Halloween is the best festival of the year and in 2025 it’s on Friday, October 31. That means a whole weekend of costumes, haunted houses, trick-or-treating and late night parties. Whether you like spooky adventures, family fun or music festivals, Halloween 2025 has got something for everyone.
This guide has got everything you need to know: the biggest festivals in the USA and India, costume ideas, travel tips, safety and budgeting. So mark your calendars and start planning now because Halloween 2025 is going to be bigger than ever!
Key Facts for 2025 at a Glance
- Halloween Festival Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
- Extended celebrations: Many festivals and parades will run from October 18 to November 2
- Who can enjoy it? Families, party lovers, horror fans and cultural travelers
What Is Halloween?
Halloween is a festival that mixes old traditions with modern fun. It started as a Celtic festival and today it brings people together through costumes, pumpkins, parties and spooky events.
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Best Halloween Costumes to sport your eerie side
When it comes to Halloween costumes, it is a daunting task to pick that is different and spooky. While the witch costume is one of the popular picks for Halloween, let’s check out options that suit you best:
- Cat Costume
- Vampire Costume
- Dragon Costume
- Psycho Killer Costume
- Widow Witch Costume
The best Halloween costumes for kids are:
- Witch
- Ghost
- Spiderman
- Batman
- Superhero
The best Halloween costumes for pets are:
- Pumpkin
- Bat
- Hot Dog
- Bumblebee
Don’t forget to wear a blonde wig, a face mask with cloured blood, and extra large teeth. Dress up in the most spooky manner and scare your friends with your wraith look.
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Best Halloween Festivals in the USA (2025)

Salem Haunted Happenings, Massachusetts
Salem is the Halloween capital of the USA. The entire town becomes a frightful playground complete with parades, haunted tours, costume contests, and ghost walks. Hotels fill up fast so make your plans ahead of time.
Historic Irvington Halloween Festival, Indianapolis
The festival runs from October 18 through October 25, 2025, with the street fair kicking off on Saturday, October 25. This is a family-friendly happening with live music, food stalls, and there are many costume parades.
Escape Halloween, Southern California
If you love EDM and high-energy parties, Escape Halloween is your place. Scheduled for October 31 and November 1, this festival of electronic dance music is for adults only. Bright lights, themed stages, and even more amazing music can be expected.
Blowing Rock Halloween Festival, North Carolina
Blowing Rock hosts one of America’s best family-friendly Halloween festivals on October 25, 2025. It has games, pumpkin carving, and a children’s parade.
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando & Hollywood)
Universal Studios goes all out every year, and 2025 is no different. Expect terrifying haunted houses based on Terrifier and Five Nights at Freddy’s, scare zones, and late-night shows – what happened here recently. This event runs until November 2, 2025!
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Best Halloween Festivals in India (2025)
HorrorCon India, Delhi
HorrorCon is back in Delhi for its second year on 25 and 26 October, 2025. The convention features horror cosplay, live performances, and meet and greets with creators. This festival is a can’t miss event for those who love to experience unique events.
Mumbai Arena Shows & Parties
From massive arena concerts, to themed club nights, Mumbai be like “go big or go home” when it comes to Halloween. The DOME arena is hosting one of the biggest parties with DJ’s, costume parties, and special performances.
Other Cities to Watch
Watch what happens in Bengaluru, Pune and Goa. All will be known for their huge nightlife scene and will be hosting several parties and festivals with a Halloween theme.
Celebration ideas for your Halloween party
What to do to spice up a spooky party? Is this what you are thinking? While Halloween is around the corner, it’s better to prepare beforehand. Here are some of the best Halloween celebration ideas:
Vote and win
Why not keep a costume contest? When everybody has dressed up in their best spooky costume, allow your guests to vote and choose the best one.
Let the Halloween dark history reflect in your guest’s costumes and reward them for it.
Pumpkin Competition
The Halloween party is incomplete without pumpkins. So, why not a competition in pumpkin carving? Let your guest design the scariest images from pumpkin.
This competition is best if you are inviting kids for your party. Lastly, give them surprising gifts loaded with Halloween love.
Reveal eerie experiences/ haunted stories
Halloween is all about getting the eerie vibe. The best way to keep this vibe is by exchanging haunted stories. Sit in a circle, place a candle in between and let everyone share their spooky stories.
This is one of the best ways to keep your guests entertained and also keep the Halloween theme going.
