Spooky highlights: Halloween events in NRW for young and old!

Spooky highlights: Halloween events in NRW for young and old!

The scariest time of the year is just around the corner! In North Rhine-Westphalia, including Cologne, there are numerous events that have a rich program on the Halloween weekend, especially on October 31, 2025. Whether for families, young people or adults, there is something for every taste to properly celebrate the spooky festival.

The events in amusement parks are particularly popular. This is how it transforms Movie Park Germany in Bottrop into a truly spooky experience. The Halloween Horror Festival has existed since 1998 and from September 28th to November 9th not only offers exciting attractions such as horror mazes and live DJs, but also child-friendly offers in nickelodeon LAND. Here the little ones can have fun carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating.

Creepy offers in the region

Another highlight is the Zoom world of experience in Gelsenkirchen, which opens its doors on October 31st and November 1st from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Here guests can expect spooky decorations, horror walking acts and fire shows. Admission costs 18.90 euros for adults, children between 4 and 12 years pay 13.90 euros.

There will be a Halloween party at the Graefenthal Monastery in Goch on October 31st with various styles of music and a shuttle bus service. For 24.90 euros, night owls can enjoy the spooky festival until the early hours of the morning. The Vitusbad in Mönchengladbach has also prepared a special event: On Halloween evening, the water is dyed blood red - for 7.50 euros, visitors can immerse themselves in costumes.

Parties and celebrations in Cologne

Cologne itself also has numerous celebrations in store. From parties in clubs to themed evenings, different genres of music are covered. Some of the events start at 10 p.m. and are aimed at a younger audience who want to dance the night away in the footsteps of horror. Prices vary depending on the venue. This was particularly noticeableBochum event in the mine, which promises a scary evening from 10 p.m. for 7 euros.

Child-friendly events are also on offer: numerous theme parks and attractions have organized special events throughout October that not only take place on Halloween evening, but also involve the whole family. However, the Cologne Zoo has not yet released any information about a Halloween event that would take place this year.

Background and origins of Halloween

But what is actually behind Halloween? The name comes from “Allhalloween,” the evening before All Saints Day (November 1st), and has its roots in Celtic harvest festivals, particularly Samhain. On this day, the ancient Druids believed that the souls of the deceased could interact with the living. These beliefs have given rise to numerous traditions over the years that we now associate with Halloween.

However, whether the celebration can be considered unbiblical or unclean is a matter of debate. The Bible itself does not offer any specific references to Halloween, but rather warns against practices such as witchcraft and fortune telling. Ultimately, it is up to people how they deal with the themes of Halloween and what they derive from the customs for themselves.

Overall, one thing is clear: Halloween in Cologne and all of North Rhine-Westphalia offers the opportunity to celebrate in a variety of ways and to dress up in scary costumes. Whether pumpkin carving, scary mazes or spooky parties - the horror festival invites you to an unforgettable time!