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Halloween’s about to get a major upgrade, because The Rocks is transforming into the ultimate haunted playground for the Ghost Festival.
Over four wild nights of absolute carnage, from 31 October to 3 November, the historic area will be packed with spine-tingling experiences that will give you all the thrills.
Here’s everything you need to know about the festival that’s turning The Rocks into the Halloween spot.
Forget your average Halloween house party, because The Rocks is opening up an actual haunted heritage house — yeah, like legit haunted.
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Over three exclusive nights, it’s being transformed into the House of Horror, where you’ll move through four themed rooms — the Slaughter House, an Abandoned Hospital, a Ghost Room and the Vampire Den.
Each room will have its own music to match the vibe, with techno, tech house and RnB/pop making sure the energy stays high.
Plus, there’ll be a fortune teller on hand to reveal your spooky fate — and your drinks? Head to the Rescue Bar to get your drinks in blood bags and syringes!
It’s gruesome, it’s epic, and it’s the perfect spot to kick off your weekend of terror.
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Ever wanted to rave with a thousand zombies under the stars? Now’s your chance!
POLIAKOV VODKA is bringing the heat (or rather, the chill) with a Zombie Silent DJ Party right on Circular Quay, with views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House as your backdrop.
Expect fog machines, eerie lighting, tunes blasting from DJ Teddy Cream and the undead going off. It’s the zombie apocalypse you never knew you wanted.
Oh, and did we mention there’s a 5-metre zombie DJ booth? Yeah, it’s going to be huge. If you’re feeling brave, you can even take on the ice bath challenge and enjoy some POLIAKOV VODKA to cool your nerves before joining the dance floor.
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For those of you who fancy yourself as a bit of a detective, you have to check out the Murder Mystery Party.
Set in a secret bar somewhere in The Rocks, this immersive experience will have you solving a spooky murder while actors play out the stories of The Rocks’ real-life haunted past.
Your mission? Survive the night and communicate with the spirits to figure out who’s behind the grisly crime.
Expect cocktails, mind games — and plenty of jump scares along the way.
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And if you're thinking that’s it, think again. The Ghost Festival is packed with even more thrills.
You can wander through the Two-Faced Market by day for cute Halloween merch and street food, but come nightfall, it flips into a spine-chilling maze of haunted history and creepy surprises.
Then there’s the Ghost Parade, where you can strut your stuff in costume alongside Sydney’s spookiest creatures — just make sure you’re dressed to impress, because only the ghouls in full gear get to carry the Ghost Flag.
Hungry? Hit up the Haunted Woods at First Fleet Park for devilishly good eats and cocktails in blood bags, all while eerie music and performers keep the vibes going.
Oh, and if you’re ready to take your costume from basic to full nightmare, pop into the Transformation Zone for a professional Halloween makeover that’ll have you turning heads all night long.
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Sydney’s Ghost Festival, running from 31 October to 3 November is officially making The Rocks the place to be this Halloween — and it’s completely free to attend!
If you want to upgrade your Halloween experience with some of the ticketed events, though (looking at you, Zombie DJ), you’ll want to snap up your tickets ASAP.
Early bird tickets are already on sale, starting at just $49.
Whether you’re into ghost stories, killer parties, or just want to dress up and live your best spooky life, this is the event you need in your calendar.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Grab your mates, pick out your costume and get ready to haunt The Rocks like never before.
Hameda Nafiz