Party fun or devilish chills? Treats or tricks?
If you’re still scratching your head as to where to enjoy things macabre as the spooky Halloween mood creeps up on us, here are some suggestions – from mild ones that will not traumatise tots to those designed to give you a hair-raising experience.
For kids, family
1) Touted as a ‘merry-not-scary kids event’, Safari Boo is a family-style party which begins at dusk at the River Safari this weekend (Oct 21-23) and the next (Oct 28-30).
Themed Aliens and Monsters, the 6-10pm event will thrill kids and visitors with an underwater performance featuring four ‘mermaids’ swimming alongside some friendly manatees.
Although the event also offers encounters with ‘monsters’ and ‘aliens’, they are unlikely to be scary enough to send kids screaming for mummy. Put on monster or alien outfits as a family during Monster Boo! time at ‘Area 51’ and stand a chance to win prizes.
Lastly, be warned: Look out for tricks as you’re trying to reach out for the tempting treats. Website: https://safariboo.wrs.com.sg
2) Another suitable outing for kids is ‘The Not So Creepy Halloween’ at Singapore Science Centre.
The day event on Oct 30 – 31 allows participants to play undercover agents on on a ‘top secret’ mission to nab the super villains that have taken over the building.
Wear your best costume for an Instagram shot and stand to win a magnetism kit worth $49.90.
3) Even the government’s clubhouse HomeTeamNS Sembawang is jumping on the bandwagon with ‘Terroween’.
Enjoy a ‘Boo-fay” with tricks and treats, party games, a treasure hunt, tarot card reading at its ‘House of Torment’ tomorrow night (Oct 22). Scoot for your life if you bump into a serial killer.
Open to HomeTeam, Safra and PAssion members, but they can bring their family and friends. Suitable for kids who are accompanied by adults. Website: http://www.hometeamns.sg
4) Cold Storage Spooktacular Carnival on Oct 29 is probably the least scary event for kids.
They can take part in a record-breaking feat for the “Most Number of Halloween Pumpkins Painted”! at Guthrie House. The pumpkins and painting kits are limited, so sign up quick via this link – goo.gl/UbvwrR
You and your family can try to win Halloween hampers in the ‘best-dressed’ and ‘scariest roar’ contests. Other activities include face-painting, balloon sculpture and Lolli Spider workshops.
Details at Cold Storage Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/548013738727944/).
5) If you’ve laughed your head off at Florence Foster Jenkins’ bad singing of opera (as seen in the movie showing currently), you might be tickled again at OperaCalypse Now!
Presented by L’arietta Productions, a chamber opera company, the musical fantasy takes you to a bizarre world of asteroid disasters and brain-chomping zombies accompanied with piercing screams and quirky arias.
The plot: Love in catastrophic times. Nov 5 – 8 at Aliwal Arts Centre. This post-Halloween event is suitable for the whole family. Giggles and squeals are welcome.
Details at http://lariettasg.peatix.com
For party-lovers
1) Rooftop skybar CÉ LA VI at Marina Bay Sands is bringing back London’s award-winning boutique club Cirque Le Soir for another thrilling experience this Halloween.
If you don’t want the magicians, acrobats, clowns or sword swallowers to steal the show on Oct 29, then come dressed in your best Halloween costume. You stand a chance to snag a magnum bottle of champagne when you post your picture with the hashtag #CLVFreaks.
From 9pm till late. For more details, visit http://sg.celavi.com
2) If you’re familiar with Zouk’s legendary Halloween parties, you need not be reminded that entry is free for all those in a full costume. But entry is not guaranteed if the club is already full, so arrive early on Oct 29.
To give you an idea as to what to wear, the theme is The Scream Diner in a 1950s setting.
Be warned: Party-goers gulping burgers and alcoholic slushies might go ‘missing’. As the plot unfolds, the prime suspect will go missing too. Don’t bother figuring it out now – just enjoy the suspense as you get entrapped in the confines of 17 Jiak Kim Street.
Why you should be there: The best Halloween getup stands a chance to win a combination of cash prizes, ZoukOut VIP tickets and accommodation at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove during ZoukOut plus flights to your favourite cities in Asia which offer unique party experiences.
Furthermore, the winner of the best #ZoukHalloween social media post will win a 2D1N stay at Resorts World Sentosa BeachVillas. More details at http://zoukclub.com
3) OverEasy Orchard is also offering an American Diner theme, but it will be a Battle Royale between costumed fighters. Come dressed as Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris or Sigourney Weaver for a campy fight night on Oct 29.
The nastiest ‘baddie’ will win a holiday to Bali. Details in OverEasy Facebook page.
4) Slip into your horror-party best before you pub crawl at Clarke Quay on Oct 29. Clubs and bars like Attica, Crazy Elephant, Harry’s, Highlander, Hooters, Paulaner and Prive will also take part in ‘Nightmare on Clarke Street’ with spooky-themed entertainment and drinks.
Photo opportunities abound at creepy stops such as ‘Clarke Quay Abandoned Hotel’ (near the taxi stand) and ‘The Bloody Butcher Shop’ (near Tan Tye Gate). More details athttp://www.capitalandmallasia.com.sg
Not for the faint-hearted
1) An intense roller coaster of traumatic extremes could make this the mother of all Halloween events in Singapore.
Universal Studios Singapore has launched Halloween Horror Nights, a massive scare fest every night from now till Oct 31.
You’ll get to check out not one, but five ‘haunted’ buildings and two ‘scare’ zones, all fleshing out frightful scenes from true horror tales at notoriously haunted places in Singapore and abroad.
Fat hope if you think an escape from nightmarish hell is possible. You are likely to see yourself fleeing from the old Changi Hospital to Salem Witch House. Or running into all kinds of ghouls or a pile of dead bodies with the revolting smell of rotting flesh.
For details, visit www.halloweenhorrornights.com.sg
Photo GalleryLingering souls at haunted houses of USS’ Halloween Horror Nights
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2) Bugis Street will not just be about shopping fun when the landmark market village presents Nightmare On Bugis Street.
This year’s Halloween event promises to be bigger and scarier, with two scare zones, dark alleys, creepy puppets and prison inmates.
If you’re scared stiff after the event, nurse yourself back to sanity with some late-night retail therapy. There will also be a flea market and thumping music by a DJ. This event will be held nightly from Oct 28 to Nov 5. Check out Bugis Street Facebook page.
3) SCAPE’s The Ground Theatre will be turned into The Doll Factory in its sixth edition of Museum of Horrors from Oct 26 to Nov 6. The plot is no fairy tale: A deranged doll maker murders his family in order to preserve them as dolls forever. Expect terrifying screams, bodies in a slaughterhouse, vengeful ‘souls’ at a graveyard and creepy dolls.
If you manage to get out of a dark maze, drop by at the gift shop. You never know who or what will follow you after you have snagged a queer knick-knack.
Find out more at http://museumofhorrors.peatix.com/
chenj@sph.com.sg
