6 can’t-miss gay Halloween parties

In the gay community, Halloween is basically our Christmas.

Mark Mark
Oct 5, 2025 - 20:00
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6 can’t-miss gay Halloween parties
A muscular shirtless man poses in blue jeans and holds a pumpkin in each hand.

There’s a crispness in the foliage, a chill in the air, and pumpkin spice is inescapable, which can only mean one thing: Halloween is upon us.

In the gay community, Halloween is basically our Christmas — an opportunity to wear our gaggiest outfits, some show skin, and celebrate a holiday dedicated to “the others” with our community.

Of course, that means the pressure is on to celebrate Halloweekend as fabulously as possible. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of LGBTQ+ gatherings across the world, more than worth a plane ride — and a last-minute $45 costume from Spirit Halloween.

Here are 6 of our can’t-miss recommendations…

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1. Spooky Bear – Provincetown

Date: Thursday, October 30 to Sunday, November 2
Location: Various locations in P-Town
Details: Spooky Bear promises a quintessentially (and ghoulish) New England Halloween celebration with events all across Provincetown, including daily tea dances, a costume ball at Crown & Anchor, themed shows like Brolesque: Trick or Tease, and the wittiest and sexiest costumes you’ve ever seen.

2. Dreamland – New York

Date: Friday, October 31, from 8 PM to 5 AM
Location: The former Twilo, 530 W. 27th Street
Details: Dreamland in New York City bills itself as the largest gay Halloween party in Manhattan, with multiple stages, forbidden gardens, immersive performances, and an unholy dark room. This year’s party takes over the former Twilo hotel and Sleep No More performance space, with a simple dress code: Nothing is off-limits.

Afterwards, check out the spooky delights at New York nightlife faves like The Monster and The Eagle.

3. Halloween Carnaval – Los Angeles

Date: Friday, October 31, from 6 PM to 11 PM
Location: Santa Monica Boulevard, between N. Doheny Drive and N. La Cienega Blvd.
Details: The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval takes over Santa Monica Boulevard for an exceptionally spooky (and free!) night featuring a live DJ, food trucks, and jaw-dropping costumes. Tens of thousands of ghoulish gays attend every year.

4. Freddie’s Halloween Party – Washington D.C.

Date: Friday, October 31, from 5 PM to 8 PM
Location: Freddie’s Beach Bar
Details: Halloween costumes are encouraged at this casual and queer Halloween get-together at one of the D.C. scene’s go-to spots. Led by Go Gay DC, this spooky and intimate gathering is for anyone more interested in treats than tricks. Cap off the night bar-hopping at some of our other favorite haunts in the city like JR’s Bar, Green Lantern, and Nellie’s Sports Bar.

5. Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade – Chicago

Date: Friday, October 31 at 7:30 PM
Location: On Haldsted from Belmont to Brompton
Details: Northalsted’s iconic Halloween celebration returns for its 28th year, with a free-to-watch parade and an epic costume contest with $4000 in cash prizes. There’s a reason why the gays’ spooky season celebration has become one of Chicago‘s most beloved traditions.

6. Riot of the Living Dead – London

Date: Saturday, October 25, at 10 PM
Location: Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Details: The bowels of the underworld take over London for a one-night rave at The RVT, one of the city’s most iconic LGBTQ+ venues. It’s technicolor terror with a DJ lineup that includes ADBT, Sugar Puff Daddy, and Deany Sevigny playing your favorite queer bops, pizza for fiendish fuel, and UK costume pageantry realness.

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