Witches’ hats are on special at the supermarket and someone in your house has already changed their costume plan three times. Halloween in Adelaide lands on a Saturday this year, which means a whole spooky weekend (and then some) for the kids.
Here are the best family-friendly Halloween events around Adelaide for 2026, plus a few tips for the big night.
Halloween events in Adelaide for kids
Halloween Wail at the Gaol, Adelaide Gaol
Saturday 24 October, 11am–3pm
The old Adelaide Gaol swaps its usual ghost stories for a fairytale trail, with treats at every station for kids who complete it. It’s spooky enough to feel like an adventure without giving anyone nightmares. Tickets are $10.90 for kids, $18.10 for adults, or $49 for a family. Book through Parks SA, and note that entry is now via Bonython Park, off Port Road.
Festival of Halloween Family Day, Port Adelaide
Sunday 25 October
The Flour Shed at Hart’s Mill hosts a Halloween marketplace with a trick-or-treat trail, kids’ crafts, pumpkin carving demonstrations and roaming characters ready for photos. The Saturday night session is for over-16s, so make sure you book the Sunday family day.
Boo at the Zoo, Adelaide Zoo
Friday 30 October, 4pm–8pm
Adelaide Zoo’s after-hours Halloween party is a highlight of the spooky season. Every guest gets a treat bag on arrival, then heads off along a trick-or-treat trail, with spooky photo spots and live performers on the Central Lawns. There’s also a relaxed session from 3pm to 4pm with smaller crowds and quieter installations, which is great for kids who find big events overwhelming. Leave the inflatable costumes and scooters at home, as they’re not allowed.
Halloween at the Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market
Sunday 25 October, 8.30am–12.30pm
One of the market’s biggest family days of the year. The popular Trick or Treat Trail runs from 8.30am to 11.30am. Each $5 trail bag (free for children of Market Members) comes with 10 tokens to swap for treats at participating stalls. Numbers are strictly limited, so get there early.
Kids can also hunt for the Boo Sign at each stall and fill in their Trail Card for a chance to win a prize, drawn at noon, and vote for the best-dressed Halloween stall. Fleurieu Lavender is the reigning champion! Wilbur’s Wildlife Creepy Crawlies is back from 9.30am to 11.30am, along with face painting and a Halloween Kids Club activity. Market entry is free.
Halloween Storybook Trail – Carrick Hill
Saturday 31 October, 5pm–9pm
Carrick Hill’s much-loved Storybook Trail gets a spooky makeover for Halloween night. Little ghosts, witches and superheroes can follow the trail through the gardens, stopping at trick-or-treat stations along the way and watching out for surprises around every corner. At the end, they can pop on headphones and dance it out at a spooky silent disco. Food trucks serve coffee and snacks for the grown-ups.
Sessions start every half hour and take about an hour. Tickets are from $26.50 each, and babies under 12 months go free.
Haunted Halloween Twilight Market – Victor Harbor
Saturday 31 October, 1pm–8pm
Halloween night itself gets the full twilight market treatment, with artisan stalls, small businesses, food trucks and live bands playing into the evening. There’s a costume competition, so dress the whole family up, and get those dancing feet ready for the “Thriller” flash mob dance-off. A bar for the grown-ups and a psychic fair add to the fun.
Halloween Boo Bash – Payneham Tavern
Sunday 25 October, from 12pm
Little ghouls can dance off their sugar high at this daytime kids’ Halloween disco at Payneham Tavern, with plenty of family entertainment while the grown-ups grab lunch. It’s an easy follow-on from the Farmers’ Market Halloween morning, which wraps up at 12.30pm.
319 Payneham Road, Payneham
Children’s Halloween Spooky Trail – Beaumont House
Saturday 31 October, 4pm-7pm
Brave little adventurers can dodge zombies and deadly pirates, creep past a haunted graveyard and, if they dare, step into the witch’s den of horrors at this spooky trail through the grounds of historic Beaumont House. Every child gets a treat bag on the way out, and there’s food and drink for sale on site. Tickets are $5 per child, and accompanying adults go free. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
It’s run by the Burnside Branch of the National Trust of SA. Tickets sell fast.
Trick-or-treat tips for Adelaide families
Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October this year, so trick-or-treating can start a little earlier than on a school night. A few tips to keep it fun:
- Stick to houses that are clearly joining in. Look for decorations, a carved pumpkin or lights on at the front door.
- Go early. Twilight is easier for little ones and neighbours alike, and daylight saving means it stays light until around 7.45pm.
- Add some visibility. A glow stick or torch makes costumes easier for drivers to see.
- Check the haul before eating. Sort the treats at home, especially if anyone has allergies.
- Remember not everyone celebrates. A quiet “thank you” goes a long way, and so does skipping houses with no decorations.
Halloween at home
Not keen on crowds? A spooky movie night, a backyard treasure hunt or a pumpkin carving session can be just as fun. Even a trip to the local op shop for costume bits makes for a cheap afternoon of dress-ups.
Whether you’re trick-or-treating around the street or lining up at the zoo, Halloween in Adelaide is all about dressing up, collecting treats and having fun together.
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