Sydney’s historic quarter is about to get spooky, with Ghost in The Rocks returning in 2025 from 30 October to 2 November. This Halloween festival will once again take over the laneways and cobblestones, transforming the precinct into a four-night festival of parties, performances, food and frights. Free to enter, this is Australia’s only dedicated Halloween street festival, and after drawing more than 115,000 people in its debut year, it’s gearing up to be even bigger in 2025.
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At the centre of the action, the Poliakov Vodka Main Stage promises late-night energy with DJs, live sets and a crowd ready to dance till dawn. Nearby, the Vodka Bar channels a mad scientist’s lab where cocktails are mixed with a dark twist. Hungry festival-goers can head to the ring of haunted cabins for bites from local favourites including Messina and Gong Cha, all with a ghoulish makeover designed for both taste and Instagram.
Playfair Street brings a different kind of magic with the Halloween Market. By day it’s all pumpkin spice, handcrafted goods and artisan treats. As night falls, the atmosphere shifts: fog rolls in, candles flicker, and stalls brim with potions, trinkets and eerie creations from Sydney makers.
The festival also revives two crowd favourites. Ghost Cinema returns to Cadmans Cottage with horror screenings under the stars, complete with live performers weaving through the audience for added scares. And the House of Horrors Party makes its comeback, transforming one of Sydney’s most haunted houses into a multi-room rave across four levels with DJs and themed spaces.
For those who like their Halloween with a side of theatre, the Murder Mystery Experience is set in a hidden laneway with a speakeasy vibe, red velvet and gramophones. Here, cocktails meet crime stories, and guests step into one of The Rocks’ most chilling true tales.
- What: Ghost in the Rocks
- When: 30 October to 2 November
- Check out the full program here.