Nearly 500 souls of all ages made their way through the Wangfujng Hilton’s haunted swamp over the weekend to take part in beijingkids’ 6th annual Halloween Brunch Ball.

Behind a backdrop of fantastic decorations and eerily decorated desserts, costumed kids from across Beijing carved pumpkins, played Halloween games and knocked on doors for a taste of traditional trick-or-treating.

Families and friends feasted out on everything from mummy cakes to brain pudding, along with Halloween candies collected from costumed characters throughout the hotel.

Check out our galleries of cute kids and happy parents here and here to see what you missed … in the mean time, here’s a preview:

Our thanks go out to the sponsors and service providers from this event, including the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing for their fantastic sets and themed buffet spread (and to their "first family" for serving as first-class swamp zombies); to Seven Ages Productions, producers of the English language production of Man of La Mancha to be staged in Beijing in November) for the enthusiastic volunteers; Bon Bon Bins for the custom candies; Photoland (aka Mishka Family Photography) for the professional portraits; and Nina Griffee and associates for the face-painting.

The most horrible, hair-raising time of the year is upon us! Yes, Halloween is less than a week away and we’ve got tons of suggestions on where to celebrate this year. The best event, of course, will be our very own beijingkids Halloween Costume Brunch Ball on October 27 and 28 at the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, but if you don’t have a ticket already, it is SOLD OUT and tickets will NOT be sold at the door. However, there are loads of other ghoulish happenings to keep your little monsters on a constant sugar high. Find the list after the jump!

Saturday, October 27

Blue Frog Halloween Party
Ages 7+. This popular burger chain is throwing a spooky Halloween celebration at its newest location at Indigo Mall. Featuring a live DJ, lucky draws, drink and snack specials, Halloween makeup and photo shoots, this kid-friendly event also includes a free shuttle service from any Blue Frog branch. RMB 100 (adult), RMB 50 (kids). 6.30pm. Blue Frog Indigo (8426 0017)

Halloween Jack O’Lantern Carving Contest and Costumes
All ages. Prefer to spend Halloween outside of the city? The Schoolhouse is hosting its fourth annual pumpkin carving contest; participants get to select and decorate or carve their own pumpkin (while quantities last). The finished products will be displayed and lit up, then judged in three categories: kids up to age 12, teens up to age 17, and adults. Winners can get free birthday parties, sleepovers, and getaways! Free. 11am-9pm. The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu (6162 6506)

Get Your Act Going for Halloween!
Ages 3-6. To celebrate its new theatre in Wangjing, theater education group Dreamaker is holding a Halloween party with costumes, face painting, music, and more. RSVP required by Oct 27. Free. 1.30-4pm. Dreamaker (158 1037 3395, anniequ@dreamaker.com.cn)

MAC Time’s Halloween Party
Ages 3-12. Art center MAC Time hosts a Halloween party with pumpkin carving, pumpkin soup tasting, pumpkin pizza, trick-or-treating, a haunted hospital visit, lucky draws, free photo portraits, and more. RSVP required before Oct 24. RMB 220. 5.30-7pm. MAC Time Community Art Center (8046 1820)

Sunday, October 28

Hilton Beijing Capital Airport’s Halloween Sunday Brunch
All ages. Did someone say "haunted maze"? Expect apple bobbing, trick-or-treating, Jack O’Lantern making, scary mask painting, and more at this special edition of Hilton Beijing Capital Airport’s Sunday brunch. While the kids play, Mom and Dad can dig into caviar, fresh lobster, wine, and more. RMB 298/person (alcohol-free), RMB 338 (includes wine, beer, and soft drinks), RMB 368 (free flow champagne), RMB 149 (ages 6-12), free for kids under 5. All prices subject to a 15% surcharge. 11.30am-3pm. Hilton Beijing Capital Airport (6458 8888 ext 8001)

People’s Run October: Halloween Edition
Ages 10+. Need to work off those Halloween sweets? Join Heyrobics for a high-octane spooky run. Here’s a tip: Show up in a fiendish costume and get a week’s worth of free Heyrobics sessions in November. RMB 30. 12.05-1.05pm. Chaoyang Park West Gate 3 (info@heyrobics.com)

