From Spooky to Wonder: New Halloween tales unfold at Pairi Daiza.

From October 18 to November 2, Pairi Daiza invites visitors to discover Halloween like never before, imagined within the enchanting vision board of ‘The Garden of the 5 Wonders’. This experience, rooted in the five sources of wonder that define the park’s unique spirit, will come to life during 16 exclusive evening openings.

“The Garden of the 5 Wonders, where beauty awakens love” embodies the central theme that permeates every season in Pairi Daiza. Under this concept, a new artistic video mapping is being presented on the historic Abbey tower — one of the park’s most emblematic landmarks.. Halloween at Pairi Daiza is quickly establishing itself as a seasonal highlight, a unique opportunity to see the park in a new light, with 60% of the experiences entirely reimagined for the occasion.

Come and live the 5 Wonders:

1. Extraordinary animals

At Pairi Daiza, animal care takers work year-round to nurture the curiosity and well-being of the Park’s 7,500 residents through carefully designed enrichment activities. These include games, new scents, changes in environment, and food-based challenges, all tailored to each species’ natural behaviours and preferences.

During Halloween, seasonal enrichment takes centre stage. Animals that enjoy pumpkins, such as elephants, hippos, and gorillas, are treated to them regularly. Insectivores receive surprises like mealworms hidden inside pumpkins, while carnivores are rewarded with meaty treats.

Classic Halloween animals such as bats, spiders, snakes, and ravens are part of the global Halloween imagination, and inspire Pairi Daiza’s own unique Halloween characters. Among them are the adorable Pandalloweens, little ghostly figures (yes, with white sheets!) featuring the iconic black eyes and ears of pandas, created in 2019 and unique to Pairi Daiza.

As of 2024, visitors may have spotted a life-sized animated giraffe skeleton roaming the Park during Halloween. In 2025, two new skeletal companions will join her: an elephant and an ibis.

2. A unique botanical collection

Take in the park’s stunning autumn colours, enhanced by over 1,000 pumpkins and chrysanthemums. Seasonal decorations will bring to life iconic spots such as the Andalusian Garden, the Plane Tree Avenue near the grand staircase, and several other striking trees throughout the park.

3. Gems and Minerals

The Dôme events hall will be transformed into a magical cavern, home to the mysterious ‘moon dragons’. Encircling the space is an immersive scenography, where visitors can marvel at a carefully curated display of the park’s mineral and gemstone treasures, all displayed in a truly original and enchanting setting.

4. Crafted by Humans

From innovative video projections and walkabout performances featuring giant puppets, to eerie circus acts and dazzling fire shows, alongside meticulously handcrafted costumes and artworks, this Halloween experience is truly a masterpiece. It also offers a unique exploration of the life-death transition across world cultures.

The mesmerizing video projections on the Abbey tower, the dovecote of the renovated Abbey Farmhouse, and a water screen on the lake have been created by Grand Les Yeux and Drop The Spoon, an internationally acclaimed visual production studio founded in 2015 in Louvain-la-Neuve. Its founders were trained and inspired by the visionary Franco Dragone, whose artistic legacy has shaped global live entertainment for over three decades.

Magic is a recurring theme at Pairi Daiza, and this year is no different. Visitors will encounter local folklore tales, including the legend of the “Three Jeannes”, mystical sea monster projections on the lake, and an all-new magic show with a 'Stranger Things' twist.

5. And You!

Pairi Daiza aims to profoundly inspire visitors from across the globe, ensuring they return home with hearts enriched by beauty and a renewed commitment to protecting life. The park places particular emphasis on the development of interactive experiences for audiences of all ages, offering an unforgettable Halloween celebration in a warm, family-oriented setting. Guests who arrive in costume will enjoy an enhanced experience and have the opportunity to win exceptional prizes.

In the lead-up to Halloween, visitors are invited to bring their own handmade scarecrows. The 2024 scarecrow competition set a new record, featuring 150 unique creations proudly displayed in the OASIS glasshouse.

