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Halloween in Puerto Vallarta

by Vallarta Online Staff |

Halloween in Vallarta is a mix of new traditions, with "trick or treaters" of all ages, from tourists and locals alike to the older tradition of Halloween being All Hallows Eve, the beginning of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. (Read previous Halloween: The World's Oldest Holiday)

Calaveras, altares and Trick or Treat

This years Halloween events were bigger and grander than ever as Halloween fell on a Tuesday evening with the two days of Dia de Los Muertos falling on Wednesday and Thursday.

The commercial side of Halloween has recently grown in Vallarta with many bars and restaurants advertising in advance Halloween events and costume contests. In the last few years, more of the local children and parents are dressing up in costume and getting into the festivities. Costumes and giant bags of candy are for sale in many of the retailers such as Wal-Mart, Party Land and Comercial Mexicana.

This year, City Hall hosted an alter competition from October 31st through November 2nd. Participants were invited to create their own altars and display them in and around City Hall. Participants were judged on authenticity, traditionalism, originality and creativity and the event will be open to the public.

Party Night

Many bars on the Malecon and on Olas Altas had Halloween events and costume contests.

Kit Kat, on Pulpito street in the Romantic Zone offers dance with music, prizes, a spooky stage and special cocktails for a cheap cover.

Every year, Hilo bar is decorated for Halloween and offers a funny costume contest. The majority of people celebrating Halloween on the Malecon, Carlos O'Brians, The Zoo Bar, De Santos and Hard Rock Cafe. And the favorites on Olas Altas, Andale's Bar and PacoPaco.


Theater Halloween night

If your tastes run beyond costume contests, check out the Santa Barbara Theater with the premiere of Little Shop of Horrors, a performance wonderfully silly, disarmingly touching, romantically sentimental, campy musical classic that entertains non-stop. (Read more of Little Shop of Horrors).

If you plan on visiting Vallarta around this time, be sure to pack a costume and be prepared for three nights of festivities.

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