Category: Oakfield Park

Harry Potter Experience at Oakfield Park 2023

Posted on by David

We are delighted to announce, and very much looking forward to the return of our popular Harry Potter Experience throughout two weekends this October. The Harry Potter Experience is a part of this year’s Wainfest and runs from 12-6pm on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th and Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th. Take a trip on the Hogwarts Express Steam Train through the Forbidden Forest before stopping off at Platform 9 ¾. Keep an eye out for the Basilisk, Dobbie, and others – and enjoy a game of quidditch on a real quidditch pitch! All witches and wizards are encouraged to dress up in their finest house robes. All Muggles are welcome. Enter the Triwizard Tournament by challenging yourself to solve the Enchanted Maze and test your Harry Potter knowledge by completing the champion’s quiz with a prize for every successful wizarding student at Honeydukes. Have your photo taken with The Weasley’s Enchanted Ford Anglia and sit under the sorting hat to decide which house you belong to.  Test your knowledge with our Harry Potter Geo-Quiz and finish of your magical day by popping into the Three Broomsticks to sample some Butterbeer, your favourite Cauldron Cake or choose from a special themed hot food menu.

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO PRE-BOOK. Normal entry and train fees apply – there is no extra charge for this event, and it is free for 2023 Seasonal and Gold Pass holders.

Harry Potter Experience – Schools Day (arranged by teachers) On Friday 13th October, The Ministry of Magic invites your school to enjoy a wizardly day out at the Harry Potter Experience in Oakfield Park. Give your students a day they will never forget, from rambling through our hedge maze, to sampling Butterbeer and pitting their skills against each other in a game of quidditch. Standard entry is €12 per student. Lunch can also be provided; this option covers the entry fee and a delicious Harry Potter themed Al Fresco lunch and costs €17 per student.

Contact us on 074 9173922  or [email protected] to arrange a bespoke package for your group.

The Santa Express 2023

Posted on by David

The Santa Express is the most magical time of year at Oakfield Park and this special event sells out very quickly each year. Tickets go on sale on Monday 28th August at 10am, with a new ticketing provider and queuing system so that everyone can get a suitable slot.

This year, The Santa Express runs from November 29th to December 23rd.
Again, the event is better than ever before with more props and features each year. Aside from the train ride to meet the man himself, these are just some of the new attractions being added for 2023:

Did you know that the Elf Olympics happen every 100 years? This Christmas, we are excited to announce that Oakfield Park has the honour of hosting The Elf Olympic Games 2023! In our freshly designed cabins, you can take part in the Elf Olympic Games before you go into Santa’s grotto! There are games to suit everyone from present stacking, stocking races to basket-bauble. Play in your family group to try and beat the North Pole Record and win a gold medal.

Enter through the magical portal where you’ll travel thousands of miles to the North Pole in seconds. Step into the buzzing Christmas village where The Santa Express train awaits to take you through a winter wonderland of lights and enchanted forest to meet Santa himself. Warm your hands around delicious hot chocolate or mulled wine and explore everything the North Pole has to offer. Mrs Claus is working in the Post Office and can’t wait to meet you and help write your Christmas letters. Tootsie’s Toyshop is back with a huge selection of beautiful gifts and toys, The Holly Hut is serving it’s world-famous Christmas donuts and pretzels and The Treat Truck is fully stocked with treats. Meet the Elves of the North Pole like Mo in the Ice Palace and take photos with the giant teddy or the polar bears. Then you can spend some time in Chestnut Cottage making incredible Christmas crafts and cards or getting your face painted as your favourite reindeer.

What’s new for 2023:

  • Elf Olympic Games. Fun for all the family as all games are team games. We know the excitement is to see the big man himself but while you wait to see him – you have the chance to win a gold medal for your family. Clever games for all ages and abilities are run by our enthusiastic elves so you won’t feel like you’re waiting. The newly decorated cabins outside Santa’s grotto are fully equipped to keep you jolly entertained.
  • The Holly Hut – Hot treats will be available in the piazza
  • Craft at Chestnut Cottage. A brand-new hut in the Christmas village dedicated purely to arts and crafts where you can make beautiful Christmas tree decorations, personalised Christmas cards with all the trimmings and have your face painted by Rainbow Elf.
  • Igloo Ice Kingdom. Come in and meet Mo in the Ice Kingdom and have your photo with the polar bears and giant ice blocks. You may even learn something about ice fishing! The ice Kingdom is one of the many new photo opportunities this year.
  • New and Exciting Christmas menu in Buffers as well as indoor seating. No prebooking required. Buffers have created a delectable Christmas menu, with cosy indoor seating and festive favourites.
  • Year on year, we add ever more lights and features to captivate on the train journey More to see on your train journey. Watch as the elegant water lights dance off the lake or sparkle up and down the Longsleeper. In addition to Candyland, we have Toytown to see and glittering unicorns in the paddock as well as secret elf doors hidden all around the track. You can try to spot all the doors along your journey.

