Halloween may not be a traditional Bulgarian holiday, but traditions are made over time. Over the past decade, celebrating Halloween in Sofia has became a favourite pastime for children and adults alike. While the festival’s roots lie far from these streets, the city now glows with charming decorations: pumpkins perched on shop windows, vampire fangs dangling from displays, and other playful clichés of the season. Clever local businesses have embraced the occasion, and this seasonal enthusiasm adds a whimsical sparkle to Sofia’s urban landscape.
Visitors to Sofia during late October can choose how they wish to engage with Halloween. Those seeking immersive, family-friendly activities will find the Doctor’s Garden and Vidas Art Arena especially rewarding. Guests looking for high-energy spectacles and theatrical thrill should not miss Toplocentrala. Across the city, cafés, bars, and local businesses contribute to a playful atmosphere with themed décor, music, and special menus.
- What is Halloween Like in Sofia?
- Mish Mash Fest: Local Design with a Halloween Twist
- Halloween at Toplocentrala: A Spectacle of Music and Fear
- Halloween Festival Vidas: The Ghostly Carnival
- Should I Bring Candies?
- Why Some Bulgarians Dislike Halloween?
- Sofia’s Seasonal Charm This Halloween
- FAQ About the Halloween in Sofia
- Useful Link
What Is Halloween Like in Sofia?
For many residents, Halloween is simply an excuse to have fun, don a costume, and enjoy a night out. Others, however, view it less favourably. Some object to the commercialisation of the holiday, while others are wary of adopting a Western tradition with its own historical and religious origins. On 1 November, Bulgaria marks the Day of the National Revival Leaders, honouring educators and revolutionaries. This adds another layer of complexity to Halloween’s reception, with a subtle tension between imported festivities and local traditions.
Sofia is a large city, and there is space for both revelry and restraint. Visitors wandering the streets during late October can expect a few cafés and bars decked out in themed décor, and it is not uncommon to spot locals and tourists in full costume.
You will spot offers for parties where to celebrate Halloween in Sofia. There are also family-friendly Halloween events. Whether you choose to immerse yourself in the fun, observe from a distance, or avoid the busiest events entirely, the choice is yours.
Mish Mash Fest: Local Design with a Halloween Twist
- Where: Doctorska Garden (Doctors’ Garden), behind the National Library
- When: 31 October (midday) until 2 November 2025 (afternoon)
- Entry to Mish Mash Fest is FREE, making it an accessible option for locals and visitors alike.
One of Sofia’s most creative seasonal events is the Mish Mash Fest, held in the Doctor’s Garden, the section tucked behind the National Library. From midday on 31 October through the afternoon of 2 November 2025, this festival showcases a special selection of Bulgarian designers and creators, each presenting themed Halloween collections.
Visitors can explore an array of locally made products: from bespoke clothing and accessories to jewellery, ceramics, and artwork, each item reflecting the individuality and craftsmanship of its maker.
Street food aficionados find themselves spoilt for choice, with Halloween-inspired treats and special beverages prepared by some of Bulgaria’s top street food artisans.
For families, the festival offers more than shopping. Children can enjoy themed workshops where they create their own spooky decorations or learn to transform themselves into terrifying characters under the guidance of skilled face painters.
Music fills the air, creating a festive atmosphere that’s both playful and immersive.
Halloween at Toplocentrala: A Spectacle of Music and Fear
- Where: South Park, Toplocentrala Event Centre, access through the Park Mall and the park alleys
- When: 31 October 2025 from 16:00 until 24:00
- TICKETS from Eventim Bulgaria or at the DOOR. Adults and children 13+: 15 BGN (~7.50 EUR). Children 7-12: 10 BGN (~5 EUR)
From the early afternoon until late at night, Toplocentrala transforms into a pulsating hub of music, games, and thrilling activities.
Highlights include a cosplay parade, a photo corner area for capturing chilling memories, and a variety of quizzes, including a special anime-themed challenge. all set to a soundtrack of K-pop and other thematic music.
A bar zone caters to the brave with cocktails, while sweet treats are available for all who fancy something sugary.
The centrepiece of the evening is a grand spectacle in the Main Hall. With amphitheatre-style seating and a stage comparable in scale to Aniventure Comic Con, the hall becomes the scene of a dramatic show featuring some of the most fearsome characters from horror legends. Villains, undead creatures, witches, fairies, zombies, and reanimated monsters come together in a breathtaking shock performance, seemingly alive from the pages of horror legends and films. The combination of music, theatricality, and immersive decor promises to create an unforgettable Halloween experience.
Halloween Festival Vidas: The Ghostly Carnival
- Where: Vidas Art Arena, Sofia Velodrome in Borisova Garden
- When: 31 October 2025. You can select one of the time slots for your visit: 11:00–14:00, 14:30–17:30 or 18:00–21:00
- TICKETS from Ticket Station Bulgaria or at the DOOR. Single ticket: from 22 BGN (~11 EUR), two adults and a child 4+: 44 BGN (~22 EUR), two adults+two children: 66 BGN (~33 EUR)
Another highlight of the season is the Halloween Festival Vidas, held at the Vidas Art Arena. This year’s theme, “Ghostly Carnival,” promises a thrilling, one-day event that transports visitors into a world of mystical characters, spectacular shows, and a multitude of activities for both children and adults.
