-Jagruti Katkar
In Panaji, Rahul Gupta is organising a spooky board-game night on October 31, featuring his Halloween edition of Werewolf . From costume parties and spooky board games to comedy shows and art workshops, Halloween celebrations in Goa are taking on different forms, with schools, residential colonies, restaurants and pubs joining in. Alexandra Menezes and her husband, Jonathan Braganca, co-owners of a party store in Altinho, Panaji, say the festival has gained popularity, with customers looking for costumes, masks and decorations. “Halloween has really picked up in Goa. Many schools are hosting Halloween parties, colonies are organising trick-or-treating, and restaurants and pubs are also hosting Halloween parties,” they say. Harry Potter merchandise, Wednesday-themed costumes and Ghostface masks are among the popular choices this year. “We have a wide variety of high-quality latex masks that are easy to wear and look very realistic. New additions include large skeletons and skull-faced props,” they add. ART, GAMES AND A LITTLE SPOOKINESS In Agonda, Mahima is hosting a Halloween-themed art workshop where participants can make pumpkin-inspired sun catchers using natural leaves. She shares, “The workshop involves making haunted houses, spooky bats, paper-mâché pumpkins, skeletons using matchsticks and mini coffins from cardboard. Participants also make spider webs using twigs and thread and ghouls from napkins. The game replaces werewolves with a secret coven of witches hiding among villagers, with ghosts and trick-or-treat surprises adding to the suspense.
It can accommodate up to 30 players. COMEDY, COSTUMES AND QUIZZES Navin Noronha of Comedy Cartel is hosting his first Halloween comedy show in Anjuna on October 31. Rutuja Dhuwali, who runs a restaurant in Anjuna, is hosting a costume party on October 30. For book lovers, Dogears Bookshop in Margao is hosting a spooky reading session on October 31, inviting guests to turn up in their favourite costumes.
The scares don’t come from a screen, they come from the person sitting next to you, who might just be a witch,” Gupta says. “We decided to flip it, where our comics are the ones dressing up and doing jokes in that character,” Noronha says. “With Goa buzzing with parties and celebrations, we wanted to offer something a little different — a night that brings people together through good food, music, laughter, and a touch of Halloween mischief,” Dias says.
“I’ve always loved Werewolf, but for Halloween I wanted something that felt like ours. So I redesigned it: the wolves became a coven of witches, and we added trick-or-treats and ghosts to keep everyone guessing. Comedians will dress up as popular culture characters and perform jokes in character. Guests can dress up if they wish, while enjoying music and drinks. On the same evening, Andrea Judith Dias, head chef at a restaurant in Bastora, is organising spooky quizzes, riddles and thriller karaoke alongside food, drinks and desserts. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.