This has now finished. The details below applied up to Saturday 31 October 2026 and are kept as a record.
At a glance
- When
- Saturday 31 October 2026, 4pm to 9pm
- Where
- Ipswich Showgrounds, 81 Warwick Road, Ipswich
- Tickets
- $8 general admission (13 and over) online until midnight 30 October, $10 at the gates or online on the day; 0 to 12 years free
- On site
- Haunted house, spooky disco, trick or treating, carnival rides, food trucks, licensed bar, market stalls
- Trains
- Railbuses replace trains on the Ipswich line from 11:30pm Friday 30 October to the last service on Sunday 1 November
- Help
- Ipswich Show Society (07) 3281 1577
- Who it’s for
- Families with children, and adults who want a licensed bar and market stalls, going to the Ipswich Showgrounds on Halloween night
- What to do now
- Buy tickets online before midnight on Friday 30 October to pay $8 instead of $10
- Last checked
- Tuesday 27 October 2026, against the Ipswich Show Society event page
- Not yet confirmed
- Parking, gate arrangements and the best dressed parade time (not published on the official pages)
The Halloween Carnival of Screams is on at the Ipswich Showgrounds on Saturday 31 October 2026 from 4pm to 9pm, with tickets at $8 online until midnight on Friday 30 October and $10 at the gate or online on the day. Children aged 0 to 12 are free.
This guide is from the Ipswich Show Society’s event page, the City of Ipswich What’s On listing and the Translink weekend closure notice, checked on 27 October 2026. Times are Queensland times, with no daylight saving.
What is the Carnival of Screams?
The Ipswich Show Society’s event page describes it as a Halloween twilight event for families, held at the showgrounds at 81 Warwick Road, Ipswich. The society lists:
- A haunted house
- A spooky disco
- Trick or treating
- Carnival rides, with a sideshow alley
- Food trucks
- A licensed bar
- Market stalls of handmade goods, artisan products and gourmet treats
- A best dressed parade and creepy decorations
The City of Ipswich What’s On listing for the event adds kids’ activities and arts, craft and pre-loved market stalls. Neither page gives a time for the best dressed parade or the disco, so ask at the gate when you arrive.
How much are tickets?
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| General admission, 13 and over, prepaid online until midnight on 30 October | $8.00 |
| General admission, 13 and over, on the day at the gates or online | $10.00 |
| Children, 0 to 12 years | Free |
The online booking form asks for a name, email, mobile phone and postcode, and it includes a free children’s ticket line, so register your children as well if you buy online. The event page says nothing about a booking fee, and it does not say whether rides or the haunted house cost extra.
Is the event on Friday or Saturday?
The Ipswich Show Society’s page text says “Friday 30th October”, but its page title, the City of Ipswich listing and the ticket deadline all point to Saturday 31 October. The online deadline of midnight on 30 October only makes sense for a Saturday event, so this guide uses Saturday 31 October, 4pm to 9pm. If your plans depend on the day, phone the society on (07) 3281 1577 before you go. The same event page lists a separate Trashion Parade for Friday 30 October at 2pm in the Reception Centre, which is a different event.
Where do I park, and how do I get there?
Neither the Ipswich Show Society’s event page nor its Important Information page publishes parking or gate details for the carnival, so we cannot give you a car park, a fee or an entry gate. The society’s contact number is (07) 3281 1577.
If you plan to take the train, Translink’s weekend track closure notice, last reviewed on Friday 16 October 2026, says the Ipswich/Rosewood line has timetabled railbuses between Roma Street and Rosewood from 11:30pm on Friday 30 October to the last service on Sunday 1 November. Ipswich station is on the list of affected stations. Normal fares apply, and bikes and e-scooters are not permitted on railbuses. Our Ipswich and Springfield closure guide lists every station. The notice does not say how far the showgrounds are from Ipswich station, so check the Translink journey planner for your trip.
Can adults go without children?
The event page lists a licensed bar and market stalls, and charges a general admission price for everyone aged 13 and over. It does not set an age rule beyond the ticket categories. Ask the society if you are unsure.
What else is on in Ipswich on Halloween?
The City of Ipswich What’s On calendar lists other Halloween events that weekend, including Halloween at Stony Creek Brewing on 30 and 31 October and a Halloween Spook-tacular Disco in the Nicholas Street Precinct on 31 October. Riverlink Shopping Centre in North Ipswich runs a free Trick or Treat Hunt from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 31 October; see our Riverlink Halloween Wicked Weekend guide for times, parking and trains.
Sources
- Ipswich Show Society — Halloween Carnival Of Screams (tickets and features; checked 27 October 2026)
- What’s On in Ipswich — Halloween Carnival Of Screams (City of Ipswich visitor listing)
- Translink — Weekend track closure, Ipswich/Rosewood and Springfield lines (last reviewed 16 October 2026)
Featured image: Brisbane Street in the Ipswich city centre (photo: Chris Olszewski / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Ipswich Show Society, the City of Ipswich or Translink. Event details can change; check the Ipswich Show Society’s page before you go.