Halloween
Photograph: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock
Photograph: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

The ultimate guide to Halloween in Singapore

Trick-or-treating, ghost stories, creepy trails, and more, this is your guide to the spooky holiday

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Let your freak flag high on October 31 when the world welcomes hell – we mean, Halloween. But why October 31? The spookfest originally started over 2,000 years back as the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain (pronounced 'sow-in') in Ireland. It marks the end of the harvest, welcoming new beginnings on All Hallows' Day on November 1. However, the superstitious Celts believed that the baddies from hell would descend onto earth for a day of carnage on All Hallows' Eve. What a nightmare.

Nowadays, instead of hiding in the corner of your bedroom, Halloween is a great excuse to get your freak on. Singapore may not have the orange autumn season, but we sure have 'em pumpkins. From the best Halloween events in Singapore to the creepiest Asian horror stories, it's time to dust off your witch's hat, summon the coven, and party (safely!) past the witching hour. Here's your guide to a devilishly good Halloween.

RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in October

Brave the dark events

  • Nightlife
  • Raffles Place

Ascend from hell to heaven, all in one booze-filled night at Vertigore. Spanning across HighHouse and Nova’s three floors, this debut Halloween party goes all out with an exciting line-up of stellar DJs and all-night revelry. The floors of HighHouse turn into a hellish landscape but don’t be phased by the torture rooms and scare actors, just head straight for the games that punish failed attempts with shots of tequila. Guest DJs XTVA and Shaun Nocturnals will spin the house and techno on October 26 and pass the baton to DJ Tang and DJ Kong for their hip-hop bangers and throwback beats on the 30th. After your trials, ascend to the highest bar in Singapore where you’ll be greeted at Nova’s pearly gates with stunning city views and a supernova installation by renowned light artist Jun Ong. Celebrate your journey to the Afterlife with glasses of rosé, then party it up on your first day in heaven to bass house, trap, and techno by LENERD & Zushan. Fantastic Dinosaur and Fred E will lead the throwback hits on the second night, making sure you’ll never want to come down from that high. Find out more here.

  • Nightlife
  • Raffles Place

Party it up in sinister style at SambaRoom’s very first Halloween bash in the newly opened, world-famous SushiSamba. Expect two nights of hauntingly captivating music, killer views, and bewitching performances at this Stanley-Kubrick-themed celebration, aptly titled ‘Redrum’. Mystery and opulence merge to keep you on your toes, complemented by unsettling decor that springs to life during the performances. Stephen Day sets the chilling tone for the 30th with a hypnotic set of deep house, synthwave, and Italo disco. On the 31st, expect Yujin to take over with sounds of disco, funk, and Afrobeats to keep you moving for the finale. Both nights will see dancers and contortionists crash the dancefloor alongside revellers in one multi-sensory tangle. Find out more here.

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  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

It’s spooky season so you know what that means – it’s time to make your way to the gates of hell at Universal Studios Singapore for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Asian-inspired horror takes centre stage with scenes from the ancient Qing Dynasty to a monster-infested version of present-day South Korea. Scream your way out of four all-new nightmare-inducing haunted houses, including one inspired by the popular South Korean Netflix apocalyptic horror series, Sweet Home. When you need a break from the scares, slither your way to the new spine-chilling speakeasy known as the Viper Lounge, where you can enjoy a range of deliciously devilish canapés and drinks. 

  • Things to do
  • Kallang

Get spooky with the community at Kampong Boogie’s Halloween celebration. In true Kampong Boogie fashion, expect plenty of dancing, a BBQ cookout, and chill vibes, this time with a frightfully fun twist. Come dressed in your best to win prizes – kids can complete their look with ghoulish face painting on-site. Chef Ricardo Allen will be manning the grill so expect signature Caribbean classics like Jamaican jerk chicken, goat curry, and a galore of other soul foods. Groove like there’s no tomorrow with dark, heart-pounding beats across hip hop, R&B, funk, soul, afro, house, and more before cooling off with icy Peronis and Asahis on tap. Everyone’s invited to this family-friendly Halloween bash, even the furkids. Get your tickets at the door or find out more here.

