Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is celebrated around the world. While the holiday is admittedly not as popular as in some other countries, many Australians still enjoy celebrating the spooky season. From trick-or-treating to carving a Jack-o-lantern head out of a pumpkin, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween in Australia.
But exactly when is Halloween in Australia? As in most Western countries, we celebrate on 31st October. That means you’ve got until the end of the month to get all your costumes, decorations, pumpkins and sweet treats sorted!
Without further ado, here are some ideas for things to do on halloween with friends and family.
Things To Do On Halloween in Australia
- Host a dress up contest
- Go trick-or-treating
- Have a spooky movie night
- Build a haunted house
- Take a ghost tour
- Bake some sweet treats
- Visit an escape room
1. Host A Dress Up Contest
Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without dressing up in a spooky costume, so gather your friends and host a fancy dress party or contest. This idea is perfect for families with young children, and those looking for things to do on halloween for adults too. The party can be whatever you make it – so long as there’s a witch’s hat and some stripey tights in sight!
2. Go Trick-Or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is a fun way to celebrate Halloween with friends and neighbours, and is a great way for young families to meet each other and socialise. You may notice an emerging trend of some people putting a red ribbon on their mailbox if they wish to participate in trick-or-treating, so keep an eye out!
Popular items for trick-or-treating include small sweets or handmade treats such as cupcakes or biscuits. If you’re walking round local streets, it can also be a nice gesture to give something back to the doors you’re knocking on.
3. Have A Spooky Movie Night
While it is fun to dress up and go trick-or-treating, Halloween is still a great time to sit down and relax with some friends. If you’re looking for things to do on Halloween at home; either because the weather isn’t inviting you to step outdoors, or because you just don’t feel like going out, a movie marathon of Halloween films could be the perfect idea instead.
Here’s some suggestions of spooky films to keep you up at night.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three witches attempt to take over the world on Halloween with hilariously disastrous results; a great, family-friendly Halloween watch.
Friday The 13th (1980)
A classic American horror film about a group of teenagers in the woods on a summer camp, based on an even eerier true story.
Scream (1996)
A Halloween-themed slasher film where a group of teenagers are stalked by a masked killer. You’ll be wanting a pillow for this one!
The Conjuring (2013)
A chilling horror film about a family who is haunted after they move into a farmhouse; and certainly not one to watch alone.
Escape Room (2019)
An obvious favourite of ours! This is a live-action, psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat; and the next best thing after going to a real escape room in Melbourne.
4. Build A Haunted House
Whatever your budget, building a haunted house can be a great backdrop for a party, a movie marathon, or simply as the main event for your halloween celebrations at home. Consider getting hold of some skeletons to hang in dark corners around the house, or even hiring some actors to act out scary scenes for your guests.
You don’t even need to splash out on big decorations – it’s amazing the kind of spooky atmosphere you can create with the right lighting and music.
5. Take A Ghost Tour
If you’re up for an adrenaline rush, why not take a ghost tour? Australia has a rich history and no shortage of ‘haunted’ hot spots. From caves to ships, churches to graveyards… a ghost tour covers a variety of paranormal settings, so there’s something for everyone looking for ideas to celebrate Halloween in Melbourne and other cities around the country.
6. Bake Some Sweet Treats
Another iconic part of Halloween is the candy and other delicacies! So if you love this holiday more for its sweets than its scares, why not get together with friends and bake? You could make fake blood cookies, toffee apples, pumpkin pie or anything else you like! There are plenty of online tutorials for how to make these treats, so you won’t be short on ideas.
7. Visit an Escape Room
If you want to enjoy the festivities of Halloween without having to put in loads of effort yourself, come to one of our escape rooms. Escape rooms get the adrenaline really pumping – and during Halloween, costumes are very welcome!
Whether you’re wanting to try an escape room with your kids, or are looking for our most spooky escape room, our four games are decked out to cater to all difficulty levels. And if you’re wondering how to celebrate Halloween at work, our escape rooms make for great corporate events too; a perfect blend of team-building and seasonal fun.
The Final Word
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Halloween in Australia. From movies and costumes parties to ghost tours and bake-a-thon’s, there’s no shortage of spook-tacular fun!
Get in touch with our friendly team today if you’re interested in doing something a little different this year, or book today one of our exciting, spooky escape rooms perfect for a memorable Halloween.
