Guide to Halloween in Zagreb
You find yourself in Croatia in late October, but it doesn’t really feel like Halloween? Don’t worry, there are some genuine experiences that will get you into Halloween mode.
ABRAKADABRA ZOO
Kids first… no tricks’r treat in Zagreb (we do have a similar custom in February, though), but when it comes to fun for kids, nothing beats Abrakadabra Zoo! It’s such an unexpected experience: you get to visit the city zoo after dark, meet twisted mythical characters and join an educational adventure inspired by folk lore. No lights there at night, only animal sounds.
ENTER THE DARKEST NIGHTMARE IN LEGAME
Watching a horror movie or two is a must in October. How about being inside one? Problem solved – just turn to the virtual reality experts at Legame studio, and opt for a horror trip. Doesn’t get any better.. I mean worse than that. So scary…
ANYONE UP FOR SOME TORTURE?
This is the time of the year when dark history is being recalled. Zagreb has a sad and shameful history of witchtrials and witchhunts. Witchtrials meant torture, and the best way to understand how and why it all happened, is to visit Tortureum, the museum of torture. It’s not just about local history, but you can get a glimpse of how it feels to wait for your torturer.
GET LOCKED INSIDE A ZOMBIE LAB
Roomescape Zagreb team launched a chilling game called Zombie Lab. Gather your friends and try to save the world from the zombie apocalypse if you can. Exciting, intense, awesome!
JOIN THE SECRET ZAGREB TOUR
Third year in a row, Secret Zagreb organises a special event called 13 Days of Halloween. 13 evenings in a row, we take locals and travellers to our special edition of the ghost tour and try to prove that Zagreb has all the right ingredients for a perfect Halloween… it has many layers of history and loads of dark tales.
HAUNTINGLY GOOD HALLOWEEN PARTY
As for the very All Hallow’s Eve, many bars and clubs light some pumpkins, and put up announcements of Halloween-themed parties with their posters showing a bunch of half-naked girls in cat costumes. In other words, there’s plenty of choice if you’re not really into Halloween, but need an excuse to go out and party. If you want the genuine experience, go to places with the longest tradition of Halloween celebrations. You can’t go wrong if you start your eve in Tolkien’s House. Afterwards, move to Jabuka, the oldest nightclub in Zagreb. That’s where I went to my first Halloween party ever, and it’s still my favorite choice.
And then, as Halloween turns into All Saints’ Day, notice the real magic. Even if there were parties, and a bunch of Jack’O’Lanterns all over the town, they’re going to vanish as if they never existed. All Saints’ Day, November 1, is a national holiday when people visit the graves of their departed ones. Croatia enjoys the fun side of Halloween, but it is still considered a bit offensive to leave all those pagan decorations around on the following day so it will be pretty hard to spot them the morning after.
