Halloween highlights in Germany: Spooky celebration & ghostly restaurants

Pumpkin Festivals in Ludwigsburg. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/visitludwigsburg/

As we all know Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain – a pagan tradition that marks the coming of winter. Rumor has it that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the dimensions of the living and supernatural worlds is at its thinnest, which allows the departed entities to cross over. But the narrative in Germany has a more modern origin which happened when the 1991 government canceled carnival celebrations due to the First Gulf War.

Dieter Tschorn, known as Vater des Halloween in Deutschland (the father of German Halloweeen), was a public relations officer for the Fachgruppe Karneval (Special Carnival Group) of the Toy Industry. To recover the losses from the cancellations, he introduced a campaign to promote All Hallows Eve to the masses in 1994, and close to the end of the 1990s, the holiday became a significant tradition. Today, youngsters have happily adopted this day and made it a popular part of the German culture and economy.

Pumpkin Festivals in Ludwigsburg. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/visitludwigsburg/

Pumpkin carving and jack-o’-lantern decorations are an integral part of Austria and Germany, even though they have no direct connection to Halloween. For many years, tourists can find many regional Kürbisfests taking place all over the country starting somewhere in October and running through November. The most popular among these is Kürbisausstellung (pumpkin exhibition) in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart. It claims to be the world's largest pumpkin presentation bringing in approximately 500,000 visitors annually.

This time, the festival will take place between August 23th and November 3d on the grounds of the Residenzschloss Palace, and it will boast over 500 types of intricate squash artwork marked in the colors of fall. Preceding this event, is the carving contest for children and adults alike in late October where you can try making displays to showcase your talent. In keeping with the theme, there are also booths selling goods and snacks like roasted seeds in different flavors, jars of pesto, oil, and sparkling wine.

Ticket prices – €11.50 (adult) €5.50 (children)
For more information, click here

End your day at Ludwigsburg’s pumpkin festival by visiting VIVA for a relaxing dining experience. It is a contemporary restaurant situated at the heart of the center and serving amazing comfort foods of American and Mediterranean cuisine. The decor is subtle and welcoming in design: blue leather-furnished sofa chairs, diffused Edison lamps, polished wood tables, and a semi-open kitchen where you can watch the masters at work. The culinary team is helmed by Chef Onur Deniz, who presents a lavish menu of juicy burgers, steaks, Italian specialties, and opulent desserts revolving around local seasonal ingredients.

Some of the delicious creations to sample here are crispy bruschetta with a generous drizzle of balsamic vinegar, spicy shrimp fettuccine pasta, Salzburg steak with mashed potatoes in red wine jus, and grilled beef tenderloin with fries in peppercorn reduction sauce. Elevate your meal by pairing it with their vast drinks offering: fruity cocktails, light apéritifs, beers, and regional wines.

Average bill – €38.50

Halloween at Burg Frankenstein in Darmstadt. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/Frankenstein.Halloween

What could be spookier than celebrating Halloween in a haunted fortress? Burg Castle in Darmstadt, rumored to be Frankenstein’s palace, has been hosting scary functions for many years since 1978. The historic site hosts one of Europe’s biggest and most thrilling Halloween events coupled with a spine-chilling experience. This year, due to renovations, the House of Fright will be taking place at Königstein Castle, but also promises new adventures.

Imagine live music performances, sinister tours, and creepy meals throughout the unnerving tradition. The highlight includes roaming the ruins while actors dressed as zombies, monsters, ghouls, and other morbid creatures try to frighten you out of your wits. And to top it all off, the 1000-year-old castle is rumored to be haunted with visitors claiming to encounter strange noises, eerie feelings, and even sighted ghostly apparitions. Well, we say what better time to find out about these legends than during All Hallow’s Eve?

Ticket Prices – starting from €25.50 to €51.50
For more details, click here

If the spooky experience at Königstein Castle was a bit too much for your taste, cleanse your palate by having a lavish gastronomic dinner at the first Michelin-starred establishment in the area. The brainchild of Norman and David Rink, OX is a farm-to-table brasserie concept that serves international cuisine. The interiors are adorned with leather chairs, rich wood-paneled flooring, and clear white-washed walls.

They also offer an outdoor Mediterranean shaded courtyard for an al fresco dining delight. The menu is product-oriented, cooked using regional ingredients and refined with French and Asian nuances. Diners treat themselves to exquisite delicacies like creamy wild mushroom risotto topped with shaved truffle, tuna carpaccio in yuzu emulsion, spicy shrimp red curry with crispy bean taco, and grilled beef steak in brown garlic sauce. In desserts, do not miss out on crispy pancake fritter with melon sorbet and blood peach tart with lavender blossoms.

Das kleine Pure Taste menu – €185,00

Halloween Horror Festival at Movie Park in Bottrop, Germany. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/MovieParkGermany

Located north of Essen about a few hours from Kaiserslautern, lies an amusement space that brings film magic to real life. Movie Park in Bottrop is a family-friendly place that gets transformed into Horrorwood studios during Halloween celebrations. It offers an immersive experience where guests become the main characters of motion pictures as they explore and navigate through eight attractions and various Scare Zones, to find a way to survive.

