{"id":25703,"date":"2018-10-09T22:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T22:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=25703"},"modified":"2021-10-28T17:12:56","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T17:12:56","slug":"best-halloween-parties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/best-halloween-parties\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Halloween parties in the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like trick-or-treat candy, Halloween parties come in many flavors. Get in the scary holiday spirit with frightening and fun activities as you celebrate October 31st in another state\u2014or on another continent. Escape a horrific Stranger Things<\/em>-themed maze at Universal Studios or creep among the white crypts in New Orleans. Whether your Halloween parties include Disney villains, Bavarian beers, or departed spirits, there are spine-chilling options for everyone in the family.<\/p>\n

Halloween Party Scare-o-Meter<\/h2>\n

\"Halloween\u00a0 Spooky fun for the whole family
\n\"Halloween\"Halloween\u00a0 Mild frights for adults and older kids
\n\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween\u00a0 A frightful outing for mature audiences
\n\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween\u00a0 Scary activities for those with nerves of steel<\/p>\n

Orlando Halloween Parties<\/h3>\n

Mickey\u2019s Not So Scary Halloween Party<\/h4>\n

\"Mickey's<\/p>\n

The only thing better than visiting the Magic Kingdom is attending Mickey\u2019s Not So Scary Halloween Party<\/a>, one of the most festive theme park Halloween parties. Stop at trick-or-treat stations, dance with your favorite characters at the Scream-o-Ween dance, and watch Disney World<\/a>‘s fireworks show. Maleficent, Oogie Boogie, and other evil characters will be on the loose at the Villain Spelltacular party. After dancing and partying, be sure to try the holiday treats like the Not-So-Poison-Apple Cupcake. And remember to wear a costume! (Tip: Be sure to check the dress code.) You can enjoy the slightly scarier Mickey\u2019s Halloween Party<\/a> at Disneyland<\/a>. Tokyo Disneyland<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Disneyland Paris<\/a> also celebrate Halloween in typical Disney fashion\u2014spectacularly.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:<\/strong> \"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Spooky<\/p>\n

Are slasher thrills your brand of Halloween-party fun? Then immerse yourself in a larger-than-life horror experience at Universal Studios in Orlando\u2019s<\/a> Halloween Horror Nights. Pit yourself against a series of believable fright-filled mazes and haunted houses complete with high-quality sets and \u201cscareactors\u201d based on shows and movies like Stranger Things<\/em> and Poltergeist. <\/em>Don\u2019t miss the scare zones or rides like Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. After you work up a frightful sweat, soothe your nerves with Stranger Things<\/em>-themed treats like 11 Mini Donuts, covered in red frosting inspired by Eleven and her telekinesis-caused nosebleeds. Then, enjoy a cyberpunk dance performance from Academy of Villains. Whether you\u2019re visiting Universal Studios Hollywood<\/a>, Singapore<\/a>, or Japan<\/a>, your nerves are sure to be slashed and your desire for fun satisfied.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter: \"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

London Halloween Parties<\/h3>\n

London Dungeon<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"London<\/p>\n

Surrender to England\u2019s bloodthirsty residents as you descend into the eerie dungeons of London to experience its grisly history<\/a>. Professional actors present skits with gory undertones and gallows humor about English events like the Gunpowder Plot. Brush elbows with Sweeney Todd, the legendary murderous barber of Fleet Street. Next, keep an eye out for Henry VIII and his executioner as you travel from dungeon to dungeon. Life in historic England isn\u2019t all fun and games, and before the tour ends, you\u2019ll be charged with a crime, convicted, and sentenced to death. The method of execution? The Drop Ride to Doom, 1 of London Dungeon\u2019s 2 thrill rides.<\/p>\n

Polish off your ghastly time in historic England with a drink at the Dungeon Tavern, where it\u2019s always 1896 and the locals see Jack the Ripper as a real threat. If you want to check out other spooky things to do in London<\/a>, take a tour devoted to the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Harry Potter Tour for Muggles<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Harry<\/p>\n

Put on your glasses and experience London through the eyes of Harry Potter with this family-friendly tour for Muggles<\/a>. Your expert guide explains both the Muggle and magical significance of places like Muggle London\u2019s Clink Prison, the location of Azkaban, and Borough Market, the entrance to the magical Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley. You\u2019ll also enjoy the non-magical but still enchanting London icons like Big Ben and St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral. As your guide dives into Potter lore and asks you trivia questions, you might find the boundary between the magical and non-magical worlds blurring. After you land safely back in the Muggle world, you can find your next magic fix at any of Universal\u2019s Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks. Mischief managed!<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Mexico City Fright Night\/Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Day of the Dead <\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"DayIf you’re looking for a more unique Halloween party,\u00a0participate in Dia de los Muertos<\/em><\/a>. This\u00a0spooky holiday mixes indigenous and Spanish traditions and celebrates the memories and spirits of the dead. Head from your Mexico City hotel<\/a> to Mixquic, a town whose vivid Day of the Dead celebrations were popularized in Pixar\u2019s animated film Coco. <\/em>You\u2019ll listen to the mariachi musicians, enjoy the cardboard-skull-decorating contest, and browse local stalls for traditional food and crafts. Be sure to try the pan de muerto<\/em>, bread of the dead. When night falls, watch locals with white painted-on skeleton masks process to the cemetery to present their ofertas<\/em>, offerings. Afterward, walk among the colorful altars piled with bright orange marigolds, luminous candles, and beloved photographs. To top it off, take home a complimentary chocolate skull and an entirely different view of the dead.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Haunted Halloween in Salem\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ghost Walking Tour<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Witches<\/p>\n

