FRESH FROM GDANSK /

The tradition to celebrate Halloween, the way it is done in the English-speaking countries, is fairly new in Poland, and Poles still seem to have a love and hate attitude towards it. However, many of them appreciate the excuse to go a bit crazy, put on a killer vampire or sexy kitten costume, paint that zombie look on their faces or simply admire all the other mummies, ghosts and superheroes roaming the streets at night.

Halloween falls on Tuesday this year, but since the following day, the 1st of November, is a public holiday, and so a work- and school-free day in Poland, the parties will be just as long and full-dimensional as they would be on a weekend. In Gdansk, the spookiest time of the year is celebrated accordingly, with costume parties and other scary attractions in almost every pub or club, but we do have our top picks, which we would like to share with you. Let's see where you can sink your fangs into a cocktail...

Pub Pułapka, a local favourite on Straganiarska Street, will have at least one pumpkin ale on tap. It will make its way to your glass through a baked pumpkin to add to the flavour. A Halloween costume will get you a big glass of this delicacy in the price of a small one. Also on the menu – special pumpkin shots, to be served by a perfectly scary bar staff. Not to mention, a hauntingly fun atmosphere in Pułapka is a dead cert.

The team at the Bunkier club loves Halloween and it shows. Even without any decorations, the ambience of the bunker building seems ideal for this kind of celebration. Step by to have a "bloody" good cocktail and a "scary burger". The admission is 20 PLN, but you can easily avoid it by dressing up as a monster of your choice. The upper dance floor will be energized by WhiteBoy with nu-disco, house and rnb sounds, while Crusader will fill the dance floor downstairs with electronic music spiced up with some rock tunes. A horrifying jury will chose the best costumes at midnight and award the costume-wearers with high-percentage prizes. What if you don't win? Worry not, 'cause hundreds of free shots will be distributed among the best-dressed witches and zombies, throughout the night.

Some of the parties will already take place on Friday and Saturday before. And so, the City of Angels club (Miasto Aniołów) invites to the Hardcore Angels Night Out on the 28th of October. A horror-like dress-up will get you in for free until 11 p.m. Otherwise, admission is 15 PLN. Waiting inside, are freaky steamy cocktails, a killer atmosphere and music served by Mikesz – one of the most dynamic dj's in Poland, according to the club.

Also on Saturday,  Halloween in Fahrenheit kicks off with a before party and a costume contest. Come dressed up, take a photo inside the club and share it in the comments of the dedicated post on their facebook fan page. The most hair-raising pics with the most likes (vote until 31.10) win vouchers for 250, 100 and 50 PLN, to be handed over and used at the bar during the proper Halloween event on Tuesday. The same concept applies in the club's sister  venues White Rabbit Saloon on Chmielna Street and Jack's Bar Sopot. Another highlight of the Fahrenheit celebrations will be a professional make-up artist, who'll bring out the evil in you by painting it on your faces – if requested.

It's hard to believe that, not so long ago, there was no such thing as Halloween in Poland and now the  carved pumpkins stare at you from every corner by the end of October. We resisted a bit, true, but how can you resist when it comes with so many delightfully scary reasons to be enjoyed? Have monster fun this Halloween in Gdansk!