Sleepy neighbourhoods across the State have come back from the dead as thousands of children hit the streets for a night of scares, screams and sugar.

From evil wizards and witches to Disney characters, and even a hot-dog-themed Dachshund, Victoria Park’s Willis Street was flooded with hundreds of families dressed in their best Halloween costumes for a night of trick-or-treating — the first Halloween on a Saturday in six years.

Coolbinia local Jessica Cheung and her family dressed as characters from Beauty and the Beast — Belle, The Beast, Lumiere and Mrs Potts — choices inspired by her five-year-old daughter, Sofia.

“I have a princess at home, so we decided to dress up around the princess,” she said.

“We’re having so much fun, so many lollies, it’s a sugar high.”

Hayley Cassidy’s seven-year-old daughter, Addison, and her best friend Eden Parker dressed as matching deadly blood-stained ballerinas.

“The girls do ballet so the girls picked the outfit out. My husband did all the make-up and gruesomeness, and I did the buns and their hair,” Hayley said.

“We go to school just around the corner and they block the streets off, it’s great every year.”

Alan Renwick’s two-year-old daughter, Lily, dressed as Zog the dragon, from her favourite picture book.

“This is her favourite, she likes Zog, so this is her dress-up outfit. She’s already bumped into one of her friends from daycare, which is great,” he said.

“She’s enjoying seeing all the other dragons and dinosaurs around the place.”

Victoria Park local Angela Flynn was trick-or-treating with her sons and his friends and said it was already a night to remember.

“It’s been wonderful, they’ve been really excited. It’s the first year the kids have been getting into it. All the kids go to school together and so we met down at the park and then make a start from here,” she said.

She said it was a bonus that Halloween was on a Saturday, saying it was “much better to organise”.

Ms Flynn’s son, Lewis, who was dressed as Mario, said he had already collected more than a dozen sweets, including a sherbet, lollipops and chocolate bars.

“The best part is going trick-or-treating,” he said.

Willis Street local Gerry Mee decked his house with dozens of spooky Halloween decorations, including plastic skeletons, ghosts and spiders.

He said he and his family had been decorating their house for years, noting “it’s getting bigger every year”.

“I had a washing basket full of sweets this morning, but it’s all gone now. The council donated some treats as well, so that was good and people donate some sweets as well,” he said.

“It’s so good for the street, it’s so good for the community.”

Six-year-old Willow came dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West and said her mother helped paint herself green.

“I’ve got lollies,” she said.

Party Source owner Ajay Malhotra said sales were up 30 to 40 per cent compared with this time last year, and said 2026 was likely “biggest Halloween ever”.

“We were always expecting it to be busier, being a Saturday Halloween, but it’s actually been much, much more than we expected,” he said.

“The kids’ side of it has been pretty steady. That’s always kind of been there, but I think adults getting into it is probably more of the change that we’ve seen.”

Saturday’s celebrations spilled out of the suburbs and into the city, with dozens of nightclubs and pubs joining in on the spooky festivities.

Seasons Halloween took over Wellington Square alongside thrill rides, tarot readers and haunted mazes, whilst Magnet House and Amplifier Bar teamed up for a dark, candlelit takeover.