Halloween 2025 in Manila: Haunted Houses, Parties & Family Fun

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Halloween has exploded into one of Metro Manila's most celebrated occasions, with the city transforming into a playground of costumes, scares, and celebrations throughout October. From world-class haunted attractions that rival international standards to family-friendly daytime events where kids can trick-or-treat safely, Manila offers Halloween experiences for every age and scare tolerance. Whether you're seeking spine-chilling thrills, epic costume parties, or wholesome family fun, this guide covers the best ways to celebrate Halloween 2025 in the capital.

Costumed revelers celebrating Halloween in Manila with dramatic lighting and decorations

Haunted Attractions

Hollywood-quality scares at Nightmares Manila, Filipino folklore horrors at Star City, and professional makeup with live actors for genuine frights

Adult Parties

Epic costume celebrations from Poblacion's organic street party to &Friends' world-class DJ event at Okada Manila with VIP haunted experiences

Family Events

Safe trick-or-treating at malls, kid-friendly daytime events, theme parks with Halloween programming, and magic-themed celebrations for all ages

Haunted Attractions for Thrill Seekers

Manila's haunted attraction scene has matured dramatically in recent years, with professional productions offering Hollywood-quality scares that rival international haunted houses. These aren't your childhood Halloween decorations--expect live actors, elaborate sets, psychological horror, and genuine fright.

Nightmares Manila

Nightmares Manila has established itself as the Philippines' premier haunted attraction, operating year-round from its 5,000 square meter facility in Parañaque. The attraction features three distinct haunted houses, each with its own theme and scare style. The House of Darkness plunges visitors into pitch-black corridors where your imagination becomes your worst enemy. Freakshow combines circus horror with an obstacle course element, creating physical and psychological challenges. The Haunted Schoolhouse delivers Japanese-style horror with long-haired ghosts and eerie school settings that tap into Asian horror cinema's most effective tropes. Beyond the haunted houses, Nightmares Manila offers zombie paintball where you shoot at actors dressed as zombies, escape rooms with horror themes, and a horror-themed café. The production values are exceptional--Hollywood-quality special effects, professional makeup, and actors trained in scare techniques create an immersive experience. Located at Dr. A. Santos Avenue corner Rainbow Drive, Goodwill 2 Subdivision, Parañaque. Tickets start at ₱499 via Klook, with combo packages available. Operating hours extend through Halloween season. Not recommended for young children or those with heart conditions. Expect genuine scares--actors can touch you, jump out unexpectedly, and follow you through dark corridors. The experience typically lasts 45-60 minutes per attraction.

Intense Experience Warning

Nightmares Manila is designed for adults with high scare tolerance. Not recommended for young children, people with heart conditions, or anyone uncomfortable with physical contact from actors. Actors can touch you, jump out from darkness, and follow you through corridors. The experience is genuinely frightening.

Star City Gabi ng Lagim

For a more Filipino take on haunted attractions, Star City's Gabi ng Lagim brings Philippine mythology and urban legends to life. Instead of Western horror tropes, expect encounters with aswang, tikbalang, white lady, and other creatures from Filipino folklore. The attraction takes a campier, more theatrical approach compared to Nightmares Manila's intense scares, making it accessible for teens and adults who want scares without overwhelming terror. The familiar amusement park setting provides comfort between scary moments. Located at CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay. Check Star City's website for Halloween season hours and ticket prices. Can be combined with the park's other attractions for a full day visit.

Halloween Parties for Adults

Manila's nightlife scene goes all-out for Halloween, with clubs, bars, and venues hosting elaborate costume parties throughout October. The peak celebration happens October 30-31, when the entire city seems to don costumes and hit the streets.

Poblacion's Halloween Street Party

Every Halloween, Poblacion in Makati transforms into Manila's unofficial Halloween capital. The neighborhood's narrow streets fill with costumed revelers bar-hopping between the area's 50+ establishments. While not an organized event, the organic street party that emerges has become a Halloween tradition. Expect creative costumes ranging from elaborate movie characters to clever pop culture references, outdoor drinking as crowds spill from packed bars, and a festival atmosphere with street performers and impromptu dancing. The beauty of Poblacion's Halloween is its spontaneity--no tickets required, you can drift between venues, and the experience is what you make of it. Arrive after 9:00 PM when the party reaches full swing. Popular bars include Z Hostel's rooftop, Polilya, El Chupacabra, and dozens more. Dress code: costume required--this is the one night where you'll feel underdressed in regular clothes. Safety note: keep valuables secure in the crowds, stay with your group, and arrange transportation home in advance.

