Legend has it that at summer’s end or ‘Samhain’—the inspiration behind Halloween traditions—the veil between the world of the living and the underworld is at its thinnest. The dead will walk. And when they do they’re going to want to know where all the most blood-curdling shindigs are because if we know anything about the dead, it’s that they love to be the spirit of the party.
We’ve looked in every dark corner and down every dark alley to bring you a head-rolling Halloween extravaganza of events, from petrifyingly perfect parties and kid-friendly festivities to a beastly bottomless brunch, classic horror flicks, free wine for ghosts, and more. Cobweb up and dress for the devil. You’re in for a fright.
Here are the best Halloween parties and events in Auckland to hit this year.
Halloween-Themed Dog Training Workshop
24 Oct | Central Bark
In what might be one of the most wholesome ways to celebrate Halloween, the folks at Constructive Canines, Central Bark and Pawz Perfect have joined forces to teach your Hellish hound some like “boo”, “zombie walk” and the classic “trick-4-treats”. Note that “Hellish hound” is just us getting overexcited—this workshop is not suitable for reactive or barking dogs.
Escape The Haunted Grid
26 Oct | Running Grid, Newmarket
We recently discovered and had one helluva time (highly recommend) so you bet we were overjoyed when we heard they've whipped up at their Newmarket location just for Halloween. Enter the grid (if you dare) for a 60-minute session of escape room puzzle-solving and interactive gameplay in a maze they're describing as "slightly spooky, but not-too-scary." Love it. Sessions start at 7pm and 8.30pm.
Zombie Mile Halloween Brewery Crawl
26 Oct | Auckland Beer Mile (various locations)
Dress to strike terror into the hearts of onlookers as you flex your zombie crawl skills (and your biceps—if drinking beer isn't a bicep curl, we don't know what is) in the . Breweries and taprooms include Small Gods Taproom, Galbraith's Alehouse, Saint Leonards, Churly's, Brothers Juke Joint, Urbanaut and Garage Project Kingsland. Entry is free, pay as you go.
Halloween Unleashed
*Update: This event has been cancelled.*
Wēta Workshop’s pulling out all the stops this Halloween for one helluva bloody good night in . Tour their after-dark movie sets (where things definitely go bump in the night), learn how to make fake blood, transform into a creature straight from the fiery pits of Hell, dance like there’s no tomorrow, and catch a screening of epic retro slasher classic, Scream. This is an R16+ event.
Bottomless Brunch, The Halloween Edit
26 Oct | Verona Cafe & Bar
Get in the spirit with . For just $65 per person you’ll score a little bite and main of your choice plus boo-ttomless drinks (sorry not sorry). Go full breakfast with an eggs bene or round of French toast or lean towards lunch with a Verona beef salad, linguine or pan-friend market fish. As for the libations, think Bloody Mary Sangria, Witch's Blood Marg, The Zombie spiked with rum three ways, a gin-infused Pom Thumb or Snow White's Poison Apple. Frightfully delightful.
Image credit: FREAKOUT | Karangahape Road Business Association website
Classic Horror Flicks
26 & 31 Oct & 2 Nov | The Hollywood
There’s nothing like a goosebumps-inducing scary movie to have you on the edge of your seat this spooky szn and The Hollywood (which is so gloriously historic we’d be surprised if it didn’t have a resident ghost or two) is doing us a solid with a terrifying trifecta of classics. Catch on 26 October, in The Hollywood’s signature 4D Halloween Experience on 31 October and on 2 November.
Halloweekend
30 Oct & 1 & 2 Nov | Ding Dong Lounge
The souls at Ding Dong Lounge have three glorious Halloween-adjacent events in store for us wicked revellers. First, a on 30 October presented by Don’t Break The Oath (which we’re sure you’ll agree rings of deals with the devil in its own right). Next, two days of music madness with If It Bleeds, Model T, Wicked Creature and It Comes Easy on from 8 ‘til midnight chased by freshly-spun dark trance and dungeon tech by Wrong Dose, andLies Within, INTHEIRIMAGE and Monolith on .
Free Face Painting
31 Oct | Body FX
Little ghouls and goblins can get their lil’ at Halloween incarnate, Body FX. Better still, your freshly-spooked sprogs will get to explore a mini haunted house that’s packed with treats guided by O’Laugh The Friendly Vampire and his minions. Cute.
