Spooky Season in Paris
Paris is known as the city of lights, but in October it turns into the city of fright. Halloween has grown into a very anticipated night in Paris over the last decade, especially for students and young people who want to dress up. Paris offers a ton of unique and spooky fun. There are many cool costume stores, great events and for the students at the American University of Paris, the Halloween event can be the highlight of the season and the best reason to get dressed up.
Where to Find the Perfect Halloween Costume in Paris
It's not Halloween if you don't have the perfect costume. Luckily for us, living in Paris, it's super easy to find an awesome costume. There are plenty of stores located around Paris.
Au Bal Masqué, located in the 4th arrondissement, is a Parisian classic known for its theatrical masks, wigs and costumes. Another great shop that is a budget-friendly option is the SO FÊTE Paris located in the 9th. They have tons of great accessories and face paint. Up in the hills of Montmartre, you can find all types of great costume and dress-up shops as well. Not to mention just walking around the Le Marais, you can find some great vintage shops for a more eco-friendly DIY costumes, like the Kilo shop.
A pro tip: start your costume hunt early. These shops can get busy in the week leading up to Halloween. A senior at AUP, Jackie Laplante, when asked about where she shops for Halloween, said, “Every year I always go visit a store near me called La Joie Pour Tous, where I find all the best last-minute costumes. Last year I bought a wig, and they always have a great selection of tights.”
Where to Celebrate Halloween Night in Paris
Now that you have your costume, where is the best place to celebrate this spooky night in Paris? Thankfully, Paris has tons of events going on. At the Cabaret Sauvage, every year they throw a huge annual themed party called Le Bal des Vampires that is always a classic, fun Halloween party. If you are looking for a club vibe with techno music, Rex Club hosts a Halloween night full of electronic music and costumes. In the mood for some bar hopping? O’Sullivans is an Irish bar that is always full of spooky vibes and costumes on Halloween. The options are endless, and the events just keep going. If you check out an app called Shotgun, you will be able to find even more Halloween events in Paris with a click of a button.
AUP’s Annual Halloween Bash
Each year, the American University of Paris is transformed into a haunted party for students to enjoy. Hosted by the student government, the event invites everyone to celebrate with costumes, music and yummy snacks. This year, the event was hosted on October 17th from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. It was an exciting party filled with lots of students dancing and spooky costumes.
After talking to the president of student government at AUP, Raneem Grira spoke super highly of the event, saying, “Every year, it's always one of my all-time favorite AUP activities. I just love to see what everyone comes dressed up as and enjoy some good music and drinks with my friends. This year was a great success, and I’m super pleased with the outcome.” Students are already excited for next year's Halloween party.
Blending Cultures and Sharing Traditions
Halloween in Paris will always feel special as it blends cultures. American traditions meet European charm. At AUP, the celebration embraces that mix perfectly, with international students from dozens of countries coming together to laugh, dance and celebrate. Whether you spend the night dancing in costume at a Parisian club or carving pumpkins with friends, the city offers countless ways to make Halloween special.