&Friends Halloween at Okada Manila

For a more upscale Halloween experience, &Friends brings world-class DJs to The Cove at Okada Manila on October 31. The 2025 edition features headliner Knock2, plus Dabin, Beauz, Sabai, and over 50 of the world's best electronic music artists across multiple stages. Beyond music, the event offers a VIP-exclusive Haunted House Challenge, trick-or-treat stations with premium candy and chocolate fountains, themed photo booths, and makeover stations for last-minute costume adjustments. The production values are exceptional--expect elaborate stage design, professional lighting, and sound systems that rival international music festivals. The Cove's beachfront location provides a unique setting for the celebration. Tickets are premium-priced but deliver a premium experience. Dress code: creative costumes encouraged but not required; club attire acceptable. Located at Okada Manila, Entertainment City, Parañaque. Purchase tickets in advance as the event typically sells out.

Specialty Halloween Parties

Beyond the major events, numerous themed parties cater to specific communities and interests. HALLOQUEEN at Kondwi Poblacion (October 24) is a sapphic Halloween party presented by For the Love of Women PH, creating safe space for the LGBTQ+ community with DJs and costume competitions. CHURCHLOVESU's UNDERWORLD at Nokal Manila (October 25) brings Vietnamese DJ Goi Cuon and other international acts for a danceathon-style celebration. Phantasm Festivale at Almacen in Poblacion (October 31) offers a Coachella-themed house party with different vibes in each room, from electronic music to hip-hop. The Fright Night Club at Solaire Grand Ballroom (October 31) provides a more refined Halloween celebration with craft cocktails and resident DJs. Check social media and event listing sites like AllEvents.in for the full roster of Halloween parties, as new events are announced throughout October.

Family-Friendly Halloween Events

Parents needn't navigate adult Halloween parties to give kids a memorable celebration. Metro Manila offers numerous daytime, family-oriented Halloween events designed specifically for children, with safe trick-or-treating, costume contests, and age-appropriate entertainment.

PLAY Halloween Takeover at Okada Manila

Okada Manila's Cove Beach Club hosts a daytime Halloween party designed for families, separate from the nighttime adult celebration. Kids enjoy trick-or-treat adventures with safe, supervised candy stations, themed games and activities appropriate for various ages, arts and crafts stations where children can create Halloween decorations, and eerie entertainment that's spooky-fun rather than frightening. The beach club setting provides plenty of space for kids to run around, and the daytime timing means families can enjoy the event and be home before dark. Costumes are encouraged and there's usually a kids' costume contest with prizes. Tickets cost ₱2,388 net per child, which includes activities and meals. Advance booking recommended as the event has limited capacity. Located at Okada Manila, Entertainment City, Parañaque.

HallowVerse: The Grand Halloween Funday

HallowVerse at World Trade Center in Pasay offers an affordable, accessible Halloween celebration for families. The event features live shows with performers in costume, McDonald's Chicken McDo meals included in admission, games and activities supervised by staff, and two show times (10:00 AM and 3:00 PM) to accommodate different schedules. The partnership with McDonald's means kids enjoy familiar, kid-friendly food as part of the experience. The World Trade Center's spacious, indoor venue provides air-conditioned comfort regardless of weather. Check official announcements for exact dates, ticket prices, and booking information. The accessible location near Manila Bay makes it easy to combine with other family activities in the area.

Wizards Camp at Diamond Hotel

For families who prefer a more intimate setting, Diamond Hotel's Wizards Camp offers a magic-themed Halloween celebration. Children participate in magic-filled activities and games, enjoy a proper sit-down lunch, watch live entertainment from professional performers, and receive prizes for participation and costume contests. The hotel setting provides upscale amenities including clean facilities and attentive staff. The magic theme appeals to kids who might find traditional Halloween scary imagery overwhelming, offering fantasy adventure instead of horror. Limited capacity ensures a more personal experience compared to larger events. Check Diamond Hotel's website or social media for exact dates, pricing, and reservation details.

J Castles Theme Park Halloween (Batangas)

While technically outside Metro Manila, J Castles Theme Park in Batangas (about 2 hours from Manila) offers an excellent Halloween day trip for families. The castle-themed park adds Halloween decorations and activities to its regular attractions. Kids enjoy trick-or-treat stations throughout the park, a grand costume parade with J & Friends characters, face painting and Halloween makeup, fun games with exciting prizes, and access to the park's regular attractions including rides and play areas. Tickets cost ₱1,099 per person currently. The drive to Batangas makes this a full-day adventure, best suited for families with cars or willing to hire a van. The combination of Halloween activities with a full theme park makes it worth the journey for families seeking maximum entertainment value.

