How to celebrate Halloween in Melbourne

From October 27-31, 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, a ghost train, roaming horror actors, live music, horror make-up artists and much more. Dare to enter the terrifying Behind the Screams maze, where you'll be taunted by creepy clowns and forgotten dolls, or take a ride on the End of the Line train. There's also a special All Hallows Eve event on October 31, plus each night there's a VIP adults-only CarnEvil party. Find out more here.

Imagine... it's the roaring '20s, you're among the upper crust of English society, attending a glamorous ball at an extravagant manor in your finest attire when, suddenly, a horrible plot twist occurs. This is the premise for Murder at the Manor, an Agatha Christie-inspired murder mystery dinner event. You're invited to attend a three-course dinner while you try to figure out whodunnit alongside six actors playing quintessentially British characters. It's taking place at the stylish Stamford Plaza Hotel on October 27 and 28, with attendees encouraged to dress in '20s period attire. You can book online here. 

The Heide Museum of Modern Art is a historic contemporary art museum located on 6.5 hectares of sprawling parkland inside an 89-year-old farmstead. With such an extensive history, it makes sense that the site probably has a ghost or two lurking. The museum's head gardener will share stories of the spookier aspects of Heide's history and lead a twilight walking tour of the gardens and cottage where the original owners lived. You'll even learn about some unexplained supernatural sightings that occurred on the grounds. The tour will run on Halloween night and you can book tickets here. 

Set in one of Melbourne's most infamous locations, this unique paint and sip experience has a dark twist. Mixing the historic building's history with creativity, upon entering you'll be met by a prison guard for processing just as notorious inmates of the past were, before being taken through the Gaol's famous lockup (except, you'll enjoy an arrival drink during the process). After being shown around the cells, you'll be taken to the rec room to unleash your inner artist and learn how to paint your cellmate. Refreshments will be far from what crims of yore would have been served though, with bottomless drinks and a grazing station to enjoy while you paint. Once you've finished your masterpiece, you'll make your great escape from the gaol. This event is running for one night only on October 26. For more information, check out the website. 

If you don't want to leave your four-legged bestie out of the Halloween festivities, then this is the perfect event for you. How-O-Ween Paw Parade is going to attempt a record for the largest costumed dog parade in Australia and everyone is invited to take part this spooky season. The parade will kick off at 10am on Sunday, October 29, with a post-promenade celebration with special pet market stalls, competitions, kids entertainment and treats (for both dogs and humans). There'll also be the opportunity for kids to go trick or treating along the street where the parade will take place in Port Melbourne. All of the funds raised from registrations will go towards Guide Dogs Victoria. For all the details check out the website. 

If you're keen to boogie the night away this Halloween, head to the Club Corpse rave in Fitzroy. The queer-friendly dance party kicks off in the afternoon and will rage on long after the sun sets. The event will feature a blood-boilingly hot line-up of local queer talent that will set the dancefloor on fire with DJ sets and live performances. Partygoers are encouraged to dress in their fatal finest, whether that is in homage to someone who has passed (think celebrities, politicians or public figures) or just the half-rotten corpse look. It's all going down on October 29, and you can buy a ticket here for $15. 

Learn about dark episodes in Melbourne's history while visiting hidden bars across the city to sip on some frighteningly good cocktails during this spooky walking tour. The guided walk will tour across Melbourne to uncover the scary stories linked to some of the city's main buildings, that have connections to notorious criminals like Jack the Ripper. To break up the scary stories, the tour will visit three bars where you'll stop for a refreshing bevvy along the way. The tour will take three hours and will run on Thursday, October 26 and Saturday, October 28 in the lead up to Halloween. Find out more on the website. 

The House of Burton is beckoning fans of the macabre and lovers of a ghoulish atmosphere to celebrate the spooky season at this pop-up Beetlejuice-themed speakeasy. From October 4 until the day of Halloween, you can visit the haunt at District Docklands. Upon entering the bar, named after famed spooky-film director Tim Burton, you'll be immersed in a 90-minute distorted reality journey — while enjoying fright-themed cocktails, of course. For fans of Burton's films or those who love creepy vibes, this is the bar that will get you in the Halloween spirit. Plus, there's a special finale event on the big day. Entry is $15, with booking available online. 

This beloved northside market is holding free Halloween events the weekend before Halloween, with kid-friendly activities and free spooky makeovers. On Friday, October 27, the market will have an afternoon of spooktastic fun, where kids are can trick or treat with the traders, make slime, get some ghoulish temporary glitter tattoos, have their face painted and meet some colourful characters roving through the market. On Saturday, October 28, the newest vendor Spooky Sue will open her Salon of Doom, where you'll be able to get a free makeover – perfect prep for any Halloween parties that night. Spooky Sue will offer gruesome, life-like SFX make up and frightening face paintings for those who dare to take her chair. The salon will be open between 9.30am and 2.30pm. 

For a ghoulishly good and fun-filled outing, head to Pumpkin Putt, a Halloween-themed mini-golf experience at District Docklands. Expect spine-tingling challenges and family friendly frights as you work your way through the nine-hole course. There are spooktacular cocktails to enjoy, and things get a little bit creepier as the sun sets with glow-in-the-dark decor. Bring your friends and family for a night of scares and laughter. Tickets are $16 and can be purchased here. 

On October 27, 170 Russell is turning into a haunted house with DJs playing R'n'B, house, party and Halloween tunes across two rooms. There are only a few tickets left, priced at $37 per person, which include a free blood shot (served in a syringe – yikes!) if you arrive before 10pm, a trick-or-treat bag of goodies for the first 500 people through the door, and a Halloween-themed photo booth. Expect freaky drink specials, a variety of performers, Halloween make-up artists and light shows. Plus, there's a cash prize for the best costume. For more information and to book your ticket, head to the event page.

This virtual escape room has a very Halloween-esque game on in October, aptly running alongside spooky season. It's a subversive take on the classic zombie horror genre, in which players get to be on the side of the bad guys. The premise is this: the year is 2040 and zombies have successfully taken over earth for the last nine years, but now are under threat with the discovery of an antitode created by human scientists that could wipe zombies off the face of the earth. Fight alongside your zombie friends to survive and win! Check out the website for more details. 

The Royal Melbourne Hotel on Bourke Street is housed within a 250-year-old heritage-listed former jail, so you already know that it's likely to be pretty haunted. On Halloween, it's hosting a massive emo night headlined by a secret artist yet to be announced. Expect to hear tracks by Nine Inch Nails, Bring Me the Horizon, Amity Affliction and more. You can grab tickets here. 

This southside market favourite is holding a six-day Halloween extravaganza in the lead up to the big day, with spell-binding celebrations taking over the market. There'll be ghoulish decor with creepy installations in hidden nooks, including reinvented Aussie takes on jack-o-lanterns using local seasonal produce and florals. Plus, shoppers can partake in face-paiting, an "ice-scream" stall, themed photoshoots, Halloween-style snacks, spooky crafts and kid-friendly cooking workshops. But the fun isn't all about the kids, with a cocktail bar serving fruity drinks will pop-up in the market square. The celebration will run from Thursday, October 26 to Tuesday, October 31. 

The year is 1899, and amongst the shopfronts of Melbourne's once-thriving Eastern Market, a sudden attack on a popular fortune teller has left her husband dead. The culprit? Well, that's up to you to figure out in Eastern Market Murder, an augmented reality murder mystery that can be played on-site in Melbourne. It takes 1.5 hours to play, and will lead you and your mates through hidden alleyways of the city. Learn more here.

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.