Daily from 10:00 to 16:30, guests can enter the costume contest by having their photo taken at the PandaShop, with a chance to win a membership card or free tickets. In 2024, over 1,200 families and groups of friends took part.

​Join the excitement at two interactive dance balls:

  • The Vampire’s Ball, where a salsa instructor will get everyone moving on the dancefloor.
  • The Mexican 'Día de Los Muertos' Ball, brought to life by La Rumba Latina and Team Dance Forever.

Pairi Daiza welcomes visitors every day during the Halloween Festival, from 18 October to 2 November, between 10:00 and 22:00. Step into a world of mysterious Halloween magic, filled with spine-tingling moments, but never truly frightening. No horror, no gruesome creatures, just enchanting, poetic chills designed to delight visitors of all ages!

 

A few key figures:

  • For all ages.
  • Over 80 artistic performances per day, across 30 artistic disciplines: dance, acrobatics, music, circus, street performances, and more.
  • With more than 300 people involved, including 180 performers (dancers, musicians, fire-breathers, and more).
  • 60% brand-new content compared to last year, including new walkabout performances like the life-sized animated animal skeletons, a new Dôme experience, and the world premiere of a brand-new magic show.
  • The main interactive animation at the neoclassical castle: “NEMO, Ocean Splendours” with a Halloween twist. 18.9 million LEDs light up the castle façade, transforming it into a 137 m² screen (equivalent to 147 60-inch televisions).
  • Over 1,000 pumpkins and chrysanthemums throughout the park.
  • Multiple indoor activities.
  • 4 unique shows in the amphitheatre, including educational sessions about birds of prey and domestic animals, a humorous Halloween pony show, and a fire show to close the evening, followed by the new Abbey tower projection: ‘The Garden of the 5 Wonders’.
  • 3 large-scale video projections, including one on a 50-metre water wall.
  • 28 legendary creatures, including a new family of fantasy dragons, perfect for photos.
  • Numerous themed photo spots, ideal for fun Instagram selfies.
  • Spread across 75-hectare.

 

Come and experience it for yourself!
​

Journalists holding a valid press card can register at the Mobility Aid counter to receive a free entry ticket.

Be among the first to discover all the new features on 18 October 2025.

For visit arrangements or tailored coverage, please contact Johan Vreys, who will gladly tailor a programme to suit your editorial focus.

 

Johan Vreys

Johan Vreys

Spokesperson, PAIRI DAIZA

 

 

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About Pairi Daiza

The Garden of the Five Wonders

In the heart of Europe, Belgium is home to a sanctuary unlike any other: Pairi Daiza, a place where humanity gathers around the pursuit and celebration of beauty. Spread across 80 hectares, this extraordinary garden allows visitors to journey across continents and civilizations in just one or a few days. 

Rare animals thrive here in harmony, centuries-old trees and fragile plants stand in dialogue with remarkable architectures from across the globe and the Earth’s mineral treasures. Within the ancient Abbey walls, precious stones from across the globe find their place, Brazilian amethysts, Chinese jade, native copper from Michigan, and intricate Pietra Dura mosaics, timeless reminders that beauty knows no borders and no end.

Repeatedly named “Best Zoo in Europe” and celebrated by leading international travel guides, Pairi Daiza has become Belgium’s top tourist destination. A visit goes far beyond the concept of a zoo. It is a living work of art, a transformative space where nature, culture, and humanity converge. Each year, millions of visitors step through its gates, leaving not only enchanted but also inspired, their hearts stirred with a renewed commitment to protect life in all its forms.

THE GARDEN OF THE FIVE WONDERS. WHERE BEAUTY AWAKENS LOVE 

Contact

Domaine de Cambron 7940 Brugelette

+32(0)68/85.80.80

johan.vreys@pairidaiza.eu

www.pairidaiza.eu