How to celebrate Halloween in Melbourne

From October 23 to November 1, Luna Park is transforming into its spooky alter-ego for a five-day festival of Halloween frivolity. While the sun shines, the park remains child-friendly, but as darkness descends the terrifying scares begin. Expect thrilling rides, roaming horror actors, live music, spooky carnival games and much more. Dare to enter the terrifying Behind the Screams haunted house (back for its third year), where you'll be taunted by creepy clowns and forgotten dolls, or book a one-way ticket on the abandoned End of the Line train. Find out more here.

Melbourne Museum is opening its doors after dark on October 31 for a frighteningly fun Halloween party where the supernatural meets the scientific. For the kids, there will be trick-or-treating, face painting, collectable skeleton cards and a scavenger hunt. From 8pm a special adults-only zone will open, where you can try a slime shot, have a palm or tarot reading and watch a horror movie marathon. There will also be live music, creepy campfire stories and experts ready to share freaky facts about the weird and wild wonders of the world. Dress up for the parade or come as you are, all are welcome. Find out more and buy tickets here. 

As if the Old Melbourne Gaol wasn't spooky enough, it's getting an extra frightful makeover this Halloween. On October 31 you can roam through the cells that onced housed some of the country's most notorious criminals. You will also be able to hear harrowing historic tales, go trick-or-treating, snap a mugshot or test your nerves on a lantern-lit ghost tour. Dressing up is encouraged, and you bet there's gonna be a whole lot of candy. Find out more and buy a ticket here. 

As part of the new Game Worlds exhibition, ACMI is hosting an exclusive fan event on October 31 to celebrate Hollow Knight and Silksong. This after-hours extravaganza will include a live speedrun, musical performances, custom beverages and limited-edition merch. If scary movies are more your thing, you can catch a screening of the original two-part adaptation of Stephen King's second novel Salem's Lot. Other films showing over Halloween weekend at ACMI include The Shining, Doctor Sleep and Misery.

If you don't want to leave your four-legged bestie out of the Halloween festivities, then this is the perfect event for you. The Howl-O-Ween Paw Parade is back on October 25 for a day of frightfully cute fun. The annual parade will kick off at 11am down Port Melbourne's Bay Street, with a post-promenade celebration featuring face painting, a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt for the kids, giveaways and more. For all the details check out the website. 

Get frisky this Halloween with a visit to the Museum of Desire. Melbourne's most provocative cultural institution is hosting the Carnival of Art and Thrills from October 31 to November 3, and there's plenty of cheeky action that will leave you trembling (in a good way, that is). You can take part in a spooky and seductive life drawing class where the subjects will reveal all, and you're encouraged to wear a sexy costume to claim a lucky dip prize. Across the weekend there will also be live magic, art and a shibari rope tying performance. Find out more and book your tickets here.

Melbourne's coolest (and most sustainable) new hotel is hosting a chic-but-spooky Halloween soirée. Head to 1 Hotel Melbourne's Crane Bar and Upstairs on October 31 from 7pm and discover an immersive experience that will feature DJ sets, tarot and crystal ball readers. A bespoke Halloween-inspired cocktail menu means you won't go thirsty, so drink up and be prepared for plenty of unexpected theatrics. The theme is dress to impress and you can find out more here.

On October 31 the infamous Pentridge Prison is inviting brave Melburnians into its notorious H-Division (aka Hell Division), the cell block where some of the city's worst offenders were once detained. Dress up in your creepiest costume and explore the block at your own pace – just beware that every creak of an iron door might just send shivers down your spine. Find out more and buy tickets here. 

Calling all witches, zombies, ghosts, skeletons, vampires, monsters and creatures of the night! On October 31, 170 Russell is turning into a haunted house with DJs playing R'n'B, house, party and Halloween tunes across three rooms. The first 500 people to arrive will score a free blood shot (served in a syringe – yikes!), and there will also be trick-or-treat goodies and a Halloween-themed media wall. For more info and to book your ticket, head to the event page.

There are plenty of haunted locations in Melbourne to visit if you're game, where you might have a spooky supernatural encounter or at the very least, be seriously creeped out. You can even go on a proper ghost tour, where experienced guides will tell you scary tales about alleged hauntings. There's no better time to check one out than Halloween, so we've put together a list of the most haunted sites for you to discover – if you dare.