Circus Acts, Costume Raves And A Pumpkin Pie The Size Of A Coffin: What’s On For Halloween in Sydney
Sydney, it’s time to get your fright on.
This Halloween, the city is serving up circus acts, a mechanical bull in a haunted barnyard, fairy floss spider webs and a pumpkin pie the size of a small coffin. Whether you’re a night-out ghoul, a trivia-night zombie or a dog who deserves a portrait, there’s a party with your name on it.
Dig out your costume and let’s go. Here’s where to get spooky.
Retro Cronulla’s Dia De Los Muertos Party: Spicy Margs And A $500 Bar Tab
Retro Cronulla, the newly opened Mexican-Italian restaurant and bar, is celebrating Halloween and Dia de los Muertos with spicy margs and old-school and Latin beats from DJs Synergy, Rydr and C Major. The best-dressed competition has a $500 bar tab for first prize and a bottle of Devil’s Reserve Tequila for second. Don’t miss the spooky sips, including the Eerie Eyeballs (peach liqueur, vodka, cranberry and lime), the Fairy Spider with a fairy floss web, and the Sour Snake, finished with sour snake candy.
THE DETAILS
What: Dia de los Muertos and Halloween Party
Where: Retro Cronulla, 1 McDonald Street, Cronulla
When: Saturday 31 October, from 6pm
Cost: Free entry, with table bookings available
Book a table over here.
Barn Of The Dead: Saddle Up For A Haunted Hoedown
Halloween gets a country twist at Bungalow 8, which is turning into a haunted barnyard for the night. Think hay bales, carved pumpkins, spooky barnyard decor and even a mechanical bull. DJs take over the decks from 6pm and keep the dance party rolling until late. Go as a cowboy, a cowgirl or something a little more terrifying.
THE DETAILS
What: Barn of the Dead
Where: Bungalow 8, King Street Wharf, Sydney CBD
When: Saturday 31 October, from 6pm until late
Cost: Free general admission tickets, with a complimentary drink for ticket holders arriving before 10pm
Find out more over here.
Cargo Halloween Carnival: Step Right Up To A Waterfront Circus
Cargo is turning its King Street Wharf venue into a full-blown carnival playground for two massive nights. The main attraction is an outdoor performance arena with contortionists, acrobats and jugglers, alongside stalls serving hot dogs, popcorn and sweet treats. On the dancefloor, A-Shuffle and Valentine headline Friday, then Rockafellas and Beast Mode take over on Saturday. Don’t leave your costume to the last minute, either, because there are huge Best Dressed prizes up for grabs.
THE DETAILS
What: Cargo Halloween Carnival
Where: Cargo, King Street Wharf, Sydney CBD
When: Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October
Cost: Free entry
Find out more over here.
Howl-O-Ween At Forrester’s: A Dog-Friendly Hangout
Halloween is officially going to the dogs. Forrester’s in Surry Hills is bringing back Howl-O-Ween in partnership with pet food brand K9 Natural, and Phylli’s Bar becomes a dog-friendly hangout for the afternoon. Pups can feast on complimentary Pawkies, Forrester’s canine-friendly spin on the Big Yorkie, plus free pet food samples. A caricaturist is also drawing free 10-minute portraits of your pooch, so you get a keepsake. Bookings are recommended, and portrait slots run from 12pm to 2.30pm.
THE DETAILS
What: Howl-O-Ween at Forrester’s
Where: Phylli’s Bar, Forrester’s, Surry Hills
When: Saturday 31 October, 12-3pm
Cost: Free entry, treats and portraits
Book your spot over here.
Brooklyn Boy Bagels’ Pumpkin Pie And Pumpkin Bagels: Pumpkin Done Properly
Brooklyn Boy has gone bigger on its pumpkin pie this year. The new double-deep version is twice the size of last year’s, with a house-made graham cracker crust and a shortcrust jack-o-lantern face. For something smaller, the Pumpkin Bagels are made with real pumpkin, cold-fermented and kettle-boiled, then topped with pumpkin seeds and roasted. They’re only around until 31 December. Pies are pickup only and need to be ordered online two days ahead, while bagels can be ordered online or bought in store. There’s also a spooky cookie range, from Maltesers spider cookies to icing-wrapped mummy cookies.