Revel in the supernatural in Salem, Massachusetts, site of the Salem Witch Trials and one of America\u2019s most haunted towns<\/a>. Let your expert guide captivate you with the frightening true tale of Salem\u2019s 1692 witch hunt that led to the execution of 20 people. You\u2019ll also visit Salem\u2019s Old Town Hall and the Joshua Ward House, where historic Salemites lived and died, and where their ghosts now reportedly roam.\u00a0Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for some paranormal sightings. If your trip to Salem stirs up your curiosity, visit Boston\u2019s creepy selection of ghosts and gravestones<\/a>. This historic city is the final resting place of Cotton Mather, architect of the Salem Witch Trials.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Ghostly\u00a0<\/strong>New Orleans Halloween Parties<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cemetery & Voodoo Walking Tour<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Halloween<\/p>\n

Explore New Orleans\u2019 iconic St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, accessible only with a guide, and its white marble vaults and massive mausoleums<\/a>. Learn about the Creole influences like voodoo that shaped the city and its cemeteries and marvel at the intricate above-ground tombs. These famous Gothic crypts have inspired supernatural fiction like Charlaine Harris\u2019s True Blood <\/em>and Neil Gaiman\u2019s The Graveyard Book<\/em>. You\u2019ll pay your respects to some of New Orleans\u2019 most notable residents, including the legendary voodoo queen, Marie Laveau. At the end of your tour, take home a gris-gris<\/em>, a protective voodoo charm, and then head to one of New Orleans\u2019 top-notch restaurants<\/a> for some authentic Creole fare.<\/p>\n

If you prefer your ghosts to be of the Southern variety, check out a Savannah ghost tour<\/a>. There are plenty of great Halloween party destinations throughout the United States<\/a>, so you can find something spooky to do no matter where you go.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Halloween Mayhem in Munich<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Oktoberfest Party<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Oktoberfest<\/p>\n

Trade in fears for beers this fall and partake in an authentic European party at Munich\u2019s Oktoberfest<\/a>, king of all Oktoberfests<\/a>. Wear a traditional drindl <\/em>or lederhosen<\/em>, feast on giant salted pretzels and potato dumplings, and drink your fill of German beer. Thanks to beer purity laws dating to the 1500s, German beer has a distinct taste. (Bonus: Oktoberfest beer is 2 percent stronger than normal.) Book your tickets early to save your spot in one of the few dozen beer tents. Here, you can mingle with other excited party-goers and indulge in live brass or folk music. After 8 PM, electric and pop music prevails. Can\u2019t make it to Munich this year? That\u2019s okay, try the Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter: Beer<\/h5>\n

Halloween with Dracula in Transylvania<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Vampire Tour <\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Halloween<\/p>\n

Sink your teeth into vampire lore with this full-day tour of Romania\u2019s Transylvania<\/a>, complete with a stop at Bran\u2019s Castle, popularly associated with Bram Stoker\u2019s Dracula. <\/em>History paints its one-time resident, Vlad the Impaler of the the Draculesti House, as a cruel, genocidal villain. While the fictional Dracula <\/em>drew more on Romanian vampire lore than Vlad\u2019s actual history, the legend has overtaken the truth somewhat. Your guide separates fact from fiction as he describes Vlad\u2019s creative cruelty and his place in Romanian history and Transylvanian vampire lore. As you explore the castle\u2019s narrow passageways, it\u2019s easy to imagine the terror of captivity at the hands of Vlad, vampire or not.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\u00a0\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Rome: Empire of the Dead<\/h3>\n

A Scare of Skeletons in the\u00a0<\/strong>Roman Catacombs<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Halloween<\/p>\n

Prepare to plunge into the Roman Catacombs, an underground network of tunnels and cemeteries<\/a>. You\u2019ll come face to face with hordes of skeletons in a way that most haunted houses only pretend to. As you pass through the catacombs and 2,000 years of history, you\u2019ll encounter early Jewish and Christian frescoes and crypts. Along the way, learn how the catacombs came to be filled with 4 million dead Romans. Then, continue to the Capuchin Crypt, the result of a shortage of burial space in the 1600s. Bones of long-dead Capuchin monks were exhumed and arranged in decorative patterns on the walls and ceilings of several chapels. Designed as reminders of life\u2019s brevity, the Crypt of Skulls and Crypt of Skeletons create a breathtaking and macabre effect.<\/p>\n

Scare-o-Meter:\u00a0\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween\"Halloween<\/h5>\n

Tips and Tricks for Halloween Parties<\/h3>\n

\"Spook<\/p>\n