Halloween is that one time of the year when the rules don’t apply.

Being a city of hedonists excited for any excuse to get freaky, Berlin is going all out for the spookiest time of the year. But we’re still in Germany, where Halloween is really a new concept. So how to navigate past the rubber skeletons and cobwebs to find the truly schlocky over-the-top campy spooktaculars?

Berlin Loves You has crawled through the dark labyrinth of party invites to bring you a grisly guide to six of the most happening screamathons this Halloween.

Thursday, 26 October: House of Red Doors: Halloween

Bad Bruises hosts one of the most imaginative parties in Berlin and for Halloween, they are digging deep into the dungeon to let out their weirdest and wildest spirits. As usual, there will be an opening show where you can expect plenty of nudity and bodily fluids. Then the rooms at the Salon zur Wilden Renate will start opening up, each one with a special theme: an opium den, a hospital room, the Suicide Forest. Performers will pop up occasionally to startle and astound. And take off all their clothes, of course. All this and dancing all night to top techno DJs too.

Salon Zur Wilden Renate – Alt Stralau 70, Friedrichshain
More information on Facebook
Tickets on sale at Resident Advisor

Friday, October 27: Halloween 2017 – The Mystical Island

This Halloween party wins the prize for the most intriguing location: an old house on an island on the Spree. It’s organised by a group of artists who work with light, so expect plenty of eerie glowing art installations. Dance on two floors and a roof terrace to an eclectic range of music from house and techno to disco and funk.
Kulturhaus Insel Berlin

Alt-Treptow 6, 12435 Berlin, Germany
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Saturday, October 28: Bob Young’s Halloween Masquerade: “Occultism”

One of the most popular gay parties in Berlin happens to be managed by a guy from Tennessee, so naturally GMF has been doing Halloween for 21 years and doing it right. Alte Münze will be all done up as a campy spook house, with drag performers, a costume contest, and dancing to techno and hip hop on two floors. And since the theme is Occultism, there will probably be side of tarot along to go with the usual necromancy.

Alte Münze Berlin – Molkenmarkt 2, 10179 Berlin
Find out more on their website or on Facebook

Monday, 30 October: Suspiria | Halloween Film Night – Bad Bruises x Mobile Kino

Mobile Kino is teaming up with Bad Bruises to present Dario Argento’s candy-coloured horror film set in a German ballet academy. Fairytale nightmare at its finest.

Griessmuehle – Sonnenallee 221, 12059 Neukölln
Tickets €7 on the Mobile Kino website 

Tuesday, 31 October: Electric Sideshow

Fierce femme fakir Evilyn Frantic hosts an international odditorium of fabulous freaks on Halloween night. Coming all the way from Calgary, the boneless beauty, Visha Loo is the horror clown contortionist your mother warned you about. Standing at just 3.4 ft, Imaan Haaditchi holds a Guinness World Record for “The World’s Shortest (full- time) Comedian.” Marvel as Zo-Ra Van Der Blast deep throats sharp objects and Julietta La Doll gets really weird in a very sweet way. Plus dance all night to R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll with DJ Don Rogall, Lula Rose, and Trixie Trainwreck. If you can get out on Tuesday night, this is a truly special Halloween event that you don’t want to miss.

Bassy Club- Schönhauser Allee 176 a, 10119 Berlin
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Friday, 3 November: Cumbia Fest Berlin presents: “Día de los Muertos”

Go south of the border and celebrate Día de los Muertos at YAAM with a mezcal lounge, Mexican food trucks, and two cumbia bands. All the way from Mexico comes Sonido Gallo Negro with their woozy psychedelic cumbia and boogaloo. And from Lyon, Kumbia Borukua fuses classic Colombian cumbia of the ‘60s with salsa and reggae in a big groovy blast of accordion, electric guitar, brass and conga.

YAAM Berlin – An der Schillingbrücke 3, 10243 Berlin
More information on Facebook
Tickets at Koka 36