Join us for one of the country’s biggest Christmas events, and take a real train to meet the man himself by visiting www.oakfieldpark.com/santa or ticketmaster.ie

Teddy Bears’ Picnic

Posted on by Shona Tinneny

“Thursday is the day the Teddy Bears’ have their picnic at Oakfield Park”

Join us this Thursday, August 10th, for our famous Teddy Bears’ Picnic. One of the most popular family days out in Donegal.

Don’t forget to bring your favourite teddy and have fun meeting the Oakfield Bear, Peppa Pig, Winnie the Pooh, Tiger and friends, as you spend time enjoying outdoor games, crafts, and bear hunt, with train trips all day long, so you can take your teddy for a journey around the park!

The Teddy Bear Hospital will be open where you can put your teddy through all our tests, including the amazing TED-X scanner, and receive a health certificate for your teddy!

Choose to bring your own picnic, eat in Buffers indoors and outdoors, enjoy treats from the Ice-cream van, or purchase one of our kids’ pre-made picnic packs for €8 on the day.

We look forward to welcoming you and your Teddy Bears! You can join the fun anytime between 11am-6pm.

No pre booking required |Normal gate fees apply | Trains are running all day 

Photography Competition

Posted on by David

Each month the team at Oakfield Park choose a winner who will receive a Family Pass with the overall annual winner receiving an Annual Pass for 2022.

To enter, visit the park and explore and send your best photographs of your visit to [email protected]. The winner is announced on social media at the end of each month. Good luck!

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Our judges decision is final. By submitting a photo you will be giving permission to Oakfield Park to use your photos for future marketing purposes. Drone photography is not permitted.

Steam Sunday: the last one until 2023! – 25th September 2022

Posted on by David

The last Steam Sunday of the season is here.

The grounds at Oakfield Park include a host of sites to explore, including walled gardens, ponds, lakes, an outdoor playground, a hedge maze, heritage trees and sculptures. Children can make a wish at Oakfield Park’s Faerie tree, while navigating their way through extensive walks and trails.


Weave your way through the park’s gardens along 4.5km of narrow-gauge track on Oakfield Park’s diesel and steam trains, the ‘Duchess of Difflin’ and ‘The Earl of Oakfield.’ The trains operate passenger trips around the grounds, which is a magical way to explore the park’s gardens as the train passes through flower meadows, beautiful woodlands, willow tunnels, oak circles, boardwalks, heritage trees, a wooden causeway and sparkling streams and lakes.


After a day exploring the parklands, visitors can refuel in Buffers Restaurant, which is open alongside park opening hours and is returning with a delicious new menu created with produce from the park’s gardens.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic – Tuesday 30th August 2022

Posted on by David

On Tuesday August 30th our popular Teddy Bears’ Picnic returns. This famous event is one of most popular and we can’t wait to welcome you & your teddy bears!
Join us anytime between 12-5pm. Bring your teddy & meet the Oakfield bears, Peppa Pig, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and friends.
There will be outdoor games, crafts, gummy bear hunts, nature walks, and train rides all day long.
You can bring your own picnic, eat in Buffers indoors and outdoors, enjoy treats from the Ice-cream van or purchase one of our pre-made picnic packs for €8 on the day.
The Teddy Bear Hospital is back again, where you can put your teddy through all our tests including the amazing TED-X scanner and receive a health certificate for your teddy!
No pre booking required. Normal gate fees apply.

Teddy Bears’ Picnic – Friday 12th August 2022

Posted on by David

Teddy Bears’ Picnic returns to Oakfield Park this Friday 12th August.

Bring your teddies, enjoy a picnic, and spend a day in the sunshine at Oakfield Park. It is sure to be another fabulous day for all the family.

Picnic boxes will be available to purchase on the day also and Robinsons Ice Cream Van will be open to keep everyone cool throughout the day.

This time, a special teddy puppet show will be live at the castle every 30 minutes and the Teddy Hospital will be open with an X-ray machine & certificates for all the healthy teddies.

Head off on a bear hunt through the gardens and if you’re successful claim your gummy bears from Grandma’s House.

Trains will be running throughout the day and there will be games and crafts for everyone.

Peppa Pig, Tiger, Winnie The Pooh & others will be here on the day.

So, save the date. We can’t wait to see everyone’s teddies and to create some special summer memories with you all.

No booking required. Normal gate fees apply.

Arrive anytime between 11am and 6pm. See you then!

Steam Sunday – 28th August 2022

Posted on by David

The grounds at Oakfield Park include a host of sites to explore, including walled gardens, ponds, lakes, an outdoor playground, a hedge maze, heritage trees and sculptures. Children can make a wish at Oakfield Park’s Faerie tree, while navigating their way through extensive walks and trails.
Weave your way through the park’s gardens along 4.5km of narrow-gauge track on Oakfield Park’s diesel and steam trains, the ‘Duchess of Difflin’ and ‘The Earl of Oakfield.’ The trains operate passenger trips around the grounds, which is a magical way to explore the park’s gardens as the train passes through flower meadows, beautiful woodlands, willow tunnels, oak circles, boardwalks, heritage trees, a wooden causeway and sparkling streams and lakes.
After a day exploring the parklands, visitors can refuel in Buffers Restaurant, which is open alongside park opening hours and is returning with a delicious new menu created with produce from the park’s gardens.