The Halloween holiday hasn’t always been so universal, but you wouldn’t know it with all of the decorations and celebrations here in China. From costumes and decorations, to brunches and trick-or-treating, spend the end of October having fun with the spookiness of Halloween!
Area housing compounds have trick-or-treating, costume parties and more, but please note that some activities are only open for residents or by resident invitation. Be sure to check with the various clubhouses to see if a purchased ticket is required for any entry.
River Garden is one compound that does Halloween up right, likely because many residents are American and it’s a huge holiday in North America. This Saturday, October 27, the famed haunted house continues – a tamer version for younger set (6 and under) is from 4:30-5:30pm; older goblins enjoy the spooks from 6:30-8:30pm. All day long is a pumpkin display in the clubhouse, compliments of young residents, and a costume parade out front begins promptly at 4:15pm. The trick-or-treating commences at 5:30pm until everyone runs out of candy – and considering the crowds who come, it can happen quickly. Non-residents need to be let in the compound by a resident, as well as pay RMB 10 for the haunted house.
Yosemite kids enjoy the festivities on the actual day – Wednesday, October 31. Trick-or-treating starts at 6pm, and residents are also able to enjoy hay rides around the compound. Other festivities are planned for the day, and both resident and non-resident tickets can be purchased at the clubhouse.
Other villas in the Shunyi area that typically have trick-or-treating include Rose & Ginko, Beijing Riviera, Grand Hills, Leman Lake, and Capital Paradise. Contact the clubhouse for details on dates and times.
MAC Time Community Art Center will once again host a Halloween party for kids ages 3-12 on Saturday, October 27 from 5:30-7:30pm. Come make a Halloween pumpkin jar, taste pumpkin soup and pizza, go trick-or-treating and more! Register by today; cost is RMB 220 per child. Call 8046 1820 or 138 1033 4208.
Gearing up for Halloween, Comptoirs de France has scrumptious goodies for sale. From colorful pumpkin chocolates to Halloween cupcakes, everyone will find a favorite treat. Prices range from RMB 10 for a chocolate pumpkin bonbon (mango flavor) to RMB 218 for the pumpkin-sized chocolate pumpkin!
Don’t forget the costumes – as if you could miss them! Kids Plus and Tots to Teens have both decorations and costumes, and the sound effects from the toy store inside Jenny Wang illustrates that they have much to choose from as well! The toy area upstairs in Riviera Plaza has something for everyone, and I’ve noticed weekend vendors in open areas around Pinnacle Plaza with decorations as well. The Beidong Flower market is always a good place to find several holiday stalls, too.
Happy Halloween!
