From a witches’ fairs in Bucharest to tales echoing through the cobblestone alleys of Sighişoara Citadel, the country has a mix of myth, magic, and Halloween excitement for all ages.
In Bucharest:
West Side Hallo Fest
October 30 – November 1
Held at the recently revamped Lacul Morii, the fourth edition of the event will explore the universe of Romanian legends, in a setting where “scenery inspired by nature, fantastic characters, music and interactive activities meet with education, art, science and community spirit.” The public can expect to find here spectacular decorations, concerts, experiences for children and adults, music, gastronomy and moments meant to transform every evening into a true Halloween adventure. The program also covers activities and initiatives in the field of science, technology and education, alongside culture, music, theater, dance and performances, as the Bucharest Metropolitan Library, Cantus Mundi, the Bucharest Metropolitan Circus, Step Up Dance and the Grigore Moisil National College, through the theater component, join this year’s edition. Gabriel Dinu, the artist who creates works of art from scrap metal, and Kids Hub Drumul Taberei will also be present. Meanwhile, the Metropolis Foundation, through the project “Public Hospitals from Private Money”, will be present at the festival to promote efforts to improve Romania’s public medical infrastructure. Access is free on October 30. More details here.
Halloween Movie Marathon 2026
October 30 to October 31
Movieplex Cinema at Plaza Romania hosts this marathon of thriller and horror films, which this year include Beware Boiúna, Clayface, Other Mommy and Resident Evil. The films are screened with 15-minute breaks between them. The program is listed here.
The Witches’ Fair
Until November 1
The garden of the Children’s Opera turns into a space where fantasy and reality blend and children can interact with witches, pirates, goblins and magicians, and take part in various creative workshops, such as painting on alternative media, pumpkin carving and 3D printing. The attractions in the courtyard are organized into several thematic areas. The Witches’ House hosts the training of apprentices, while magic formulas and wand positions are learned at the School of Spells. In the Flying Broomstick Academy, children can customize their own broom and try it out at the flight school, and in the Potions Lab, they mix, pour, and watch the potion change color. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Lab presents the Forbidden Experiment, five minutes of chemistry that looks like magic. The Hat Workshop and the Pumpkin Land, with pumpkin decorating and carving, complete the creative trail. The Enchanted Mirror Room, the Forest of Fantastic Creatures, the Hallo Sounds Laboratory, where children create sound effects at the laboratory consoles, and the House of Discovery, with tactile games, the Smell Museum and the Planetarium, propose search and exploration missions. The Witches’ Square features a Magic Wheel, a carousel, a train, an airplane, a flight simulator, inflatables, go-kart races and the Adventure Park – a zipline, and trails of varying difficulty and climbing. The Baby Village is designed for the youngest learners, and parents can sit quietly next to them. The festival also runs a program of workshops on architecture, modeling and 3D printing, engineering, financial education, astronomy, paleontology, robotics, gardening and the creation of accessories. More details here.
Día de Muertos @ the Peasant Museum
October 30
The altar dedicated to the Día de Muertos will be inaugurated at the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, in an event organized by the Embassy of Mexico. The event will feature Mexican musicians Fernando Alephsus and Arwen Valdés, who will perform songs dedicated to this tradition. The event includes the exhibition Catrinas, Mexican Memories, showcasing works by Mexican artists Julio César Rivera and Raúl Balkazar. The altar and exhibition can be visited free of charge from October 30 to November 8. More here.
Día de Muertos exhibition @ Metropolitan Library
Until November 21
The Ion Creangă Branch of the Bucharest Metropolitan Library and the Embassy of Mexico in Romania host this exhibition of photography and an altar dedicated to the Día de Muertos. Guided tours and presentations exploring the symbols, meanings, and diversity of the elements associated with this celebration will be held during this period. The Día de Muertos celebration has been included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008. It is one of Mexico’s most distinctive cultural expressions and a living testament to how its communities understand and pass on the relationship between life, death, and remembrance. Further details here.
In the country:
Halloween in Sighișoara Citadel
October 30 – November 1
The Clock Tower comes to life, a giant moon opens a portal to the fantastic world, and the medieval streets transform into a universe of legends and mysterious characters as Sighișoara hosts the second edition of the Halloween in the Citadel festival. For three days, the burg’s medieval architecture becomes the setting for an experience where multimedia installations, spectacular projections, fantastic characters, gastronomy and music transform every corner of the citadel into a gateway to the imaginary. One of the festival’s main attractions is The Awakening, a videomapping moment that transforms the Clock Tower into a character from a fantasy story. The Tunnel of Spirits, on the covered staircase, will see the play of light and shadow transform the passage into a journey into the fantastic, alongside the Pumpkin Road, an enchanted route outlined by hundreds of carved and illuminated pumpkins, from the gates of the fortress to its heart. Those interested in the history of the place can take part in guided tours to discover the stories, architecture and secrets of the fortress. Children will be able to participate in games, activities, and various other challenges, as the program includes treasure hunts as well as the interactive skit “The Witch Trial.” On Saturday, the Halloween Costume Parade invites participants to enter the story with their own costumes. At night, the citadel transforms into a party space, where music, lights, and medieval decorations create a special atmosphere. The line-up brings together DJs with different styles, from house and techno to retro sets. The full festival program is available here.
Halloween @ DinoParc
Until November 1
The dinosaurs in the park will get a new look, while the site is filled with illuminated pumpkins, amid fog-enveloped alleys and fairy-tale decorations, providing surprises at every turn. Children can try the pumpkin decorating workshop and go home with their own autumn masterpiece, or take part in the Dino Hunt, a thematic adventure where they follow clues hidden among the dinosaurs, solve riddles and discover the secrets of the prehistoric world. When the night falls, visitors can try a guided walk among the prehistoric giants illuminated for the occasion. The pumpkin decorating workshop, Dino Hunt, and themed tattoos are free activities. More details here.
Halloween @ Bran Castle
October 30, November 1
The legends of Transylvania come to life at the castle, which hosts this year expanded tours, with a deeper and darker atmosphere, designed primarily for adult visitors. Inspired by the phases of the moon, the event suggests a complete cycle of Dracul’s return: “from a quiet and mysterious beginning, passing through moments of intense transformation and finally reaching a dramatic and contemplative silence.” More details here.
Haunted Horse Show @ ISSA Resort
October 31, November 1
Horses, costumes, and acrobatics transform the indoor arena of ISSA Resort into a Halloween scene. The show covers two performances, which combine equestrian art with artistic moments and visual effects created for this edition. In the arena will be horses of the Friesian, Pura Raza Española, Haflinger and Mustang breeds, alongside Romanian and international equestrian artists and acrobats. Part of the ISSA Estate group, ISSA Resort is located near Salina Turda. More here.
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