Sydney queer costume party Halloween Wh*res has been cancelled for 2023, blaming what appears to be cost and being unable to find an appropriate venue.
Typically held at the Metro Theatre in Sydney’s CBD, the event is operated by 4the.love and has been running almost every year since 2007. It was the city’s largest queer Halloween party until last year, when rival party promoter GAYM Entertainment’s Horrorween festival launched at Moore Park’s Hordern Pavillion, attracting more than 3000 people.
In an email sent on Thursday to past attendees, 4the.love said that in planning this year’s party “we were whorrified to find ticket prices would have had to increase monstrously”.
“So we spent a hideous amount of time conjuring up an all new, more affordable, thrilling monster gala for you all that really had our juices oozing,” it said. “Regretfully, in recent weeks that opportunity vanished due to mysterious players – spooky!”
It said that after a “further exhaustive search, other available haunts appeared disastrously inferior.
“So, rather than deliver hideously substandard fun or a nightmare priced experience, Wh*res will pause for 2023.”
An ARQ Sydney source, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said the Darlinghurst venue was in preliminary chats with 4the.love for Halloween Whores to be hosted there, but nothing was ever confirmed.
While those discussions were under way, Poof Doof secured Saturday nights at the venue after announcing its move from Kinselas Hotel to ARQ.
Poof Doof confirmed to GSN that its annual HalloQween party will return for 2023 at ARQ “with more details revealed soon”. Last year’s event attracted 2000 attendees at ivy.
Responding to a list of questions GSN put to 4the.love about ARQ and rumours to do with another venue, it did not deny it approached ARQ.
But it said “assumptions around venues/timelines in some of your questions are off the mark”. “We’ve said everything we need to in our email to our 4the.lovers,” it said.
4the.love’s cancellation of Wh*res comes after it told GSN in July that it would be back for 2023.
Those seeking to attend a large queer event for Halloween will now be left with the option of going to a queer club that holds a themed event or going to something larger like GAYM’s Horrorween festival.
The Horrorween festival’s main party – to be held at the Hordern on Saturday, October 28 – will showcase local, interstate and global queer entertainment at a venue that has the capacity to host 5500 people.
The main festival at the Hordern will cost $162.95 (tickets are in the third stage of their release). But in a new addition this year, GAYM has partnered with boutique Paddington hotel Oxford House to turn it into what it’s calling “Horrorhouse”.
Horrorhouse hotel packages start from $999 and entitle purchasers to two nights’ accommodation; access to an exclusive guest-only pre-party; an opening party ticket; a Horrorween festival ticket; and a ticket to the Morning Gory after-party (early Sunday morning).
There are also $256.95 VIP tickets available for the main Horrorween festival that provide access to a VIP entry lane, VIP grandstand access, VIP bar service and a ticket to the Morning Gory after-party.
In 2022, the Horrorween festival featured more than 50 DJs, artists and performers, bespoke large-scale production shows, music across an indoor and outdoor stage, roaming talent, and a “scare-zone” entry.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
