We get this a lot: “BIGGEST PARTY EVER,” “MELBOURNE’S BEST [INSERT PARTY HERE]” and “LOOK AT THE FUCKING SIZE OF THIS THING,” but when 5 Dimension say it, they’re actually telling the truth. After a hugely successful, sold-out Halloween at the Haunted Chalet last year in Wattle Park, the reigning kings and queens of Melbourne’s Halloween bashes are back for a second instalment, this time in South Melbourne.
Marquee, where this year’s party of truly epic proportions is set to be held, has a fairly spooky history itself. Built in 1996, the venue is close to an area of land previously home of Melbourne’s first children’s asylums. Because of this, they tell us, it’s rarely opened its doors for Halloween for fear of awakening the spirits of the children who once lived in the area. Fair enough. Apparently, the sound of children laughing has been known to echo down the stairs and through the foyer, and you’ll probably know if The Exorcist and an eight-year-old Macaulay Culkin are anything to go by, children are scary as fuck. There’ve also been sightings of the spirit of a woman who was thrown out a window appearing near the place she’s believed to have fallen. Needless to say, it’s a pretty damn appropriate location to throw the Halloween party of the year and they’ve got a mammoth lineup of performers, music and other things on offer. So where do we begin?
First of all, the venue is absolutely huge. Spanning over two levels, there are three bars including a rooftop smokers’ area and music to suit everyone’s party taste. The top floor will be playing commercial bangers and Top 40 hits, while the lower floor DJs will be appealing to the metal/punk and alt crowds. Happy hour will take place from when the doors open until 11pm, which means $4 basics, $3 wet pussy shots and $10 spooky cocktails, free Meko coconut water and Hell Energy drinks all night. Need more? You got it.
Special effects makeup artists will be assisting you for all your gory details for freezies. If you’ve ever looked this stuff up in Google images and seen how realistic this stuff is, you’ve probably shat yourself like we have. Characters of the horror variety will be roaming around to build atmosphere and scare the living daylights out of you, while the entire venue will be decked out with all the appropriate embellishments of course.
Appearing for the entertainment of the night are [breathe in], Zia Electric, one of Melbourne’s finest gorelesque (yes, it’s a thing) dancers will be mixing sci-fi, gore, clowning and absurdity to create tasty viewing treats, dancers Jesyka Rose and Kc Kynk, fire twirlers, sword swallowers, DARK illusionists, acts of electrocution, human blockhead, Wednesday Adams-inspired burlesque, fire eating, steam punk magicians, pain-proof acts that will keep you on the edge of your seat and much, much more [aaaand breathe out].
It goes without saying this is a costume party, so dress to impress and $1,000 in cold, hard cash could be yours for best costume, there are also heaps of other prizes to be won, and you know how much we love free shit. If last year’s event is anything to go by, this one will sell out in advance so be quick.
Photo by Beau Brendon, Shutterpunk Fotography
MELBOURNE’S BIGGEST HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE PARTY is happening Friday October 31 (duh) at Marquee, 127 Dorcas St, South Melbourne. First and second round tickets are sold out so get in quick to secure the third and final release. Tickets will be for sale at $100 on the door if still available, but mention you saw this in Beat to get two for one entry. Doors from 9pm and go to Trybooking for tix.