Spooky Bubbalicious
All ages. Scarf down monsterrific food offerings, fight off zombies, carve a ghastly Jack O’Lantern, and get a spooky makeover at the face painting booth. RMB 428 (includes soft drinks, coffee, tea, and juice), RMB 458 (includes additional beer and wine), RMB 498 (free flow champagne). All prices subject to 15% surcharge. 11.30am-3pm. Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Beijing Chaoyang (5922 8880)

Zombie Run 2012
For teens and adults. Join Beijing’s first Zombie Run! Choose your camp (human or zombie), dress appropriately, then run like the dickens! Free (RSVP required). 8am-noon. Olympic Forest Park (f.simon@adoptaman.com)

Halloween Candy-Making
All ages. Can’t find your favorite candy? Then make it. The Hutong shows you how to make peanut butter cups, chocolate bars, and seasonal candies. Costumes are encouraged. RMB 280, RMB 220 (members). 2-4.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

All Weekend

beijingkids Halloween Costume Brunch Ball
All ages. Our consistently sold-out annual event features two days of pumpkin carving, face painting, free family portraits, trick-or-treating, goodie bags, sweets galore, and much more. RMB 300, RMB 230 (beijingkids Club members), RMB 50 (kids under age 3); RMB 2,500/table, RMB 1,800/table (beijingkids Club members). 10.30am-2pm. Hilton Beijing Wangfujing (5820 7700 ext 866, events@beijing-kids.com)

TreeHouse Halloween Spooky Party
Ages 3-12. TreeHouse Cafe and Playground is hosting three Halloween parties on October 27-28 and October 31. Party all day with games, songs, crafts, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating around Sanlitun SOHO, and a special "gross" kids’ menu. RSVP required. RMB 50. Noon-2pm (Oct 27-28), 5pm (Oct 31). TreeHouse Cafe and Playground (8590 0746, 158 1132 5578, thetreehousebj@yahoo.com)

Bilingual Halloween Show at China Puppet Theater
Ages 3-10. Mr. Magic and his team present an interactive bilingual Chinese and English puppet show called I Love Halloween for this spooktastic season. Price TBA. 9.40am and 11.40am. China Puppet Theater (6425 4847, 6424 3698)

Kids Halloween Party
All ages. Here’s one for the Shunyi folks! A-Z Kids invites kids and teens for a costume competition, prizes, haunted house, Halloween crafts, face painting, tattoos, and pumpkin pie-making with their chef. RSVP required. Price TBA. 2-5pm. A-Z Kids (8559 2883/6/9)

Halloween Fantasia at VIC
All ages. For Halloween, VIC has a special themed menu for its brunch buffet and lunch. Stay tuned for more details. Price TBA. 10am-3pm. VIC, Sofital Wanda Beijing (8599 6666 ext 6528, vic@sofitelwandabj.com)

Wednesday, October 31

The Great Hilton Beijing Pumpkin Carving Competition
All ages. Don your best costume and bring a carved pumpkin masterpiece to square off against the hotel’s chefs! The three most creative pumpkin entries and the best costume will win prizes. Plus, enjoy a Halloween-themed buffet at Elements. Free to attend pumpkin contest; RMB 208 (spooky buffet), free for kids under 10. 6-10pm. Hilton Beijing (5865 5000)

Halloween Screening: Night of the Living Dead
For teens and adults. Need a respite from all the Halloween parties? Drop by The Hutong for a screening of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, the mother of all zombie movies. Plus, find themed drinks and snacks! RMB 30. 7.30-10pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

For more grown-up events, check out the Beijinger‘s Halloween roundup.

Important: Please note that the all-teen edition of the beijingkids Halloween Costume Brunch Ball (originally scheduled for Oct 27) has been canceled due to lack of interest. Well, we gave it the old college try, but it looks like the young’ns are more interested in sneaking into the Yen Halloween party and the like. However, we won’t say no if your teen wants to volunteer at one of our two Halloween kid parties!

Special thanks to Paul Ryding and Mirah Yunaidi. Photo by beijingkids