Spookiest family Halloween events near you

Gather your gaggle of ghosts and celebrate all things spooky at family-friendly Halloween events around Australia. Whether it is creepy critters at Adelaide Zoo or scream-worthy haunted houses at Melbourne’s Spooktober, these scares will actually be a lot of fun for primary-schoolers.

Get your costumes ready for Spooktober and other Halloween events near you! Credit: Spooktober

Spooktober, Melbourne

Spooktober is combining with Luna Dark this year for an event with bigger scares than ever! The ticketed event runs from 25^th October to 3^rd November. The show-stoppers are the two interactive haunted houses. Teens will jump out of their skins in the rooms of Extreme Phobia, whereas littler trick-or-treaters will enjoy the characters of Haunted Fairytales. Stop in at the zombie stations to collect sherbet treats along the Little Zombies trick-or-treat trail for kids. Join in Carnevil Games and creepy costume competition, as well as all your favourite Luna Park rides. With all staff in costume, this is sure to be spook-tacular! Find their website here.

Luna Park transforms into Luna Dark for Spooktober Credit: Spooktober

Garden ghouls, Sydney

There are two awesome outdoor Halloween events for Sydney families. Centennial Park Swamp Monsters will unfold on Saturday 26^th October at the WILD PLAY Discovery Centre for children aged 4 to 12 years. Follow the special map and complete the challenges along the way, including planting a pumpkin seed, escaping giant plants, finding worms and casting bee pollination magic. On Sunday 27^th October, the Royal Botanic Gardens is hosting a similar Garden Monsters event for 5 to 10 year olds.

Spook it up with some freaky face paint Credit: Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney

Tread the Garden Monster trail past a house of poison potions, giant spider web, pumpkin patch and zombie scarecrow. If you complete all five activities, then you’ll receive stamps and sweet treats. Tickets to both events cost $17.70 per child. Start times are staggered, so be sure to arrive in time for your chosen session.

Complete the challenges, including pumpkin rolling, to receive your Halloween treat! Credit: Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney

Night at the Museum, Queensland Museum

Ever wandered what happens in museums after dark? Exploding watermelons and glow-in-the-dark scorpions, that’s what! Children 5 to 12 years old and their families can discover the spooky secrets at this special Halloween event at Queensland Museum on Brisbane’s South Bank.

Thingsss get ssspooky at Queensland Museum Credit: Queensland Museum

Family entertainment is provided, including Roving Acrobat zombies, hula hooping workshops, science shows and droid racing. Get your witchy wiggle, zombie walk and monster mash ready for the children’s disco with live music from DJ Super Steph. And if you’re lucky, you might meet some special spider specimens up close. The event runs from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on Friday 25^th October. Tickets are $15 (child 3-15) to $21 (adult), or $60 for a family.

Learn and scare at the same time as the museum secrets come out to play Credit: Queensland Museum

Boo at the Zoo, Adelaide

This exclusive after-hours family event from 4 to 8pm on Friday 25^th October will reveal what goes on among the animals after dark. Dress in your best costumes to follow the trick-or-treat trail and watch Halloween-themed animal presentations. This is a popular event, so book your tickets fast. Daily visits to the zoo will end at 3.30pm, in order to get spooked up for a 4pm start. Click here for tickets and more info.

Perth Zoo also hosts Boo at the Zoo from 4pm on Friday 25^th. So, the witches and wizards of Western Australia can get wicked too! Click here to find out more.