FREAKOUT: HALLOWEEN ON KARANGAHAPE ROAD

Halloween is creeping up, and Karangahape Road is throwing its biggest FREAKOUT yet. On Friday 31 October from 6pm to late the city’s most iconic strip will transform into a carnival of chaos, packed with tricks, treats, chills, thrills, and plenty of surprises.

Start the night with the K’ Road Trick & Treat Trail, hosted by SMALL RAVE, where brave souls can wander through the street uncovering everything from candy to cooked spaghetti, glittery goo, slime, and stickers. The adventure culminates in the Mini Monsters Costume Awards, where tamariki can flaunt their freakiest looks for prizes.

As darkness falls, K’ Road cranks up the volume. Four haunted stages will keep the energy surging late into the night with bone rattling DJ sets, raw punk rock and tributes to legendary heavy metal. At DEAD ROCKSTARS Live Music outside Vixen, expect anthems from Black Sabbath that tear up the night. 

Over on Beresford Square, Celestial Corner becomes a hive of stalls and haunted glamour, with photo booths to capture your creepiest looks, ghostly make-up stations, and wild Halloween hair by Gilt Hairdressers to complete the transformation.
And don’t miss the annual Halloween Dog Parade at Myers Park, hosted by Crushes with Chris Parker and Brynley Stent stepping in as this year’s celebrity judges. Last year over 100 costumed canines took to the path, from pumpkins on paws to werewolves on leads.

This year also sees the return of the Best Dressed Competition, hosted by drag royalty Kita Mean and Rita Menu, serving fright, glamour, and chaos in equal measure. And looming above it all, the Pitt Street Church will be transformed with light mapping, washing the building in spectral projections and eerie colour.

“On K’ Road, we love Halloween and we do it properly. It’s about going all out: outrageous costumes, wild music, creepy cocktails, and even dogs in disguise. Nobody does it like K’ Road,” says France Hémon from the Karangahape Road Business Association. 

EVENTS ON THE SPOOKY STREET
 

SMALL RAVE: Trick & Treat Trail and Mini Monsters Costume Awards
 
Wander the K’ Road Trick and Treat Trail to find treat boxes filled with everything from candy and stickers to cooked spaghetti, glittery goo and slime. The trail ends with the Mini Monsters Costume Awards, where tamariki show off their creepiest costumes for spooktacular prizes. Whānau friendly fun also includes a giant colour-in wall.
 
Dead Rock Stars outside Vixen

K’ Road goes loud for the legends. The street comes alive with riffs and resurrection as K’ Road pays tribute to rock’s fallen icons. Capricore channeling Bowie, and After Forever summoning Black Sabbath, plus a lineup of young bloods keeping the rock alive. Dress the part, and celebrate the icons who’ll never fade.
 

Best Dressed Competition hosted by Kita Mean and Rita Menu

Drag royalty Kita Mean and Rita Menu host the ultimate costume contest, serving fright, glamour and chaos in equal measure.

Halloween Dog Parade at Myers Park hosted by Crushes

Paws on parade. Dress up your pooch as a pumpkin, skeleton, witch, werewolf or whatever creature of the night takes over and join the pack as they strut through Karangahape.

Four Haunted Stages
 
Expect beats, riffs and bone rattling bass at every corner. Beresford Square, outside Otto, Cosmic and St Kevins Arcade will pulse with DJs all evening.
 
Celestial Corner Beresford Square

A hub of haunted glamour with stalls, vintage oddities, themed photo booths, ghostly make up stations and wild Halloween hair by Gilt.
 
Lowbrow in St Kevins Arcade: Free Lager 
Arrive in costume and enjoy a free lager on the house. 

 
Full programme dropping soon at: www.karangahaperoad.com/freakout

Proudly supported by Karangahape Road Business Association, Auckland Council, and the city centre targeted rate.