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  • Things to do
  • Marina Bay

Illumi just got extra spook-tacular this October. It's decked with all the Halloween trimmings for more lights and frights at the Bayfront Event Space. Put on your scariest face or channel your favourite character, and snake through illumi's Trick-or-Treat adventures across nine themed worlds that will leave you bewitched. The nights are packed with fang-tastic activities for the whole family including face painting, tarot card readings, and photo ops with roving ghouls and goblins. Hop on classic rides like the carousel and swing chairs, and of course, fill your treat bags to the brim with candy.

  • Film
  • Orchard

Aside from Halloween parties and haunted houses – there’s no better way to get your fix of hair-raising thrills than with a good ol’ scary movie. This weekend, catch some of the creepiest Asian horror flicks at the Projector Cineleisure's first-ever House of Horrors Film Festival. Watch six curated films from across the region, like South Korea’s Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Thailand’s Pee Mak, and Indonesia’s Pengabdi Setan. Don’t think you’ll be getting off scot-free though – complete your night with a visit to The Realm, an immersive haunted house experience that brings the terror on screen to life. Get your tickets here.

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  • Music
  • Classical and opera
  • City Hall

If you’re not one for scares this Halloween but still want to get into the spooky spirit, Candlelight’s A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics is the perfect middle-ground. Bask in the intimate and historically rich setting of The Arts House while listening to the excellent string quartet from Vocalise in this live, multi-sensory music experience inspired by Halloween classics new and old – Michael Jackson’s Thriller, a mashup of music from Netflix’s Stranger Things, the iconic prelude from Psycho, and theme music from cult-favourite Halloween films like Beetlejuice and The Addams Family. Classical music fans will also enjoy the quartet’s rendition of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre and Edvard Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King. Tickets start at $42 and are selling fast so grab them here.

  • Things to do
  • Quirky events

Singapore's first World War Two-themed immersive theatrical horror experience is happening at Fort Canning. And as if choosing a location renowned for being haunted isn't enough, the experience is also set 12,000 square feet underground at the Battlebox, an actual British war bunker from the 60s. The experience is premised on a fictional alternate history where a book of summoning unleashes bloodthirsty demons in an attempt to win the war. Grab your brave buds as you navigate the space, keeping your eyes peeled for terrifying live actors, formidable monsters, and realistic special effects as this uniquely hair-raising story unfolds.

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  • Things to do
  • Sentosa

Are you afraid of the dark? Ditch the witch’s broom and take on the night at Skyline Luge Singapore, where the real thrills begin after sunset. Brave souls are invited to race through haunted tracks, cursed by shamanistic rituals and ghostly spirits. As you speed downhill, prepare for spine-tingling encounters with lurking figures, eerie lighting, and spooky smoke effects. Keep your eyes sharp as you navigate the bends – hidden scarers might jump out when you least expect it. More than your average luge ride, it’s a chilling descent into the unknown.

  • Kids
  • Sentosa

Before Universal Studios Singapore turns into the nightmarish Halloween Horror Nights at sundown, it's a family-friendly spook fest in the day. Forget tricks – there are only treats here with meet-and-greet sessions featuring Illumination's Minion Monsters, candy grabs all around the park, Halloween-themed bites at the restaurants, and spooky merch to take home. Plus, treat your mini monsters to the all-new show Fortune Favors the Furry where DreamWorks Animation’s Puss in Boots fights to save his ninth life, and heart-pumping rides (kid-friendly too, of course) such as Enchanted Airways, and Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase.

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  • Nightlife
  • Raffles Place

If the thought of artificial intelligence taking over the world gives you the heebie-jeebies, you can rest easy – or not. Zouk’s main room, with its iconic futuristic centerpiece known as the Mothership, is transforming into an electrifying cyberpunk celebration of AI’s downfall. Here, the ghostly echoes of AI linger over pulsating beats and infectious rhythms, creating an atmosphere that's both haunting and exhilarating. We're talking a soundtrack filled with chilling tunes from 80s and 90s horror movies, brought to life by resident DJs Jeremy Boon and Aldrin spinning on deck.

