Dubai: If you encounter something unnatural over the next few days, be prepared to brave it all. As the world marks Halloween on October 31, some of the country’s popular venues are readying for a bit of a spooky fun.
Candy store Candylicious World is turning its whimsical rows of candies and treats into the children’s one-stop destination. The store’s Dubai Mall and Yas Mall venues will also feature ‘scare-tastic collections’ with exciting packs and seasonal ranges including Halloween staple Hershey’s Candy Corn and Reese’s Pumpkins.
Spooktacular night
Over at Treehouse Dubai at the Taj Hotel guests can expect a ‘spooktacular’ night as the Treehouse Tribe dressed to the nines present ghoulish drinks at a venue decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs and a whole array of frightful tricks and treats!
Another neighbourhood eatery, Fume, Pier 7 will welcome guests with spooky dishes and ‘horrific’-looking staff. Serving pumpkin specialties, Fume’s special menu will also feature spooky salads, creepy main courses and devilish desserts along with the wicked, not-so-sweet dessert; Spiced “Spookcakes”. Elsewhere, Rove Downtown Dubai is inviting guests to watch a family favourite ‘Young Frankenstein’ in their restaurant The Daily complete with complimentary popcorn and a themed menu that will include ‘devil’ hot dogs, chicken nachos and red shrimp tacos.
Horror-themed meals, spooky ambiance and scary surprises will be the theme at the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai too.
The more adventurous can head to the Izakaya Haunted House where the ‘souls of Geishas’ reside in the walls of Ramusake. The Japanese restaurant is also promising an unusual taste of the underworld! The spook factor is no less at Trader Vic’s where a special menu, filled with food, drink and witches vice, await diners. A creepy spread including witch fingers, ghost cakes and spider’s eggs will be the highlight.
Halloween is being celebrated by malls too. Wafi Mall is lining up an eerie maze called The Dark Escape, a string of uncanny performances, children’s Halloween party and a pumpkin workshop.
Earlier this week unsuspecting movie-goers got the shock of their lives when a pack of zombies from IMG Worlds of Adventure’s The Haunted Hotel showed up at another city mall. The zombies apparently ‘escaped’ from the indoor theme park for a night out at Novo Cinemas to catch a glimpse of the latest horror blockbuster. They even made their way through the cinema purchasing tickets and refreshments and taking selfies before breaking out into loud screams. The newly opened park has been transformed to reveal the haunted old tombstones and forbidden wasteland of the Nightmare on IMG Boulevard.
At Al Ain Raceway drivers will receive a 25 per cent discount on Halloween Arrive & Drive session.
Dubai Sports City’s ‘Feel the Fete’ on Friday also promises action packed, Halloween themed events.
‘All Hallows’ Day’ tradition
Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve amongst other names, is a celebration observed around the globe on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
Halloween traditions are widely believed to have originated in the British Isles from Celtic harvest festivals with possible pagan roots, particularly Samhain, the Gaelic festival later Christianised as Halloween. Many experts however are also of the view that Halloween began independently as a solely Christian holiday.