Mall Halloween Events

Shopping malls throughout Metro Manila host Halloween events, offering convenient, air-conditioned celebration options. Major malls including SM Mall of Asia, Ayala Malls, and Robinsons typically organize trick-or-treat activities where kids visit participating stores to collect candy, costume contests with prizes for best-dressed kids in various age categories, Halloween-themed decorations and photo opportunities, and special promotions from retailers. These mall events are generally free or require minimal registration fees. They're perfect for families with young children who want a safe, controlled environment for Halloween fun. Check individual mall websites and social media pages for specific dates and registration requirements. Mall events usually happen on weekends leading up to Halloween and on October 31 itself.

Escape Rooms with Halloween Themes

For groups seeking interactive thrills, Manila's escape rooms offer year-round horror experiences that intensify for Halloween. Mystery Manila features permanently scary rooms including The Sinister Sensorium, Debby's Doll, and Witch of the Woods, each designed to unsettle players while challenging puzzle-solving skills. Breakout Philippines offers horror-themed rooms like exploring the Paris Catacombs' underground ossuaries and solving mysteries alongside the Corpse Bride. These experiences combine horror atmosphere with intellectual challenge, making them perfect for adults who want Halloween thrills that engage their minds as well as their fear response. Rooms accommodate groups of 4-8 players typically, with 60-minute time limits. Book in advance, especially for Halloween weekend. Located at various malls throughout Metro Manila.

Theme Parks with Halloween Attractions

Enchanted Kingdom Alcatraz (Laguna)

Enchanted Kingdom in Santa Rosa, Laguna adds Halloween programming to its regular attractions each October. Alcatraz, the park's house of horrors, intensifies its scares for Halloween season. The walkthrough experience recreates the infamous maximum security prison with supernatural elements and jump scares. Alcatraz is an add-on attraction requiring an extra ₱270 beyond regular park admission. The advantage of combining Enchanted Kingdom with Halloween is you get a full day of rides and attractions plus haunted house thrills. Located about 1.5 hours from Manila via SLEX. Best visited on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds. Check the park's website for Halloween season hours and special programming.

Tips for Halloween in Manila

Manila's Halloween celebrations take costumes seriously. For adult parties, expect elaborate, creative costumes--showing up in regular clothes will make you the odd one out. Popular costume shops include Divisoria for budget options, online retailers like Shopee and Lazada for convenient delivery, and specialty costume rental shops for high-quality character outfits. Manila's heat and humidity mean choose breathable fabrics, avoid heavy makeup that will melt, and consider that you'll likely be in costume for 4-6 hours. Test costume mobility--can you dance, sit, and use the bathroom comfortably? Bring touch-up makeup for repairs as the night progresses.
Halloween celebrations in Manila cluster around October 24-31, with October 31 being the biggest night. Book haunted attractions and ticketed events in advance as popular time slots sell out. For family events, morning and early afternoon slots are less crowded than late afternoon. For adult parties, arrive after 9:00 PM when venues reach critical mass--too early means empty venues, too late means lines and crowds. Arrange transportation home before you go out. Ride-sharing surge pricing will be significant on Halloween night, and designated drivers are worth their weight in gold.
Halloween's crowded venues and costume anonymity require extra awareness. Stay with your group and designate a meeting point if separated. Keep valuables secure--pickpockets target crowded Halloween events. Pace your alcohol consumption, especially in Manila's heat. Watch your drinks and never leave them unattended. For families, put contact information on young children in case of separation. Agree on a home time and stick to it. Trust your instincts--if something feels wrong, leave.

Pro Tip: Plan Ahead

Book tickets for haunted attractions and major events at least 2-3 weeks in advance. Popular time slots and VIP packages sell out quickly. For costumes, shopping the week before Halloween means limited selection and inflated prices. Start costume planning in mid-October for best results.

Why Manila's Halloween Scene Stands Out

Manila has embraced Halloween with characteristic Filipino enthusiasm, transforming an imported tradition into something uniquely local. The blend of Western horror conventions with Filipino folklore creates distinctive experiences. The city's embrace of costume culture means Halloween isn't a niche celebration--it's a city-wide event where creativity and participation are expected. The range of options, from family-friendly daytime events to intense haunted attractions to epic nighttime parties, ensures everyone can celebrate at their comfort level. Unlike some Southeast Asian cities where Halloween remains a minor observance, Manila treats it as a major occasion worthy of serious planning and production values. Whether you're seeking authentic scares, all-night dancing, or safe spaces for kids to trick-or-treat, Manila delivers Halloween experiences that rival celebrations anywhere in the world. Start planning now--the best events require advance booking, and costume preparation takes longer than you think.