Upcoming Events
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Arts & Craft Fair
🌐Multilingual
From Portuguese ceramics to horror-inspired art, local craft meets international visitors at the festival's creative heart!
Both Weekends Events! (Fri-Sun)
The Art of Screenwriting — Masterclass with Todd Farmer
🌐EN
From blank page to final draft. Hollywood screenwriter Todd Farmer shares his creative process—how to build tension, create memorable characters, and craft stories that linger long after the credits roll. Aspiring writers leave with tools, not just inspiration.
Paid Event!
The Artisan Kitchen Masterclass
Learn:
Techniques for making yellow custard. For filling cakes or bread.
Techniques for using piping bags for filling a croissant.
Techniques for making fruit syrups. For now, we’re using pomegranates.
Techniques for making sweet-and-sour vegetables. Preserving.
Paid Event! Preregistration Required!
Scary Stories Night
🌐PT | EN
Gather for an evening of spine-chilling tales where anyone can step up to the mic. Bring your best ghost stories and eerie legends to share, or simply sit back and take in the haunting atmosphere of a community telling dark stories after nightfall.
Join us by completing the registration form!
The Johnny Estrangeiros — Live Music Performance
🌐EN
The Johnny Estrangeiros — a five-piece band of musicians from around the world, now rooted in central Portugal. Always bringing a feel-good show that's a danceable journey through the greatest rock’n’roll, classic rock, and indie hits — from the 1950s to the 2000s.'
Free Event! Break 8 pm-10:45 pm!
Red Carpet
🌐Multilingual
Pedrógão Grande transforms into Hollywood! Walk the red carpet where village cobblestones meet cinema glamour and magic.
Free Event! Dress Up and Get Your Photo Done!
Film Screening Night: Backrooms + Intro Video from Director
🌐PT | EN
Halloween Eve cinema. The perfect film for the night before all rules break.
3€ per ticket
Boat Ride at Cabril
Escape screens & paddle the serene Cabril River! Discover forested hills & pristine nature in Central Portugal.
Paid Event!
Contra o Mau Olhado: Evil Eye Herbal Smudge Workshop
Smudge sticks are perfect to:
connect with yourself
meditate
find guidance, spiritual insight and awaken your inner wisdom
create sacred spaces, hold your personal rituals
create a protection energy for your space and home
You will learn:
about different benefits of medicinal plants
make your own smudge stick
Face Painting Station
Children and adults transform into creatures, characters, and spirits. Local artists paint faces that blur the line between festival-goer and festival creation.
Free Event!
Film Screening: Stitch Head (2025)
🌐PT | EN
Get ready for Halloween night with a spooky family adventure! First up on the big screen: Stitch Head.
3€ per ticket!
Philharmonic Musical Guide
Philharmonic musicians lead families and kids through the village on the festive Doçura ou Travessura walk.
Free Event!
Doçura ou travessura Village Walk
🌐Multilingual
Portugal's version of trick-or-treat. Children (and adults) walk door-to-door, receiving traditional treats and keeping alive a custom that predates American Halloween. Cultural preservation in action.
Free Event!
Ghost Stories at the Library with Cristina Delgado
🌐PT
Take a cosy break during your Trick-or-Treat route! Enjoy enchanting fairy tales and local legends read by Cristina Delgado.
Free Event!
Puppet Show with CORINA BONA (OLLETT)
🌐Multilingual
A magical kids' puppet show by veteran puppeteer and theatre maker Corina Bona. Storytelling, imagination & fun for the whole family!
Free Event!
Red Carpet
Pedrógão Grande transforms into Hollywood! Walk the red carpet where village cobblestones meet cinema glamour and magic.
Free Event! Dress Up and Get Your Photo Done!
Film Screening Night: Send Help + Live and Zoom Q&A with Todd Farmer, Ita Kennedy, Mark Swift, and Damian Shannon
🌐PT | EN
The ultimate Halloween cinema experience. A specially selected film, introduced by our Hollywood guests, on the night when horror feels most real.
3€ per ticket
Pachamama Food Bar & Cultura
Join Pachamama Horror Disco Oct 31, 10 PM! Live DJ, scary costumes, Halloween food & creepy drinks. Prize for the best outfit!
Parada
The festival's crowning moment. Inspired by the legendary Caretos de Podence, this carnival parade fills the streets with masks, music, and movement. Traditional Portuguese brass bands lead the procession. Floats built by workshop participants roll alongside centuries-old ritual. Horror meets heritage in a spectacle that belongs to this village and this moment alone.
Free Event!
Mayor's Final Speech + 2027 Announcement of the Festival
The Mayor of Pedrógão Grande officially closes the 1st edition of Castelo Horror Film Festival.
Free Event!
Firefighters, Volunteers & City Workers Appreciation Party
🌐Multilingual
Before the awards, we honor those who made it possible. The firefighters, the volunteers, the municipal workers who transformed a vision into reality. This is their celebration.
Free Event!
