KARLS Gruselnacht Rövershagen

35 Years of Spooky History

KARLS Gruselnacht is one of the oldest and most atmospheric Halloween family festivals in Northern Germany. Since the 1990s, the Erlebnis-Dorf in Rövershagen, in the Rostock district, has opened its doors once a year after dark for a single evening of spooky fun for children and adults — for the 35th time in 2026.

An Orchestrated Night of Frights

What sets Karls-Gruselnacht apart from a mere Halloween party is the meticulously choreographed staging of the entire grounds. Over several hours, the familiar family farm transforms into a chilling backdrop: scare actors roam the paths between farm buildings, manufactories, and play areas, show acts perform on multiple stages, a glow-in-the-dark parade with marching bands winds through the village, and over 200 choreographed drones form a specially developed light show above.

Gruselnacht Programme Blocks

• Show Acts on multiple stages
• Drone Show with over 200 choreographed lights
• Glow-in-the-Dark Parade with Marching Bands
• Silent Disco
• Puppet Show
• Halloween Light Show
• Scare actors and walking acts throughout the grounds

Family Format, Not a Horror Show

Despite the scare actors, Gruselnacht remains a family-friendly event. Tickets are required for ages 2 and up (and a height of 90 cm). Companions of people with disabilities are admitted free of charge. Those who prefer things a bit more intense can upgrade to a VIP experience in Elstal near Berlin (€89.90). For overnight guests, the on-site hotel ALLES PALETTI, located directly at the Erlebnis-Dorf, offers package deals.

A Brand Across Germany

In 2026, Gruselnacht will take place at several Karls locations — but in Rövershagen, it will be held on the traditional date of October 3rd, German Unity Day. It is the biggest event of the season after strawberry season and is considered a guaranteed highlight for families in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Brandenburg.