After-dark museum spooktaculars, scary Inner-West pub raves, Bojack Horseman dress-up parties, and ghoulish dog shows. Yeah, it’s Halloween in Sydney alright. Each year some of the best venues in the city attempt to out-do themselves and lure you into webs of themed events and expensive drinks. Not all are made equal though, so we’ve done some digging and uncovered five Halloween happenings we think are totally worth it. The best part is not all of them are happening on the same date, so you can still fit in any Halloween house parties going ’round.
Stoney Roads’ Halloween Rave
One of the most credible music publications in the country is doing what they do best and throwing a massive rave to lure all the witches, zombies and ghouls to Newtown’s iconic Marlborough Hotel. The venue’s various spaces will be decked out appropriately as the walls thump with everything from disco and house to indie-dance and hip hop. Entry is free with RSVP, and the full line up can be found over at the official the event’s Facebook page.
Date: Friday 26th October; 9pm-3am
Address: 145 King Street, Newtown, New South Wales 2042
The Beresford Howl-O-Ween
Everyone loves a dog show, even more so when those doggos are strutting their stuff in their very own Halloween costumes. The Beresford are bringing their coveted dog show back for a special edition in partnership with DOGUE, where guests can attend and show off their furry friends in their spookiest costume. There will be entertainment, market stalls set up, and heaps of prizes for all the expected categories, including best dressed, best owner, pop lookalike, and best trick. First 50 guests will also take home a goody bag, so if you miss trick-o-treatin’ then get there early. As always, the show will be fundraising for Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.
Date: Sunday 28th October; 11am-3pm
Address: 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
BoJack Horseman Costume Party
Bring your best business scheme (and horse head) to The Newsagency in Camperdown because their going full Netflix with this one, celebrating the beloved BoJack Horseman. Sure, there ain’t no zombies or witches in the cartoon, but there will be plenty of irony and self-depracation – that’s scary, right? Dress up as your fav character from the hit animated series while DJs, including local hero Jake Stone and a host of others, soundtrack the night with selections from the 80s, 90s and 2007. Prizes for the best costume with tickets priced at $23 online or $30 on the door. Head to the official Facebook event for more information.
Date: Thursday 1st November; 7pm – 11:30pm
Address: 74-76 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown 2038
Jurassic Lounge’s Halloween Party
Masters of themed parties, the team behind the Australian Museum’s Jurassic Lounge are getting amongst it this Halloween with an after-hours party for adults on Saturday 27th October. In a nod to just how creepy museums can be after dark, the crew will be decking the Australian Museum’s historic halls to help build an immersive world of ghost tours and stories, craft sessions, silent discos, dance parties, matchmaking events, puppeteers, pop-up bars, music and performances.
Gore Galore make-up artists will be on hand to help guests blend in with the décor before sending them off to run around in the Dead Petting Zoo, or impress their future partner during “Paranormal match-making”. And you better believe there’ll be prized for the best dressed – it is a Halloween party after all. Tickets are from $25 and can be purchased at jurassiclounge.com.
Date: Saturday 27th October; 7pm-10:30pm
Address: 1 William Street, Sydney
Canadian Halloween Party
Yep, strangely enough we’re getting a Halloween party from Network Canada this year as Halloween International – Devil’s Night is set to take over North Sydney’s Greenwood Hotel. In addition to 3 DJ areas, the party has several Canadian activities lined up for guests, from bull-riding (Calgary Stampede style) to snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies. They’ll be giving away free drink samples and thousands of dollars in prizes for the best dressed, alongside many other challenges. And everyone who arrives before midnight will go in the draw to win a trip to Canada for the ultimate Canadian experience. The lucky winner will receive a trip for two to the great north including airfares courtesy of Air New Zealand, with seven nights in a hotel, and a six-day lift pass for skiing from Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia. Only people who come to the party are eligible to win and everyone who completes the Cross Canada Trick or Treating Challenge (by 10.30pm) gets an extra entry into the draw. Early bird tickets start at $16.50. Buy tickets to the Halloween party HERE.
Date: Saturday 27th October; from 8pm
Address: 36 Blue St, North Sydney NSW 2060
Additional words by Liv Toerkell.
Feature image: The Beresford