THE DETAILS
What: Double-Deep Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Bagels
Where: Brooklyn Boy Bagels, 19 Carrington Road, Marrickville, and 74 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills
When: Pumpkin Pie available to order now, and Pumpkin Bagels until 31 December
Cost: $55 for the pie, $5.50 per bagel
Order online over here.
Halloween At The Courty: Murder, Trivia And a Proper House Party
Newtown’s favourite chaos merchant is serving three nights of Halloween as part of Courty Fest. It starts with a Halloween Murder Mystery on Wednesday 28 October, then gets competitive with Halloween Trivia on Thursday 29 October. The Halloween House Party on Saturday 31 October wraps it all up. There are also $20 jugs of Tooheys New throughout Courty Fest.
THE DETAILS
What: Halloween at The Courty
Where: The Courty, 202 Australia Street, Newtown
When: Wednesday 28 October (Murder Mystery, 7.30pm), Thursday 29 October (Trivia, 7.30pm) and Saturday 31 October (House Party, from 7pm)
Cost: Free entry
Find out more over here.
Halloscream At Luna Park: Sydney’s Biggest Halloween Festival
Luna Park is transforming into Sydney’s biggest Halloween festival for three nights. Step into Escape the Circus, brave The Forgotten Children scare maze and take on the Alienation immersive game, with unlimited rides on operating attractions after dark. Want to go all out? Upgrade to VIP for access to the Patient Zero lounge and the Pulse Zombie Rave, plus a complimentary cocktail or mocktail, a limited-edition collectable pin and a private fortune reading with harbour views. General admission tickets for Saturday 31 October are sold out, but limited VIP tickets remain.
THE DETAILS
What: Halloscream
Where: Luna Park Sydney, Milsons Point
When: Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October
Cost: VIP tickets $165, general admission tickets available for 29 and 30 October
Book your visit over here.
Poof Doof: A Costume Rave From Beyond The Grave
Sydney’s biggest costume rave is rising from the dead at ivy. Following a last-minute lineup change, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2 winner Spankie Jackzon will take the stage as Dr Frank-N-Furter. She’s joined by a stacked bill of drag stars and DJs, including Airwolf Paradise, Coco Jumbo, Nikita Iman, Jimi the Kween, Tom Graam and Briefs Factory, among many more. The Halloqween Ball sells out year after year, so grab your tickets early.
THE DETAILS
What: Poof Doof Halloqween Ball
Where: ivy, Sydney CBD
When: Saturday 31 October, from 10pm
Cost: Ticketed
Get your tickets over here.
Back To The 90s Halloween Edition: Throwback Anthems At Cafe Del Mar
Dust off your throwback playlist, because Back To The 90s is bringing a Halloween special to Cafe del Mar Sydney. Multi-platinum DJ Jolyon Petch is joined by Sydney legends Kate Monroe and Chris Cre8tor for a night of big singalong moments and anthems from the likes of Daft Punk, Snap!, ATB, Alice Deejay, Haddaway and Corona. Dress-up is welcome but not compulsory, and with fewer than 80 tickets left, you’ll want to be quick.
THE DETAILS
What: Back To The 90s Halloween Edition
Where: Cafe del Mar Sydney, 35 Wheat Road, Sydney CBD
When: Saturday 31 October, 5pm to midnight
Cost: Ticketed
Get your tickets over here.
Latin Nights By The Bay: A Salsa-Fuelled Halloween On The Harbour
Not into haunted houses? Kick off the long Halloween weekend with a spooky makeover of the harbour. Join a free Halloween-themed dance lesson from Manly Salsa (no partner or experience needed), then watch their Thriller-inspired performance on the waterfront. Edwin Rojas Trio and DJ Ivan Marín keep the dance floor moving until 10pm.
THE DETAILS
What: Latin Nights By The Bay: Halloween Special
Where: Palm Grove, in front of IMAX Sydney, Darling Harbour
When: Friday 30 October, 6-10pm (dance lesson 6-7pm, Thriller performance 7.15pm)
Cost: Free, no bookings needed
Find out more over here.
Ready to get spooked? Find more information about Sydney’s biggest Halloween events and grab tickets for special events here.
Images: supplied