21 Oct 2026

Put on your scariest costume

3 minute read

Pumpkins grin from windowsills, skeletons dangle from front doors and witches’ hats pop up everywhere. At the end of October, Halloween takes over the city. VIAGE is letting the ghosts out too, with a spooky casino weekend and a costume party that doesn’t end until sunrise.

Halloween has roots in several cultures, going back more than two thousand years to the Celts. On 1 November they celebrated Samhain, the end of the harvest and the start of the dark half of the year. They believed that on the night before, the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin, and spirits roamed free. To keep them at a distance, the Celts lit large bonfires and wore animal skins and masks so the dead would not recognise them.

Later, the Church gave the festival a makeover. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III fixed All Saints’ Day on 1 November. The evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve, a name that wore down over the centuries to Halloween.

To America and back

The legend of Stingy Jack comes from Ireland. This miserly rogue tricked the devil and, after his death, could find no rest anywhere. Ever since, he has wandered the earth carrying a glowing ember in a hollowed-out turnip. So Irish and Scottish families carved scary faces into turnips to frighten off Jack and other evil spirits. When huge numbers of Irish people emigrated to America in the nineteenth century, they took the custom with them. There they discovered the pumpkin, which was bigger and easier to carve, and the jack-o’-lantern was born. In the twentieth century, Halloween made its way back to Europe through films, TV series and costume parties, this time as an exuberant celebration.

“If I could have chosen my birthday, Halloween would be it.” – Ray Bradbury

Ghosts at the gaming tables

Step into VIAGE at the end of October and you’ll see why the American author said this. From Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, the casino takes on a ghostly atmosphere. At the slots, an exclusive bonus game with plenty of prizes is waiting for you. You can play from 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 2 pm to 6 pm on Sunday. When night falls, the gaming tables take over. From 8 pm to 2 am, exclusive activities give you extra chances to win, terms and conditions apply.

On 31 October the fright factor peaks at Spooky Night. From 8 pm to 2 am, a DJ spins a dark set and a make-up artist transforms you into a terrifying apparition. A magician will fool your eyes, and if you’re brave enough, you can meet a real snake. So feel free to wear your most bloodcurdling costume to the Halloween Party at the casino.

The theatre reveals its hidden side

That same evening at 9:30 pm, VIAGE Theatre opens its doors for Halloween XXL – The Hidden Theatre. Our popular costume party is back and bigger than ever, with more than a thousand partygoers on the dance floor. Spooky decor, projections on the big screens and light shows make the familiar venue unrecognisable. For this over-the-top party, the JustaNight, Nomad Experience, Belges Jeunesse, PartyFinder, Balagan Brussels and Expats in Brussels communities are joining forces. Three DJs keep the party going until 5 am. The dress code? A costume, and the bolder the better.