Sainte-Croix Wildlife Park | Rhodes
Halloween Festival in Moselle
Beasts and Witches Festival
Category
From 17 October to 1 November 2026, the Beasts & Witches festival returns to Moselle for its 9th edition.
Ghosts, witches and fantastical creatures take over the region… while strange cases begin to resurface.
CI Photo
Château de Saint-Sixte | CiPhoto
Discover the Beasts & Witches programme
Haunted castles, fantastical creatures, animals, underground passages and nights filled with strange encounters… During the autumn half-term holidays, Moselle takes a walk on the dark side.
With Beasts & Witches, little monsters, families and thrill-seekers can enjoy dozens of Halloween events all across Moselle. Choose your level of fright… and get ready to enter the festival!
But some strange happenings go far beyond the programme…
The events tell only part of the story.
To extend the experience, 5 themed dossiers invite you to discover Moselle from a different perspective. Each one explores its own world, area and unique way of experiencing Halloween: fortresses, creatures, darkness, legends or animals.
Explore them at your own pace and find the kind of thrill that suits you best.
5 dossiers, 5 worlds to discover. Which one would you choose first?
Château de Malbrouck | G. Ramon
DOSSIER NO. 01 – Ghosts of the Fortresses
Castles and fortifications preserve the memory of those who once passed through them. But some seem to have forgotten to leave… From Malbrouck to Sierck-les-Bains, ancient stone walls, mysterious stories and unsettling apparitions give autumn nights a whole new atmosphere.
P. Gisselbrecht | Ville de Metz
DOSSIER NO. 02 – The Creature Roaming the City
In Metz, strange creatures hide among the old stone buildings and even on the façades. Gargoyles, monsters and witches appear where you least expect them. Between heritage, unusual visits and Halloween experiences, keep your eyes open: the city reveals a surprising bestiary.
Parc Explor Wendel | CiPhoto
DOSSIER NO. 03 – When the Lights Go Out
Sometimes, all it takes is for the lights to go out for a place to become completely unrecognisable. Former industrial sites, underground passages, flames and darkness create the perfect setting for visitors who think they are not afraid of the dark.
Citadelle de Bitche | B. Maltor
DOSSIER NO. 04 – Legends Never Die
Some stories are passed down from generation to generation without ever truly disappearing. Citadels, deep forests, underground passages and mysterious tales: around Bitche and Sarreguemines, the line between history and legend can sometimes become difficult to distinguish.
Parc animalier de Saint-Croix | M. Bricard
DOSSIER NO. 05 – On the Trail of the Beasts
Strange tracks have been spotted deep in the forests and wide-open spaces of southern Moselle. Animals, creatures and little monsters lead young and old along a trail where nature and imagination meet. A family adventure to enjoy together… as long as no one gets lost along the way.
Beasts & Witches events not to be missed
Some events have already caught our attention…
Among all the events announced this year, a few unusual happenings deserve special attention. Castles, wildlife parks, former mines, industrial sites and forest trains take on a whole new appearance during Beasts & Witches.
Here are some of the highlights of the 2026 edition to add to your calendar now.
Not to be missed
Château des Ducs de Lorraine | Émilie Massion CCB3F
Sierck Castle (coming soon)
Walygator | A.Guerriero
Walloween at Walygator (coming soon)
Château de Sainte-Sixte | A.Brahimi
Saint-Sixte Castle (coming soon)
Parc animalier de Sainte-Croix | L.Beckrich
A story that goes back much further…
Rommelbootzen came before Halloween pumpkins
The strange phenomena seen today may not be so new after all.
Long before Halloween pumpkins took over the month of October, strange illuminated faces were already glowing through autumn nights in Moselle.
Parc animalier de Sainte-Croix | L.Beckrich
On All Saints’ Night, people once hollowed out beets, carved frightening faces into them and placed a candle inside. These Rommelbootzen were intended, among other things, to ward off wandering souls which, according to local beliefs, could return among the living at that time.
This tradition has a name: Rommelbootzennaat, the Night of the Grinning Beets.
Even today, particularly at Saint-Sixte Castle in Freistroff, this Moselle tradition is brought back to life. The story of Beasts & Witches therefore began long before 2026…
Find your refuge
After a day spent following trails and facing a few creatures, you will need to find somewhere to spend the night.
Hotels, holiday cottages, guest houses, unusual accommodation or places tucked away in the heart of nature: choose your refuge and continue the adventure the next morning.
House
Moselle in automn
Just 1h from Strasbourg, 1h20 from Paris and 4h from Lille or Lyon, Moselle is a dream destination for families, offering a host of advantages for a fun-filled autumn vacation.
Sarrebourg - Tom Photography
Breathtaking landscapes
Located in eastern France, Moselle will delight nature lovers with its 2 UNESCO biosphere reserves, 2 nature parks, numerous hiking trails (3249km) and 1600km of cycle paths.
Moselle has numerous forest playgrounds and hiking trails throughout its territory, which is ideal for nature breaks on your own or with your family.
Pays Albe Lacs/Sarreguemines - T.Garcia
Recharge your batteries
Calm and relaxed, the Moselle river invites you to contemplate nature, to the tranquil rhythm of its aquatic life. A varied Moselle with rivers, ponds and canals.
River trips, holidays on the water, cycling along the "voie bleue", the natural beauty of water in all its forms and for all wishes.
Girafe/Zoo - A.Farese
Unlimited leisure
In addition to our special Beasts and Witches events, Moselle is also a great place for leisure activities! On land, on water or in the air, thrills and adrenaline rushes at amusement parks, exotic diving at Center Parcs' Aqua Mundo, a meeting with Mosl -our baby rhinoceros (who is big now !) at Amnéville Zoo, everything is possible...
A handful of original experiences await you !
Citadelle Bitche-F.Calvier
Moselle, land of History
If the autumn weather isn't kind enough to venture into an outdoor activity, don't worry! Moselle is a region which immense heritage recounts some of history's greatest hours: the Maginot Line, medieval castles, fortifications...
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HALLOWEEN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN MOSELLE
Looking for ideas for the autumn half-term holidays? Moselle invites you to enjoy spooky days out or an unforgettable weekend. The Beasts & Witches Festival features more than 50 Halloween events and activities for children and adults alike! You will also find ideas for gifts, short breaks and restaurants.
Discover Halloween in Moselle
Throughout October, Moselle offers a wide range of Halloween-themed events and activities. Haunted houses, spooky trails and creative workshops take place at various locations across the region. Whether you are looking for thrills or family-friendly entertainment, there is something for everyone.
Beasts & Witches: a Halloween highlight
The Beasts & Witches Festival is one of the highlights of Halloween in Moselle. Visitors are invited to step into a world of fantastical creatures, mysterious legends and spooky encounters. Shows, activities and immersive experiences make for a Halloween full of thrills.
Don’t miss Halloween in Moselle. From Metz and Sarreguemines to the many events of the Beasts & Witches Festival, each destination offers a different way to enjoy the season. Get ready for memorable experiences filled with thrills and surprises!