Halloween to spread over four days on the Sydney waterfront

 

Halloween used to be a purely American event. 

But, like so many American trends, it has spread globally. 

Sydney will be fully involved when Ghost In The Rocks runs from October 29 to November 1 - yes, a one-day festival now runs over four. 

Ghost in The Rocks is promoted as "transforming one of Sydney’s oldest precincts into a huge open-air Halloween playground", with more than 300,000 people expected across the festival this year.

George Street and the Overseas Passenger Terminal will close to traffic from 7pm to midnight on the Friday and Saturday, opening up The Rocks from end to end for live music, DJs, food and drink, roaming performers and large-scale Halloween installations.

The precinct will be transformed, with giant tentacles emerging from buildings, six-metre spiders taking over the laneways and streets filled with colour, lighting and Halloween theming. 

And the street festival and all live performances are completely free across all four nights. You's have to pay me to attend, but that's just me. 

See here for more details: https://ghostfestival.com.au/

Halloween wines: a serious crime?

So you thought Halloween was a fun festival that remembers the dead but is enjoyed by children?

Yep. But it is also apparently the chance to flog some cheap wine.

The 19 Crimes label, known for featuring criminals and rappers on its labels, has released some special edition wines in the US and UK markets featuring Dracula and Frankenstein.

Controversy is likely over whether such label are appropriate - but I guess any publicity is good publicity.

"19 Crimes has joined forces with Universal Monsters to unveil their spookiest pours yet of a delicious Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon featuring Dracula and Frankenstein," the press release spruiks perkily.

"The limited-edition wines are launching just in time for Halloween and bring Universal Pictures' classic monster characters to life with newly reimagined artwork, featuring glow-in-the-dark labels and a new boundary pushing AR experience."

Now not many adults I know are attracted by glow-in-the-dark labels, so what exactly is the target market here?

"19 Crimes and Universal Monsters is the perfect collaboration for Halloween and an opportunity to introduce 19 Crimes to brand new enthusiasts," says Treasury Americas Chief Marketing Officer Carl Evans.

The question is: Just how old are the possible new enthusiasts?

"You'll be able to hear Dracula and Frankenstein come to life on the label through augmented reality, inviting people to experience wine in a rebellious but fun and engaging way, which is the heart of 19 Crimes," Evans says.

I'm not impressed. But then I'm not 12 years old.

How to make your Halloween festivities a little more fruity

I don't really get this Halloween thing.

What was once a uniquely American pastime - like school massacres and drive-by shootings - is now hugely popular around the world, and particularly in Australia.

As well as meaning you are likely to be bothered by kids knocking at your door: "trick or treat or clip around the ear", there are also special drinks for the occasion.

And in a whacky twist, Queensland farmers are encouraging Australians to carve pineapples instead of pumpkins.

Pure Gold Pineapples said Australians wanting to support their local industry should pick a pineapple instead of a pumpkin to carve as their Australian Halloween tradition.

They encourage that first you carve your pineapple with the kids, then save the waste to make an adult-friendly evening cocktail.

So, here is the Bacardi Pineapple Potion:

Ingredients:

60ml Bacardi Spiced Rum
20ml pineapple Juice
+Pineapple wedge

Method: Fill a high ball glass with ice, add Bacardi Spiced and top with chilled pineapple juice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

That might put a smile on your dial while the neighbourhood kids are being a pest.  

 

For more Halloween-inspired cocktail recipes head to the BACARDÍ website