  • Nightlife

A night of thrills, chills, and throwbacks awaits you at TableMinis’ Halloween house party, where the hobby store transforms into a den of horrors. Rave like it’s the 80s on the spooky dance floor cast in eerie neon lights and pulsating beats – it’s guaranteed to be a devilishly good time with all-night dancing and a vibe that could bring back the dead. Or hit up the game room for some horrifying play sessions of Dead by Daylight. Grab a console, settle down, and get ready to test your survival skills in this thrilling horror game. Then, face your fears at the live exorcism performance, where you must help banish the evil forces that lurk. When you need a break from the scares, head to the cosy living room for pizza, beer pong, and chill vibes. But be warned – plenty of jump scares await you throughout the night, so watch your back. Find out more about it here.

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  • Things to do
  • Rochor

Singapore’s best creatives join forces to bring back the kampung spirit – perhaps quite literally –  at Kampung Halloween, a spook fest that’s creepy and collaborative. The Halloween party runs from October 25 to November 3 and will feature ghoulish games, scary storytelling sessions, and haunting performances that will keep you up all night. Watch the undead, ghosts, and creatures come together in one terrifying spectacle at Hantu Ballhaus – a collaboration across art forms like dance, visual arts, fashion, and more. Or gather around to hear personal stories of the supernatural, from eerie encounters to losing loved ones at They Walk Amongst Us. This highly-anticipated live storytelling experience features storytellers of various backgrounds and is part performance and part confession to get your hair standing. See how creatives interpret the afterlife and supernatural beliefs across all cultures at the Our Ghosts exhibition. It’ll leave you feeling spooked with a newfound unique perspective on cultural identity. Find out more about the festival here.

Walk down spooky lane

  • Things to do

If exploring tombs is your kind of thing, get on a Bukit Brown walking tour by All Things Bukit Brown is a loose group of volunteers, promoting the heritage, habitat, and history of Bukit Brown Cemetery.

Spooky stories Of course a cemetery more than 90 years old would have some tales to tell. There are many stories about pontianaks haunting the place and sightings of wandering spirits, perhaps of those who are buried there so if you're up to meet some spooky characters... 

  • Things to do
  • Changi 

Although it's known for being a sleepy town in the corner of Singapore, Changi has a rich history that goes way back to the days of World War II. 

Spooky stories Where do we begin? Changi's home to Singapore's most haunted place – Old Changi Hospital. The place might be a hotel now but it had been abandoned for a long time and known to be haunted those who died there when it was a wartime hospital. Just down the road is Changi Beach where the Sook Ching massacre happened. 

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  • Things to do
  • City Hall

Explore the many nooks and crannies of Fort Canning Park and its many colonial-era relics, learn more about the paramount roles it played in the defence of the island and even before the British arrived, when it served as the residence of Malay royalty with guided tours by Battlebox

Spooky stories Many have said that they felt like they were being 'watched' in the park and there's also the huge creepy tree in Fort Canning Green that exudes spooky vibes, especially if you're hanging out in the park around dusk. 

  • Things to do

Popular with joggers and water sports enthusiasts, Bedok Reservoir is an 88-hectare park in the east. The reservoir is a converted sand quarry but it also hold some dark secrets. While there are no official tours, you can explore the public park easily on your own. 

Spooky stories With so many mysterious deaths surrounding this body of water, there will be strange stories. One of the more chilling ones is the drowning of a mother and young child – and they were dressed in red. Best to keep the jogging in the morning.

Wear a scary mask

  • Things to do
  • Quirky events
  • Bukit Merah

One of the longest-running costume shops in Singapore, Ministry of Costumes has a huge collection of costumes you can pick from, whether you're a baby or an adult. With over 30 years of experience and 25,000 costumes for rent, enter fantasy worlds and magical realms without busting your budget. Rental starts from as low as $20 for three days so get perusing for Halloween already. 

  • Things to do
  • Geylang

Started by a husband and wife team who love children, Children's Costume Specialist caters to teachers and parents looking for unique and beautiful costumes for children's performances and recitals. This specialist has a huge range of costumes and accessories, from superhero outfits and character outfits to cute animal hats. It even has an online store now, making shopping for the costumes more convenient than ever. 

