Jurassic Lounge: Halloween Edition – Sydney’s Spookiest Night Out

Parents, we’ve done the Bluey shows, the soft play centres, and the endless weekend birthday parties. Now it’s our turn. The Australian Museum is throwing open its doors after dark for Jurassic Lounge: Halloween Edition — and it’s serving up drag queens, DJs, creepy science, and a whole lot of spooky fun.

On Saturday 25 October, the nation’s first museum transforms into the ultimate playground for grown-ups (18+ only, sorry kids). Tickets for the early waitlist sold out in just three days, which tells you everything you need to know: this is the Halloween event Sydney’s been waiting for.

The vibe? Party meets science experiment

Imagine dancing under the Museum’s famous whale skeleton while a Silent Scream Disco pumps out monster mash-ups. Picture Sydney’s drag royalty casting wicked spells in live performances that end in a dancefloor takeover. Add in DJs Aunty Jonny and Jason de Cox, and you’ve got the ultimate adults-only mash-up of fright and delight.

And because it’s the Australian Museum, there’s a nerdy twist too:

• Learn what happens after death in a Mortuary Makeover with the resident taxidermist.
• Catch Dying on Stage, a darkly funny take on life, death and everything in between.
• Explore locked cabinets in Exoskeletons in the Closet (expect slippery, spiney, shiny things).
• Hear First Nations performer Sara Khan spin terrifying bush yarns in The Fright Stuff.

Dress to distress

This is not the night for “just jeans and a nice top.” Jurassic Lounge encourages guests to go all out with costumes, and prizes are up for grabs for the most imaginative outfits. Think horror-glam, zombie chic, or whatever un-dead alter ego you’ve been saving for the right occasion.

There are also craft corners for those who want hands-on fun: devilish drawing with illustrator Sami Bayly, special-effects scar making at Scab Lab, and Horror-gami paper art. Basically, whether you’re in it for the party, the science, or the sheer chaos of it all — there’s something to sink your teeth into.

Bonus: RELICS Exhibition included

Your ticket also gets you entry to the blockbuster exhibition RELICS: A New World Rises — where LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler imagine a post-human world ruled by minifigures. It’s eerie, clever, and the perfect side-quest for your spooky night out.

Event details

What: Jurassic Lounge: Halloween Edition (18+)
When: Saturday 25 October 2025, 6:30pm – 10pm
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Cost: $38 Members, $48 Non-Members (includes entry to RELICS: A New World Rises)
Tickets: australian.museum/event/jurassic-lounge-halloween-edition

Why you need to go

Because sometimes parents need a night off that’s about us — no sticky fingers, no Paw Patrol soundtrack, no 6am wake-up calls (well, we can’t help with that one). Jurassic Lounge: Halloween Edition is your excuse to dress up, dance hard, learn something weird, and sip a drink surrounded by skeletons.

It’s equal parts spooky, silly, and spectacular. And trust us — tickets will not last.