Let the haunted playlist tune-in
Any party is incomplete without dance and music, and so is the Halloween party. Create a playlist of all haunted music and let your guests shake their legs at it.
Don’t forget to treat them with exclusive cocktails, wine and fruit juices. Lastly, a dance competition will add more excitement to the party.
Wrapping Mummy
This is one of the best things to do at Halloween party. Keep a mummy wrapping race, and divide your guests into two teams. Let one person in the team be the mummy. Whoever wraps the mummy first is the winner of the competition.
This wrapping race is fun with kids and even adults. Don’t forget to bring in a lot of toilet paper. As this game is all about wrapping the mummy.
Spooky Halloween Dinner
Get creative while preparing your Halloween dinner. While pumpkin pie, candy and caramel apples are the traditional food for Halloween parties. Keep up the traditional menu, and decorate it in a spooky way. Use eyeball toffees, spider and pumpkin shaped candies to give a Halloween look.
How to Choose the Right Festival
Not every Halloween event is the same. Here’s how to pick the right one for you:
- Family-Friendly: Choose community festivals like Irvington or Blowing Rock.
- Party-Goers: Escape Halloween or Mumbai arena shows are best.
- Horror Fans: Universal’s Horror Nights and HorrorCon India deliver top scares.
- Budget Travelers: Free or low-cost street fairs like Irvington or local city club events.
Tickets, Hotels & Budgeting
- When to book: Secure your tickets and hotels at least 6–8 weeks in advance for major festivals. Smaller city events can be booked closer to the date.
- Costs to expect:
- USA community festivals: Free to $50
- USA theme parks/EDM events: $100–$250
- India club/festival nights: ₹500–₹2,500
- Money-saving tips: Book early, go on weekdays, and look for group deals.
Costumes & Trends for 2025
Costumes are the heart of Halloween. In 2025, expect to see lots of Art the Clown and Five Nights at Freddy’s characters. Families can do group themes like superheroes, fairytale characters or matching spooky outfits. DIY costumes are fun and budget friendly.
Safety, Accessibility & Etiquette
- Wear comfy shoes and weather appropriate layers.
- Check age limits—many events are 18+ only.
- Stay hydrated and carry emergency contacts.
- Follow event rules especially in haunted houses and concerts.
Weather & What to Wear
- New England (USA): Cool nights—pack jackets and scarves.
- Southern California (USA): Mild nights—light jackets are enough.
- North India: Nice evenings—perfect for costumes but carry a shawl.
Food & Drinks
Halloween isn’t complete without treats! From pumpkin pies and candy apples in the US to fusion snacks at Indian events, there’s something for everyone. Many events also have veg, vegan and allergy friendly options.
Photography & Social Media Ideas
- Take photos of parades and costume contests during the day.
- Take spooky shots at night in haunted zones with creative lighting.
- Follow event rules and no flash in haunted houses.
2025 Halloween Calendar (Quick Reference)
- Oct 18–25: Irvington Festival, Indianapolis
- Oct 25: Blowing Rock Festival, NC + HorrorCon India (Delhi, Day 1)
- Oct 26: HorrorCon India (Delhi, Day 2)
- Oct 31 (Friday): Halloween Day + Mumbai arena shows
- Oct 31–Nov 1: Escape Halloween, SoCal
- Through Nov 2: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
Bottom Line
Adopt these Halloween celebration ideas and make your party worth remembering. We hope you decided on your costume already. So, what is your spooky outfit theme? And what items are you including in your Halloween menu?
Final Tips & Booking Checklist
- Book tickets and hotels by September.
- Plan your costume early.
- Choose between family-friendly or party-style events.
- Carry ID, cashless payments and a power bank.
🎃 Halloween 2025 is coming up fast. Start planning now and make this Halloween the best ever!
FAQs
Halloween is on Friday, October 31, 2025. Since it’s on a Friday, you can expect a whole weekend of parties, community events, haunted houses and travel-friendly celebrations from October 31 to November 2, 2025.
Top events include Salem Haunted Happenings, Historic Irvington Festival, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, Escape Halloween in California, and Blowing Rock Festival.
In India, major events are HorrorCon India in Delhi and big arena shows in Mumbai. Bengaluru, Pune and Goa will have Halloween parties and nightlife events.
Yes, some are. Irvington and Blowing Rock are family friendly. But EDM concerts and haunted houses are usually 18+ only.
Wear something fun and comfortable. Carry layers for cooler weather, comfortable shoes, ID and a power bank. A poncho is useful if the event has “wet” haunted houses.
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