Pre-Halloween Excitement

Alright, I know this blog should probably come a little later in the week, since Halloween is still a whole 6 days away. But I just can’t contain my excitement! Rather than tell you about which parties will be going bump in the night, I’m going to help you get prepared for the festivities ahead.

Although the day itself falls on October 31st (which is a Monday this year), most of the celebrations will be taking place on Friday and Saturday night. What was once a time for kids and Americans has now become an excuse to dress up, get tipsy and dance the night away to ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson! Some of the classic outfits include witches, zombies, vampires and ghouls, but these days people are getting more inventive. Some dress up as their favourite horror film characters, while others don full period dress to take you back in time. There are a few great costume shops in town, easy to get to when you book a London taxi. Try ‘Angels’ on Shaftesbury Avenue for full on fancy dress, or if vintage is your thing you can pick up some gems at ‘Beyond Retro’ in Shoreditch.

As well as fancy dress parties, there will be spooky film screenings taking place around the city, organised by groups such as the Jameson Film Club, UK Film Club and the BFI. If you’re brave enough, you can watch some late night classics that will leave the hairs standing up on the back of your neck.

Don’t forget to buy a pumpkin to carve out a scary face - this is a tradition that should never die! The good old Jack’o’Lantern sets the scene perfectly for this annual freak-fest. I’ll be back later in the week to tell you where the best Halloween parties in London are taking place, if I haven’t mysteriously disappeared... oooooo!