The spooky hour is here.
While Halloween is obviously not a local tradition, Bali does cater to anyone who wants to get their horror on for the holiday. Some might appreciate the non-judgmental escapism that Halloween offers (hence why some might choose to cross-dress for the occasion), while others just love any excuse to party (bless them for keeping the economy running).
For this list, we want to give you a comprehensive guide on how you can make the most of Halloween on the Island of Gods, from the best places to party to where to find a costume (and if you’re interested in coming up with an Indonesian-specific outfit, the folks over at Coconuts Jakarta have come up with their own list of low-budget tips on how you can dress up as some of Indonesia’s most famous ghosts).
Costumes and makeup
Some of you might be looking to book a makeup artist to help you with your look this Halloween. Pro tip: The drag queens who frequently perform at local gay bars, such as Mixwell and Bali Joe, often offer makeup services on the side. Better hurry, though, because they are quickly booked up!
Of course, you will need a costume to buy or rent. If you are in Ubud, you may want to check out Ubud Fairy Village (find their Instagram here) for your Halloween needs. They also have an Instagram account focusing on Halloween costumes including rentals and masks (not the social distancing kind!), as well as face and body painting sessions.
Perhaps what makes Ubud Fairy Village most interesting is the fact that many of their costumes (if not all) are handmade, as the owner, Jelila, is an artist herself. They also offer Halloween cupcakes, cookies, and sweets. Find their location here.
If you live in Sanur, then you may want to check out Julia Costume (find their location here – the shop is located in a part of Denpasar that borders Sanur). While Julia Costume mostly focuses on traditional costumes, the store is open to receiving custom orders for Halloween.
Last, but not least, if you call Canggu home, then you are in luck because the area has its own Bali Halloween Store, located at Canggu Plaza next to Canggu Station. The store offers a selection of costumes, wigs, fangs (fake ones, obviously), and face paint. Bali Halloween Store is open every day from 9am to 9pm. Check out their Instagram page and send them a message if you want to book an appointment.
Parties! (Obviously)
Bali is once again party central after a two-year pandemic lull, and Halloween-themed parties are also back with a vengeance.
Motel Mexicola is the first on our list. The Seminyak fixture announced that they are bringing back their famous Dia De Los Muertos this coming Oct. 31 as their Halloween fiesta. Promising one of the biggest and brightest celebrations of the occasion, expect stunning performances from hand-picked DJs as well as a costume contest offering US$1,000 in cash for the winners.
While it will begin this coming Monday starting 6pm, be aware that the event might be booked soon so follow this link for bookings. You can also contact them here for more information.
If you want something sooner than Monday, we recommend a Halloween party this Saturday at Doheny on Pantai Batu Mejan Street in Canggu where they offer free Halloween shots and 10 percent discounts on their food and beverages.
The iconic Savaya in Uluwatu is also offering a Halloween-themed event titled Carnival of Lost Souls this weekend, which will be a two-day event with 11 local DJs performing on Saturday followed by international performers Guy Mantzur and Da Capo the following day.
This will be Savaya’s second Halloween weekend. This time, they are offering IDR450 million (US$28,795) in cash and prizes for their multi-category costume events on both days. Follow this link if you want to enter their costume events and this link for tickets.
Dinners (family-friendly)
Not everything is just debauchery and parties, of course. If you want something that is more family-friendly, then we recommend Kuta’s Azul Beach Club’s Sunday brunch, which starts from IDR300,000 (US$19.20) per adult. There will be live music, Halloween games, as well as a trick-or-treat walk for the children. Get more information here.
Italian restaurant Cucina at Sofitel Nusa Dua is also offering a Halloween brunch this Sunday starting at IDR699,000 (US$44.73) per person from 11am to 3pm.
