Zombies Take Over Newquay: Thousands Join Cornwall’s Biggest Halloween Celebration

Newquay was overrun by the undead on Saturday 25th October, as thousands of people descended on the town for the annual Spooky Newquay Zombie Crawl – the frightful finale to the week-long Spooky Newquay festival.

The popular free event, organised by Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) with support from Experience Newquay, proved to be the biggest and most gruesome yet, filling the streets with eerie energy, creepy costumes and plenty of Halloween cheer.

Family Fun and Frightful Festivities

From 11am, families joined in a packed day of free Halloween-themed activities. There was frightful face painting, pumpkin carving, circus skills, spooky storytelling and wound-making workshops spread throughout the town.

Local venues including Ralph’s, Project 83, Concho Lounge, Choukette, Saltsheds, Saltd, and Newquay Library joined in the fun, transforming into creative hubs for the day.

Crowds also gathered at the Killacourt, where Titan the Robot entertained audiences with his mix of music and comedy before making way for performances by Bounce Dance Academy, 4 Motion, Cornwall Theatre School, and Hotch Potch.

The Big Crawl

At 3pm, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. Thousands of terrifyingly transformed participants shuffled, groaned and danced through the streets from Station Parade to Alma Place in the monstrous Zombie Crawl, creating a jaw-dropping spectacle that thrilled onlookers and brought the town to life.

As night fell, spooky after-parties and discos carried on the celebrations, while the Halloween spirit continued throughout the week with the Spooky Halloween Trail, Spooky Trenance Trail, and a host of monster deals from local businesses.

“A Frightful Success”

Mark Warren, Love Newquay + Newquay BID Manager, said, “This year’s Zombie Crawl surpassed all expectations. The atmosphere was electric, the creativity on show was incredible, and it was fantastic to see so many families, residents and visitors getting involved. We estimate thousands attended, making it one of Newquay’s biggest and most successful community events to date.”

“Spooky Newquay is about more than Halloween fun – it’s about bringing people together and supporting local businesses. The energy and enthusiasm from everyone involved have been phenomenal. We’re already looking forward to making next year’s event even bigger.”

Supporting the Local Economy

The Spooky Newquay Zombie Crawl was organised by Newquay BID with support from Experience Newquay on behalf of Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Fund. The festival forms part of a wider programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, designed to strengthen Newquay’s year-round visitor economy, celebrate local culture, and support the town’s businesses.