For the Ghostly Carnival, the organisers have incorporated the elaborate sets from the musical The Book of Dreams, blending them seamlessly with a dark circus aesthetic. Visitors are greeted by a visually rich, immersive environment designed to spark imagination while retaining a delightfully eerie atmosphere.
Within the festival, the Carnival Stage offers a full programme of music, games, and magical performances. A Halloween-themed science show captivates young minds, while magicians delight the audience with surprise tricks. Children can engage in interactive workshops, including arts and crafts, scientific experiments, magical school sessions, and face painting. A circus maze by New Circus and interactive science labs further enhance the experience.
Family-friendly attractions abound: a carousel for older children and adults, a miniature train and roundabout for the little ones, as well as inflatable games and play areas. This year, a first-of-its-kind children’s paintball course will be available for kids over eight, providing an adventurous activity within the arena.
Should I Bring Candies?
Of course, the Halloween festivities in Sofia preserve the much-loved tradition of Trick or Treat. There are plenty of special pumpkin and skull designs on the stands and lurking behind candy stores. Many of those special Halloween packaging and offers. Be ready with little packaged sweets in your pockets for children who energetically run around asking the now-famous question: “Trick or treat?” and you will love the smile on their faces.
The combination of decorations and masked children and adults makes the Halloween in Sofia a sweet memorable experience.
Why Some Bulgarians Dislike Halloween?
Despite the excitement, Halloween remains a subject of debate. Some Bulgarians are viewing the holiday as a clash between traditional and non-traditional celebrations. Social media and online debates frequently juxtapose local customs (such as the springtime martenitsi or the masked kukeri festivals) against imported Western practices, often perceived as American cultural influence.
The East-West dichotomy here has political, economic, and cultural dimensions. For some, the alignment of Halloween with the Catholic All Saints’ Day, juxtaposed against Bulgaria’s national observances on 1 November, sparks a symbolic conflict.
Yet this tension does little to dampen the enthusiasm of those eager to explore new forms of seasonal enjoyment, blending imported traditions with local flair. If you meet someone who clearly stands against Halloween, now you now why.
Sofia’s Seasonal Charm This Halloween
Halloween in Sofia offers a fascinating glimpse of how global traditions intersect with local culture. The city balances imported festivities with its own history and customs, creating an experience that is simultaneously familiar and uniquely Bulgarian.
Visitors can wander through decorated streets, explore imaginative festival spaces, and witness a community embracing the playful and the spooky in equal measure. The city’s mix of creativity, culture, and seasonal spirit ensures that every visitor can find their own way to celebrate or simply enjoy the spectacle from the sidelines. Halloween in Sofia offers entertainment for people of all ages.
FAQ About Halloween in Sofia
You can… but the fun of Halloween is to look a little less ordinary. If you want to feel part of the festivities, you can buy one or two eyeliners or makeup pencils from any drugstore or cosmetics shop and join the fun with some simple, minimal-effort face paint.
Pepco, KIK and Sinsay stores have budgeted selection of costumes for the Halloween night for boys and girls. Their selection for adults is limited but you can find something as well. The last minute items might have limited selection or sizes.
Yes, there are a few companies that offer costumes. Carnival for You and Partyhouse are among those. The last minute selection might be limited due to increased demand for the Halloween night.
The masks and costumes worn by performers are usually designed to amuse and fit the Halloween theme. With proper explanation to the kids what is Halloween about and why everyone is dressed in very untypical way, the fears can turn into smiles.
Hans & Gretel store on Vitosha Street is a popular shop with candies and fairy tale interior. For Halloween they add extra charm to the place by adding thematic decoration and preparing special treats like gummy spiders, crunchy skulls, or jelly ghosts.
Useful Links
- Mish Mash Halloween Fest on Facebook: facebook.com/events/752491047436962
- Toplocentrala official website: toplocentrala.bg
- Toplocentrala on Facebook: facebook.com/toplocentrala
- Vidas Art Arena: vidasartarena.bg
- Vidas Art Arena on Facebook: facebook.com/events/836590488800793
- Hans & Gretel candy shop: hansandgretel.bg
Explore how Sofia, Bulgaria celebrates Halloween 2025 with style and imagination. From free local fairs like Mish Mash Fest to thrilling shows at Toplocentrala and the magical Ghostly Carnival at Vidas Art Arena, the city offers something for everyone. Families, locals, and tourists alike can enjoy workshops, parades, spooky performances, and themed food. Even though Halloween isn’t a traditional Bulgarian holiday, Sofia’s creative energy transforms late October into a season of fun, fantasy, and eerie charm.
#Halloween in Sofia 2025, #Halloween events Sofia, #Sofia Halloween festival, #Halloween for families, #Bulgaria, #Things to do in Sofia October 2025, #Halloween parties Sofia, #Halloween in Sofia 2025, #Halloween events Sofia, #Sofia Halloween festival, #Halloween for families, #Bulgaria, #Things to do in Sofia October 2025, #Halloween parties Sofia, #Vidas Art Arena Halloween, #Halloween at Toplocentrala, #Halloween with kids Sofia