The Shockholm team believes in the motto ”We can move mountains” and we believe they certainly can after witnessing the Globe being turned into a giant Jack-o-lantern for last year’s Shockholm. But what exactly can you do to follow that up?
Bill Schacht is the man behind the biggest Halloween parade in Scandinavia, and he’s had a team of more than 20 volunteers working hard for two months to put this year’s parade together for your entertainment.
We are expecting 3-4000 people this year, but there’s no reason it couldn’t be 10 000 people having a lot of fun with creativity. Look at New York, where the Halloween parade brings out a million people, Bill said at the Shockholm kick-off party.
Read more about Bill and how the parade got started back in 2011 from our special article from last year.
This year’s Shockholm event starts from Kungsträdgården on the 31st of October at 15:00, with games for kids, musical programme and other activities. The kids will get their own costume catwalk on stage at 16:00 and the audience gets to vote for their favorite costumes. The parade leaves at 17:00 and the route goes around the Old Town, returning back to Kungsträdgården.
The concept for this year’s parade is called “Shockway”, which Bill describes as an off-off-off-off-Broadway addition of interaction to the parade route. In other words, the parade promises to be what Bill thinks is the world’s first interactive experimental Halloween parade. At several spots along the parade route there will be actors interacting with the parade participants. You never know what you might run into along the Shockway, maybe some of the Old Town alleyways will be populated by crazy people? Or you might get to join in and dance with zombies? Among the highlights along the route is a two-meter skeleton man waving at the Royal Castle. Young theatre students also promise to offer an experience inspired by the Hunger Games movies. Not to forget famous DJ Thomas Gylling, who will be bringing along music, which promises to consist of anything from tropical beats to monster riddims.
Once the parade has returned to Kungsträdgården, the best costume prizes will be awarded and there will be more entertainment. On stage you can also expect to hear music from rising young pop princess Nova Miller, who graced the stage at the the Shockholm kick-off party as well. Something to look forward to, as 14-year-old Nova is poised for stardom (with none other than John Legend as her mentor).
You can also look forward to sampling some Shockholm Bites from some of the most interesting food trucks in town, The Good Gringo, Vegan Schmegan, Auel and Jamrock.
Trick or treaters and paraders are told bring a bag of their own for treats. And if you would like to reward your personal favorites, do bring candy (or some healthy alternative, if you’re so inclined). But really what’s keeping you from joining in the fun and getting dressed up for the parade yourself? Be there on Saturday the 31st!
SHOCKHOLM 2015 Halloween Parade
31st October 2015
Kungsträdgården from 15:00
Parade starts at 17:00
Festivities continue at Kungsträdgården at around 18:00
