Celebrate Halloween on Lake Garda? Let’s do it!

How can you celebrate Halloween on Lake Garda? Discover it with us!

Halloween is a celebration observed in many countries on October 31st. Many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Then in the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a day to honor all saints and so, soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of those Celtic traditions. The word Halloween derives from ‘All Hallows’ Eve’ that means ‘the eve of all saints.’ 

Nowadays the images associated with Halloween are universal: pumpkins, black cats, witches and trick-or-treating.

Do Italians Celebrate Halloween?

Although Halloween is not a recognized holiday in Italy, it’s becoming very common to see people in costumes and children trick-or-treating. Spooky decorations and Halloween-themed cookies can be found in many stores throughout October and, especially in the evening of October 31st, kids in costume may head out for trick-or-treating.

Halloween, in Italy, is not as widespread as it is in other foreign countries, but it is growing in popularity. Over time, it evolved into a day of funny activities :

• Costumes: some parents are happy to celebrate Halloween and let their kids have an extra evening of fun; they dress up with something creepy like witches, vampires, zombies, bats and wizards, etc.
• Trick-or-Treating: it usually takes place in a town or city center. You can head to certain streets or neighborhoods and shop owners will pass out candies.  Of course, kids in Italy too love the idea of Halloween, going door to door, asking for “dolcetto o scherzetto” which is Italian for “trick or treat.”
• Pumpkin Carving and Decorations: while you may visit a pumpkin patch in Italy (some have an US-style with tractor rides and food), they are still not so common. Some supermarkets sell pumpkin carving kits and some farms are starting to host pumpkin patches.

Celebrate Halloween on Lake Garda: places to visit

Italy offers plenty of options for some authentic Halloween scares. For example on Lake Garda, which is a scenic lake that is beautiful to visit all over the year, there are many place to visit too.

Gardaland Magic Halloween

Italy’s largest amusement park has dressed up for Halloween. Here you may spend spooky days during weekends until November 5th. On October 31st there will be the Halloween party with music and fun.

Movieland Park

Here you can find a “Horror House” where you can experience a scary atmosphere with monsters, witches, ghosts, skeletons and demons. In addition, on specific days there are spectacular cinematic events, dedicated to Stranger Things, Ghostbusters and Krampus. Special events will transform the park into a real horror movie set.

Rocca di Lonato

On Sunday October 29th, in the enchanting Rocca di Lonato you may experience a special event for Halloween, an adventure designed for families with children. The Rocca will be haunted by dark characters such as the orcs, vampires and werewolves.

Sigurtà Garden Park

Sigurtà Garden Park will celebrate Halloween. All over the park you will find themed events, scary surprises and different activities to enjoy unforgettable moment with your friends and family, surrounded by the colors of autumn.  Do not forget that children and teenagers (between 5 and 14 years old) should enter for free if they are dressed up in Halloween costumes.

The Pumpkin Maze – Flover Garden Bussolengo

Flover Garden in Bussolengo is dressed up with a wonderful corn and pumpkin maze until November 1st. Activities, workshops, music and food are organized in the weekends for children and adults.

No matter how Halloween is celebrated in Italy. It has soon became a great excuse to have a good time.

What are you waiting for? If you decide to visit one of the suggested spots, do not forget that Bertoldi Boats is not far away!  Don’t miss our events and boat tours: follow us on Instagram and Facebook.