Halloween weekend: Four parties with no excuses for a trick or treat

JUST as the rest of the world dusts off its costumes for Halloween, Harare has decided to throw its own kind of spell this Saturday, October 31, 2026.

One woven entirely out of bass lines, old-school nostalgia and good company.

Four distinct parties are competing for the city’s attention this weekend and choosing just one may prove the trickiest trick of the night.

Afro Centric: Rooted in Culture

At The Backspace on Victoria Drive in Newlands, the night belongs to Afro Centric, a celebration that wears its culture proudly on its sleeve.

South African star NaakMusiQ headlines, flanked by a formidable home crew in Nutty O, Holy Ten and Atenda Chinx, with Tylermadeit, Shaku Chante, DJ Naida and DJ Rush keeping the turntables busy between sets.

Tickets start at US$10 for early birds, climbing to US$15 and US$20 general at the gate, while VIP runs from US$30 in advance to US$50 on the night.

For those wanting to go all out, VVIP tables are on offer too.

A table for two at US$200 comes with free shisha and a US$100 voucher, scaling all the way up to a table for 10 at US$1 000.

Tickets are available at Booties Pharmacies, MedOrange Pharmacies and at the venue itself.

R&B Dancehall Lovers Turns One

Over at Belgravia Sports Club, Grown & Sexy is marking a full year of R&B Dancehall Lovers, and they are doing it in style.

Gates swing open at midday for an afternoon built entirely around nostalgia, with a soundtrack dedicated to the golden hits of the 90s and 2000s.

Camping chairs are welcome, though cooler boxes are firmly off the list.

Tickets are available online via MegaTicketAfrica or in person at Clouds2You outlets in Village Walk, Highlands, Avondale and the RGM International Airport.

Bookings can be made on 0771 674 200.

Urban Grooves Meets RnB

Across town at Maize & Mingle Cafe on Arcturus Road, GLO is hosting an evening that doubles as a love letter to Zimbabwean urban grooves.

From 4pm until 11pm, expect denim, deep cuts and a guest list reading like a who’s who of the genre’s golden era: Plaxedes Wenyika, Trevor Dongo, Roki, Roy & Royce, Betty Makaya, Alexio Kawara, Bongo Maffin, Leonard Mapfumo, Extra Large, Shame and Nathan.

The dress code is firmly “Oldskul Chic” and the door is strictly 18 and over.

Advance tickets cost US$15, rising to US$20 at the gate, with reservations taken on +263 7 86484161.

A Night With Killer T

For those chasing a grittier, more intimate affair, Steak House in Ardbennie hosts a night built entirely around dancehall heavyweight Killer T and his Hot Property Band.

Cello Culture and Transit Crew provide support, with DJ Stuart and DJ Slow rounding out the decks.

It is another strictly 18-plus affair, with admission set at US$15 for two and VIP also priced at US$15 modest cover for a promised big night.

Drink responsibly is the watchword here.

Whether your taste runs towards Afrobeat royalty, dancehall nostalgia, denim-clad urban grooves or Killer T’s unmistakable growl, Harare has made sure there is no excuse to stay home this Halloween weekend.

Pick your tribe, book your table, and let the city do what it does best.