28 October 2024

Street Entertainment & music from 12pm
Watch out for iconic Halloween characters lurking on the street!

Scarecrow winners announced from 2:30pm
Celebrate to music with the winners & witches on the street

The Barrow run at 3:30pm – Leap Hall (start)
Watch the Leap witches make a spectacle of themselves racing in wheel barrows down the village!

The race starts at Leap Hall and finishes at the Harbour bar.

Busking on the Street from 4pm at the lower end of the village.
Enjoy some lively entertainment on the streets with spector’s and gouls!

Live Music in Bars

Connollys of Leap with Leevy

Leevy is a West Cork band with a unique blend of folk rock with Irish traditional undertones.
Daytime Show: Doors 2pm – Kid Friendly.
Evening Show: Doors 7pm, book HERE or see ConnollysofLeap.com for more details.

A scarecrow and his dog

29 October 2024

Mary Coughlan in Concert in Leap Church of Ireland
At 6pm: Start your evening from 6pm beside the church at Leap Hall where the team from the Glandore Inn will provide some refreshments.
At 7pm: Join us next door at the beautiful Leap Church of Ireland (P81 EV57) for a night filled with soulful music and captivating performances.
The super talented Aoibhe Daly from Skibbereen will set the tone with her blues, rock and soul performance.
At 8pm: Mary Coughlan’s powerful voice and emotive lyrics are sure to leave you spellbound. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience her live in person and celebrate her 40 years of music. Secure your spot now!

30 October 2024

Festival Bingo from 8:30pm: The Harbour Bar

31 October 2024

Terrifying Oíche Shamhna Experience in Bláth na Gréine
See event information for full details HERE.

02 November 2024

Witches Dance starts at 6pm – The Leap Inn Carpark
Join the Witches for their final festival dance.

Festival Draw & Party starts at 8pm – The Leap Inn
Winners of the monster draw are called!