4 ways to fill a Halloween night in Brussels

It is only over the last few years that Halloween has hit Brussels every October 31st. But just because Halloween has not long been a tradition in Brussels, does not mean that you need to retire your pitchfork or hang up your witch’s cap. For both kids and adults, there are a few great places to find your spooks.

As for where to find the perfect costume, try Palais des Cotillons and Picard in the centre or Maison Eldorado in Ixelles.

1. Halloween Festival – Musée D’Arts Fantastique

Sometimes a Halloween Friday is best eased into with something for ghosts and ghouls of all ages. For its 15th year, the Museum of Fantasy Art dedicates a full week to this spookiest of holidays.

Beginning Saturday, 25 October, the museum has a full line-up of terror-themed expositions and events for adults and children culminating in its haunting Halloween Festival on Halloween night, complete with fireworks and a Witches’ Walk through Saint Gilles.

If no spectre has yet captured your soul on Halloween, the next night, 1 November, from 5 to 10pm, the museum will also hold a Monsters Ball. But there is a trick with your treat: to know the location of the ball you have to show up to the festivities on Halloween.

Starts at 17:30
Maison Pelgrims
69 Rue de Parme
1060 Brussels

2. Brux’Hell – Centre Armillaire

On Halloween night, the Centre Armillaire in Jette invites you to join them in Brux’Hell, their funhouse of horrors for teenagers and adults. Kicking off the night with two concerts from Master Drummer and The Vice Barons, this is a classier option for those who like a little art with their terror.

Along with on-site face painting and the perennial costume competition, the event includes an exhibition entitled “Abnormal Activity Art”. And, in a pleasantly macabre touch, you can also visit the Miniature Museum of Serial Killers where you’ll find the masks, weapons and other instruments of torture of some of the cruel killers of our time.

For cinephiles, on Thursday, 23 October, the Centre will also hold a special Halloween showing of John Carpenter’s chilling 1982 film “The Thing”, a classic in the horror genre.

19:00, €12 entrance
Blvd. de Smet de Naeyer 145
1090 Jette

3. Halloween Follies – La Tentation

Something for grown ups, advertised on the party flyer as a “creepy burlesque party”, Halloween Follies aims to get you — mind, globlin and spirit — into a Halloween humour. 

DJs Thijs El Boucho and Dead Elvis will be providing the tunes as the dance floor is given over to a line-up of ladies that go bump in the night. Dance group The Retronettes will be there to show you the moves, followed by burlesque performers Wanda De Lullabies and Colette Collerette. But don’t worry, they will be expecting full audience participation.

Best dress up, as at the stroke of midnight the winner for best costume will be announced – plus you get five euros off the entry fee when you wear a costume!

Starts at 22:00, €13 presale / €15 on site / €20 without costume
Rue de Laeken 28
1000 Brussels

4. La Nuit des Mauvaises – Chez Maman

At Chez Maman, any given night can feel like a time warp to another dimension. On Halloween night, this tantalising transvestite cabaret in the city centre’s gay district will not be for the faint of heart. At this year’s Nuit des Mauvaises, taxidermy seems to be the theme, as Maman and her entourage have been playing at a most dangerous game and trophies of their human hunt will be displayed to the terror of all. It promises to be a night of horror, intrigue and, as always, plenty of camp.

For adults only.

Starts at 23:00
Rue des grands Carmes 7
1000 Brussels

Photo courtesy Chez Maman