Broas doces (Traditional Soul Bread) — Baking Masterclass with Celestina
Bake traditional Portuguese Broas Doces with retired Head Chef Maria Celestina! Master a centuries-old recipe honoring local heritage.
Paid Event! Learn how to make bread and take it with you!
Aromatherapy Masterclass with Arjuna
Embrace Samhain with self-care! Learn to spot local medicinal plants & craft your own magical scrub bars, bath bombs, oils & salts.
Paid Event! Preregistration Required!
Costume Design & Creation Masterclass with Corina Bona (Ollet)
🌐Multilingual
Craft expressive costumes with UK-trained scenographer and puppet-maker Corina Bona in this hands-on theatrical design masterclass!
Paid Event! Preregistration Required!
Third Film Screening night: Obsession
🌐PT | EN
Weekend 1 closes with another cinematic experience. The films may be horror, but the atmosphere is celebration—a community united by storytelling.
3€ per ticket
Red Carpet
🌐Multilingual
Pedrógão Grande transforms into Hollywood! Walk the red carpet where village cobblestones meet cinema glamour and magic.
Free Event! Dress Up and Get Your Photo Done!
Live Music Performance — Open Mic
The stage is yours! Calling all bands & musicians to plug in, take the mic, and perform live for the festival crowd.
Free Event!
Workshop for kids: prayer and meditation beads with Arjuna
With this craft you will create your own set of beads, that you can use for prayer or meditation. You will learn about self-care affirmations, get know blessed numbers, learn how to use good intentions and energies .
Free Event!
Boat Ride at Cabril
Escape screens & paddle the serene Cabril River! Discover forested hills & pristine nature in Central Portugal.
Paid Event!
Autumn Crafts & Games with Sofia Carmo & Eduarda Martins
🌐Multilingual
Hunt for garden treasures like leaves & nuts, then get creative with paper, glue & glitter to build nature masterpieces!
Free Event!
Motocross Event
Experience high-octane excitement in the Leiria district as top riders battle for victory in an adrenaline-fueled motocross showcase! Feel the roar of the engines and witness high-flying track action up close in an unforgettable, action-packed event for all motorsport fans.
Second Film Screening Night: Resident Evil
🌐PT | EN
The second night of cinema continues with Resident Evil.
3€ per ticket
Red Carpet
🌐Multilingual
Pedrógão Grande transforms into Hollywood! Walk the red carpet where village cobblestones meet cinema glamour and magic.
Free Event! Dress Up and Get Your Photo Done!
Tattoo Artists Showcase
🌐Multilingual
Body art meets horror art. Local and visiting tattoo artists display their portfolios and demonstrate their craft. A celebration of permanent art on the most personal canvas.
Free Event!
Art Gallery Opening Night Cocktails
🌐Multilingual
A curated exhibition of horror photography, film art, and local visual artists. This evening celebrates the visual language of fear—and the regional talent bringing it to life.
Free Event!
Live Music Performance: Ivo DJ R&B Sounds
🌐Multilingual
Get ready for smooth rhythms & soulful grooves with Ivo DJ! A curated journey through classic R&B anthems & modern soul hits.
Free Event!
Film Screening: My Freaky Family (2024)
🌐PT | EN
Bring the kids for night two! We're starting off with the fun animated feature My Freaky Family.
3€ per ticket!
Face Painting Station
Children and adults transform into creatures, characters, and spirits. Local artists paint faces that blur the line between festival-goer and festival creation.
Free Event!
Cork Mask Carving Workshop — Avô das Botas
🌐PT
Discover traditional cork mask carving! Work together with an expert artisan to collectively craft a single authentic cork mask. The artist’s work will also be displayed in the Art Gallery!
Free Event!
Boat Ride at Cabril
Escape screens & paddle the serene Cabril River! Discover forested hills & pristine nature in Central Portugal.
Paid Event!
Halloween Mask Painting & Crafts
🌐Multilingual
Kids' Mask Painting in the Park! We provide the masks and paint—young artists just bring their creativity to build a disguise.
Free event!
Opening Night Film Screening: JASON X (2001) + Q&A with Todd Farmer
🌐PT | EN
Hollywood comes to Portugal! Screenwriter Todd Farmer presents the opening film & shares behind-the-scenes stories in a live Q&A.
3€ per ticket
Red Carpet
🌐Multilingual
Pedrógão Grande transforms into Hollywood! Walk the red carpet where village cobblestones meet cinema glamour and magic.
Free Event! Dress Up and Get Your Photo Done!
James O'Reilly — Live Music Performance
🌐PT | EN
Gather your friends for an acoustic night with James O'Reilly! Enjoy soulful vocals, intricate guitar & classic covers.
Free Event!
Mayor's Welcome Address
🌐Multilingual
The Mayor & Festival Team welcome the world! Featuring speeches representing local community, global partners & cinema.
Free Event!
VIP-Opening Night Cocktail Reception
🌐Multilingual
Raise a glass of regional wine at VIP Opening Night! Mingle with filmmakers & horror fans under the stars in PT, EN & cinema.
Free Event!