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  • Things to do
  • Geylang

Talk about choice – Absolute Costumez is simply overflowing with it. This costume shop catering mainly to kids (preschool and up), will have you reeling from its range of themed outfits and accessories. Animal costumes, dance outfits, movie and TV-inspired threads, occupational attire, and even festival-themed (think National Day) costumes, Absolute Costumez has got it all. The shop has an online shop, so hop onto it and start browsing. 

  • Things to do
  • Bishan

You can trust in a company that largely designs and produces costumes for the stage. Moephosis Concepts can provide outfits for theatrical plays, fancy dress parties, Halloween parties and more, and offers customisation services to help you get your fit down to a tee as well. We dare say that Moephosis Concepts excels in Asian-inspired designs, having created the sunbird-inspired national costume for the Miss Supranational pageant. For the rest of us, we can rent or buy pre-loved cheongsams that have been tailored back to perfection. 

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  • Things to do
  • Orchard

Another long-standing shop in the costume business, Lips Enterprise has been around for 38 years. This is where to go for great quality costumes and fantastic service. Stuck on what to wear for your Halloween themed party? Not sure where to find the bits and bobs to add the final flourish to your look? Speak to the staff at Lips Enterprise and they'll be more than happy to make recommendations, provide inspiration, and dig up the item that you're looking for. 

  • Shopping
  • Bukit Timah

For over two decades, Party With Us has provided a one-stop party solution for customers in Bukit Timah Plaza. On top of the usual decorations, balloons, and party supplies, the store also has a neat collection of costumes for adults and kids. While the collection may not be large, you can get classic costumes like a ghoul and a knight.

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  • Shopping
  • Fancy-dress
  • Kallang
Customade Costumes and Merchandise
Customade Costumes and Merchandise

Founded in 1998, CCM has built a reputation for its tailor-made costumes. Whether you're looking to rent costumes in bulk or buy made-to-measure outfits, or want some maintenance work done on your costume, just talk to the folks here. Your best option is to head down to the shop and trawl the shelves yourself – who knows what you'll find. For retro costumes, its wide range of ’60s, ’70s and ’80s gear is more than satisfactory.

  • Shopping
  • Fancy-dress
  • Raffles Place
Pan-In-The-Box
Pan-In-The-Box

Most might know Pan-In-The-Box as a cosplay shop, after all, it has been around since 2003 and frequently participates in anime and cosplay events in Singapore. Come October, the shop gradually fills up with masks, wigs, capes, and all sorts of scary props you might need to embellish your Halloween outfit. There are costumes for both adults and children available for rental and purchase along with children-friendly animal masks. We even spotted a realistic rubber pig's head sitting on the top shelf – talk about freaky!

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  • Shopping
  • Fancy-dress
  • Bishan

It may have a heck of a tacky name, but the people at Awesome Costumes are serious when it comes to custom-made costumes. The company specialises in character and themed costumes, but it's up for almost any challenge you might have. Depending on the complexity of a request, it can take up to two months to complete a costume. So if you have something specific in mind, get your requests in early.

  • Shopping
  • Fancy-dress
  • Raffles Place

Step through the doors and you’ll be greeted by an entire world of weird and wonderful costumes. From outfits to accessories to latex prosthetics for DIY wounds – whatever character you’ve got your heart set on this year, chances are this store has you covered. However, if you just want to have a quick browse for inspiration, its entire catalogue is computerised in-store, so you can easily see what’s available. Suicide Squad, superheroes, princesses and Game of Thrones outfits are just a few in its impressive range. 

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  • Shopping
  • Fancy-dress
  • Kallang

Don’t base your opinion of this place on its website: it doesn’t do it justice. The store is deceptively big – one small doorway leads to another massive room. The walls are overflowing with wigs, wings, masks, helmets, an extensive array of cowboy hats and lots of bling, including a giant dollar sign necklace. It specialises in mascot costumes (think Adventure Time characters and animal outfits), and it's especially popular during Halloween as it offers a wide range of the classics: zombies, witches, vampires and pirates with props to match.

More things to do this Shocktober

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