Image credit: Unsplash | Ruan Richard Rodrigues
FREAKOUT
31 Oct | Karanaghape Road
One of Tāmaki’s most iconic Halloween shindigs is Karangahape Road’s . IIf you feel a calling to don a sheet, be sure to stop by Tappo where all ghosts will receive a free glass of wine. Try your luck with the K’Road Trick or Treat Trail, take your little demon to the Mini Monsters Costumes Awards at SMALL RAVE or leave your fellow competitors for dead in the over-18s costume competition. Shop around for potions and spooky garb at the Celestial Markets, soundbathe in killer beats at The End of the Line, take part in rituals and a potluck pudding at Beltane by The Button Factory and relish some spooky sips at Abstract Hotel. And so much more.
Halloween At Boulder Co.
31 Oct | Boulder Co.
If you didn’t accidentally get possessed and climb all over the walls, was it even Halloween? Luckily, Boulder Co.’s facilitating with (although your soul will remain safely intact, we assure you). Dress to scare and swing by from 4 ‘til 10pm for tricks and treast, games, scavenger hunts, a Halloween-themed climb and an Eye Spy challenge.
Lips Halloween Monster Bash
31 Oct | Neck of the Woods
It’s giving “scarebration” of epic proportions. Not only is packed full of tunes to shake your skeleton to (think: Cootie Cooties, Three Golden Geese, DJ Matthew Creepy Crawley and, of course, “your awkward indie pals” Lips, themselves) plus a fortune-teller, an evil laugh competition, decorations and a mystery guest the identity of which they’re keeping very tight-lipped about (yep, we went there).
Image credit: FREAKOUT | Karangahape Road Business Association website
Halloween Beer Tasting
31 Oct | Birkenhead Brewing Co.
If your ideal Halloween celebrations involve strange yet satisfying beers, Birkenhead Brewing Co.’s might just be a bit of you. James will host you in their dungeon, guiding you throuhg six beers that’ll “leave you speechless in fright that such weird beer can be conjured up like this”. Intrigued? We certainly are.
Nightmare On K Road: Halloween Drag Show
31 Oct | Phoenix Cabaret
Expect horror, glamour and gore at Phoenix Cabaret’s . Hosted by Hugo Grrrl, you’ll be treated to the soul-tingling talents of Rita Menu, Ruby Reveal, Necromantique, Nivalia Night, Carmen Composed, Margarita Blades, Connor Lingus and Linda Tofana. Prizes for best dressed so don’t you dare step foot in there without being spooked for the gods.
Free Doughnuts From Krispy Kreme
31 Oct | Krispy Kreme stores around the motu
Haunting can really take it out of you. Make sure your ghostly energy levels stay stocked up with a free Original Glazed Doughnut from Krispy Kreme. Simply swing by in your most ghastly Halloween threads and you'll summon one of these glazed beauties, no trick. And if you can't wait until Halloween rest in peace knowing you can snag a dozen for $36.90.
Circus Of The Damned
31 Oct-2 Nov | Spookers
A Halloween round-up wouldn’t be complete without a hair-raising event by Halloween royalty, Spookers. Enter (if you dare) and risk everything at Kingseat, a former psychiatric hospital known to be one of the most haunted locations in Aotearoa. Today, it’s brimming with a litany of monsters straight out of your nightmares. Attempt to survive The Haunted House, Disturbia, The Woods and The Fog in a spine-chilling quadruple threat complete with fire breathers and fire spinners. This is an R13+ event.
Image credit: FREAKOUT | Karangahape Road Business Association website
The Rocky Horror Picture Show With Hot And Flustered
2 Nov | The Vic Devonport
If you haven’t yet experienced (or even if you have), there’s no better time to do so than Halloween. Rock up to The Vic Cinema clad in your favourite Halloween or Rocky Horror character get-up and experience this iconic film brought to life, live, by The Hot & Flustered Shadowcast. Tickets include an interactive prop kit.
Halloween Bike Rave
2 Nov | Olympic Park New Lynn
Embark on a with tricks and treats, and challenges to conquer by Bike Avondale and Crank. Dress up is highly encouraged (your wheels included) plus there’ll be prizes up for grabs, face painting, a Halloween movie and beats to bike to. This is a totally free event thanks to the spooks at Auckland Transport.
Keen to get spiritual on Halloween? Check out Auckland's best bars.
Main image credit: FREAKOUT | Karangahape Road Business Association website.