The park is decorated in a terrifying setting and populated with over 250 beasts, creatures, ghouls, and zombies. Try to outrun these nightmarish figures in the special sinister zones or enjoy the rides at their themed areas, such as Acid Rain, The Dead West, Fear Pier, and Horrorwood Boulevard. The grounds also host dedicated kids' spaces where children of all ages can carve pumpkins, or go Süßes oder Saures (trick or treating). There are several accommodations and hostels on the premises for visitors who would like to book a place for the event.

For more information, refer to the website

Though there are many eateries to choose from in the Movie Park, we recommend traveling a small distance to Bahnhof Nord for an unmatched culinary experience influenced by regional and Mediterranean cuisines. Housed inside a completely renovated old baggage handling area of a train station, the spot oozes a vintage and regal ambiance, featuring brick-lined walls, timbered dark flooring, chandeliers, and large glass windows with flowy curtains. There is an outdoor shaded beer garden with an open bar counter and standing tables area for patrons who like to enjoy the sunny disposition while dining.

The kitchen team conjures up seasonal dishes that will enchant your taste buds. Expect to relish amazing specialties: roasted quail breast with turnip purée, beetroot carpaccio with glazed carrots, smoked tofu with marinated celery in a balsamic reduction, and grilled veal filet in pink peppercorn sauce with asparagus. Satisfy your sweet cravings with irresistible Black Forest cherry cake and apple sorbet with white chocolate foam.

Special group menu – €99.00

Halloween at Legoland in Günzburg. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/LEGOLANDDeutschlandResort/

If you are looking for a kid-friendly Halloween celebration, then Legoland in Günzburg is, hands-down, the best destination. For four full weeks in October, this amusement park transforms into a leading attraction for the whole family. Visitors will find ghastly monsters, in both Lego and realistic shapes, who are mostly there to entertain and scare the little ones.

There are many activities to keep everyone happily occupied with events ranging from trick or treating at Pimpinella's House of Spooks to wandering down to meet Olli the Park Dragon dressed up in his very own vampire costume. They also organize treasure hunts for the family, magic shows at Lego Arena, pumpkin carving for children, and a new 4D-movie adventure called The Great Monster Chase. The evening ends with a ghostly-themed music party filled with German treats and non-alcoholic drinks.

Tickets start at €39.00

Check out the official website

Since you would be full after the numerous foods and treats at Legoland, we advise heading over to Flaneur in the heart of Günzburg for a memorable cocktail evening in a lavish setting. Step into the premises and get transported to a world of chic sophistication that blends contemporary design elements with vintage touches. The decor allures elegance and charm, thanks to its leather seats, black granite tables, rustic wood flooring, and bright modern lights.

Order innovative libations ranging from classics including Negroni and cosmopolitan to inventive house specialties such as spicy mango margarita and gin-based fizzy radish. Do not miss out on the Halloween-themed special drinks like bloody mai tai for a smooth fruity finish, tequila de la muerte with grapefruit extracts, and black velvet made with smoky whisky. The bartenders at Flaneur can also cater to your specific taste preferences and ensure a personalized drinking experience.

Average bill – €28.75

Halloween Europapark in Rust. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/europaparkEN/

The biggest amusement area in Germany can’t skip such a major celebration. Europa Park in Rust transforms into a horror Wonderland from October to November to usher in Halloween in autumn. The premises are decorated with thousands of pumpkins, apples, corn plants, and bales of straw, to create an eerily spectacle for kids and adults alike. Walk the streets haunted by vampires, goblins, monsters, ghouls, mummies, and zombies who also are kind enough to guide you through the attractions. For this year, the Park has called in an expert team to develop a new experience called Traumatica. The event offers a terrifying celebration of horror curated by a talented group of artists, designers, and actors from Denmark. Besides Traumatica, there is also a must-watch musical show by the name of Spooky 2, as well as plenty of fun-filled rides for the whole family to enjoy.

Ticket prices:
Adults – €61.90 to €69.50
Children – €52.00 to €59.50
For more information, visit the website

You can either have fast food in Europa Park or take our suggestion and go to Hardy’s Bar & Restaurant nestled inside Hotel Rebstock in Rust. The American-styled salon establishment serves a pub grub menu of delicious comfort foods paired with extensive beverage selections. The eating hall resembles a regal drinking tavern with an inviting atmosphere.

Indulge your taste buds on a gastronomic journey of delightful dishes: grilled prawns in garlic butter oil, tender turkey breast strips with mixed salad in buffalo dip, BBQ Black Angus beef steak with roasted peppers, glazed sticky spare ribs in bourbon sauce, and spicy chicken wings with crispy onion rings in ranch dressing. Wet your beak by pairing the meal with their classic cocktails and fruity Caribbean cocktails, and an impressive list of lemony, gin-based longdrinks.

Average bill – €36.00

Germany’s Halloween intertwines ancient Celtic roots with a modern commercial angle. Despite the differences in celebration between America and Europe, the pagan holiday has become a popular festival in the country, especially for the younger generation. Have you picked the scariest costume yet? Share your spooky makeover ideas in the comments below.