If you’re seeking inspiration for a Halloween celebration that breaks from the usual, here you’ll find the best original ideas: villages wrapped in mystery, lantern-lit woods, themed museums, and amusement parks transformed into spine-tingling worlds. This year the boot-shaped country offers many opportunities to experience with friends or family (of any age) the scariest holiday of the year.
Here are some quirky ideas for celebrating Halloween 2026 in Italy.
Halloween Mystery Fest, the first historic Halloween in Italy (MC)
From October 30 to November 1, 2026, the historic center of Montelupone, in the province of Macerata, hosts the Halloween Mystery Fest, the first historic Halloween in Italy. For the occasion, the village comes alive with five experiences including storytelling, live performances, and local legends, offering moments suspended between magic, mystery, and adventure for participants of all ages.
The novelty is La Cantina del Matto, an escape room set in an 18th‑century cellar, inspired by a real event that took place in the rooms where the game is played: it lasts one hour and costs 25 euros (reduced to 20 euros for children under 10). Also planned is a theatre tour through the alleys, performances at Parco Franchi and at the theatre, including one dedicated to Marche’s legendary creatures and families. Activities in the village are free of charge, while the performances require tickets: prices start from 8 euros.
Halloween at the Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan
The National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan offers family activities on the weekends of October 24-25 and October 31-November 1, 2026. The program ranges from experiments with invisible inks and the creation of fantastic creatures to workshops with fabric pumpkins or painted pumpkins, up to a programmable labyrinth. For children aged 3 to 6, there is also a sensory workshop dedicated to imaginary stars and constellations.
During the Halloween weekend, additional experiences include a guided tour titled The Secrets of the Museum, recommended from age 7, and Emergenza Fantasmi (Ghosts’ Emergency), a virtual reality adventure for ages 12 and up. The workshop activities and the Playlab are included in the admission price (13 euros full price, 8 euros reduced), but online booking with a 1-euro pre-sale is required.
Halloween Park in Catania: haunted house and terrifying mazes
From October 23 to November 1, 2026, the spaces of the Ciminiere di Catania host the Halloween Park, a 15,000-square-meter area entirely dedicated to the year’s scariest celebration. It is the first park in Southern Italy to be entirely Halloween-themed, and among the kept promises are a haunted house inspired by the legend of Blackwood Manor, the labyrinths of Dracula and Delirio, a ghost train, and virtual reality arenas.
Live shows, acrobatics, entertainment and DJ sets are on the program… basically everything you could want from a Halloween-themed park. There are also offerings for the youngest visitors, including workshops, games, bouncy castles and many other activities.
The lantern walk in Paluzza, a journey among ancient legends (UD)
In the town of Paluzza, in Carnia, Udine, Halloween night is special and linked to the Not dalis Muars, the tradition of carved pumpkins that recalls memories of the deceased.
On October 31 and November 1, 2026, from 8 p.m., Visit Zoncolan offers “Migrating Souls”: a guided walk through the woods and clearings around the ancient Torre Moscarda, accompanied by lantern lights and folk tales and memories tied to the mountains.
A highlight? At the end of the experience you’ll taste cjarsòns, Carnic ravioli with a filling that blends sweet and savory flavors, always served with wine.
Halloween at Italy’s loveliest amusement parks
One of the best ways to spend Halloween with pure adrenaline is to head to one of Italy’s most beautiful amusement parks. This year the celebrations unfold among rides, shows and Halloween-themed attractions, with options to suit different levels of bravado.
In Rome, Luneur Park transforms into Luna Monsters School until November 1, offering rides, a baby dance, creative workshops and the Lost Maze. On October 24, Ninna and Matti arrive with two shows and a meet-and-greet; on October 31, the park stays open until 11 p.m., with parades and fireworks.
At Leolandia, HalLEOween runs from September 18: every Saturday night the Crazy HalLEOween Nights return, featuring attractions, a DJ set and street food. There are over 50 attractions, live shows and a themed parade. For speed lovers there is the evocative roller coaster Reveяsum.
At CavallinoMatto, October weekends invite you to take on the Horror Forest, a spine-tingling route recommended for ages 10 and up. On October 31 the park stays open until 8 p.m. and on November 1 until 7 p.m.; on both days the Dream’s Halloween event is on. In addition to horror attractions there are informative points dedicated to prevention and blood donation.
For those seeking even more intense thrills, Cinecittà World offers the Horror House until November 1, the indoor roller coaster Inferno, and for younger guests, the Spooky Town Playground. At MagicLand, from October 3 to November 1, there are seven horror mazes, the Pumpkin Farm and the Ghost Park, while Mirabilandia celebrates until November 1 with the horror zone Suburbia, tunnels and routes designed also for families and children. At Gardaland, finally, Magic Halloween continues until November 1, with enigmatic creatures, pumpkins and immersive scenery.
Halloween in a horror-themed escape room
For a Halloween evening that’s truly unlike any other, you can test your nerve in a horror‑themed escape room. According to EscapeRoomMap’s data, there are 216 horror rooms in Italy: roughly one in four of those listed, spread across 66 cities.
Rome is the city with the most (35), followed by Milan with 15 and Turin with 11. But there are plenty of others scattered across the boot. On EscapeRoomMap’s official site you can find many options near you for an original Halloween with friends… the choice is simply overwhelming!
Halloween in the most spectacular pumpkin fields
The scariest holiday of the year can also be enjoyed by daylight, among pumpkins to pick and decorate, mazes, games and autumn scenery. Italian pumpkin patches are perfect for a family or friends day trip. In Shirin, in Ornago, the field remains open until November 1, while Flover Farm in Bussolengo invites visitors to stroll among more than 30 varieties of pumpkins in a 20,000-square-meter pumpkin patch.
For those wishing to extend the outing beyond Halloween, there is the Pumpkin Village at PuraVida Farm in the province of Pavia and Tulipania in Bonate Sopra: both welcome visitors until November 8, with harvests, workshops and family activities. Other addresses, dates and details are in our guide to the most beautiful pumpkin fields in Italy in 2026.
