Cape Town Halloween weekend: five events, dates and prices
With Halloween on Saturday, Cape Town has a zombie walk, two club nights and two film events on offer, as listed by IOL.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so Cape Town has a full weekend of themed events. IOL has rounded up five options, ranging from a costumed street procession to late-night parties and film screenings.
Street and nightlife events
Cape Town Zombie Walk. The annual walk returns on Saturday, 31 October, from 5 pm to 6 pm at 109 Government Avenue in the city centre. People of all ages can take part or simply watch. The walk backs the Lucky Lucy Foundation, an organisation that helps animals that have been abused or neglected.
Prime Presents Halloween. This party is at Club Paradise, 9 Albertus Street, District Six, on Friday, 30 October, from 8 pm to 2 am. The music mixes hip-hop, R&B, house and gqom, and guests are encouraged to dress up as pop-culture characters or in styles from music videos and fashion eras. Tickets start at R100.
The Horror Story Picture Show. Several nightlife venues join forces on Saturday, 31 October, from 8 pm to 4 am. The venues are Harringtons, District and Surfa Rosa in District Six. There are two dancefloors playing house, electronic, pop and throwback tracks, with DJs Housewife, Kong, Wata Mami and Tanner Mason. The night also features drag, pole and aerial acts, surprise collaborations, photo booths, prizes and a costume runway called The Looks Runway. Surfa Rosa runs its own music programme, so check what each ticket covers. Prices vary.
Film options
South African HORRORFEST. The 22nd edition runs at the Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, from Thursday, 29 October, to Sunday, 8 November. It offers international horror features, shorts and special screenings, mixing recent titles with classics.
On Halloween night, the festival screens the silent film "Faust", made in 1926 by F.W. Murnau, to mark its 100th anniversary. The Makabra Ensemble will perform an original soundtrack live. Other highlights include a participatory screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Friday, 30 October, and a 16mm showing of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939) on Sunday, 8 November. Selected screenings cost from R80, and the live-soundtrack "Faust" from R125. Each screening has its own age restriction, so check before booking.
Galileo Open Air Cinema. At Kirstenbosch Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, the outdoor cinema shows Halloween films on Friday, 30 October, and Saturday, 31 October. Doors open at 5 pm and films start from 7.30 pm. Families can watch Disney Pixar’s "Coco", while adults can choose "Weapons", a supernatural mystery about children vanishing from one class. "Weapons" is for viewers 18 and over.
Tickets cover entry, popcorn, a backrest and a blanket, and guests are encouraged to dress up. Bookings are through Webtickets, at from R175 for children aged 4 to 17 and from R250 for "Weapons".
What to keep in mind
- Check age limits, especially for film screenings.
- Confirm which venues and sessions your ticket gives access to.
- Budgets start at R80 for selected HORRORFEST screenings and R100 for the Club Paradise party.
This story is based on reporting by IOL.
