Bongo’s Bingo brings Halloween chaos to Bournemouth

Halloween is getting a bingo-rave makeover at O2 Academy Bournemouth, where Bongo’s Bingo is bringing its themed “Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun” shows to the town. The events are listed for Saturday 24 October and Friday 30 October, giving local fans two chances to swap a quiet night in for a loud, costume-friendly evening built around bingo.

This is not the usual sit-down game. Bongo’s Bingo mixes traditional bingo with dance-offs, rave intervals, audience participation and unusual prizes, with the crowd involved throughout the night. The Halloween version adds themed surprises and encourages guests to dress up, whether that means turning up as a killer clown, a demon or something more inventive. The organisers describe the evening as a deliberately chaotic party, so it is aimed at people who enjoy their bingo with plenty of music and movement.

The Bournemouth dates are part of a wider run of themed nights, with further events scheduled for Friday 6 November and Friday 13 November. Jonny Bongo, the show’s co-founder, has said that Halloween is one of the team’s favourite themes because audiences put so much effort into their costumes. That focus on dressing up gives the Bournemouth shows a clear identity, while the familiar bingo format keeps the evening connected to the event’s original idea.

Bongo’s Bingo began in Liverpool in 2015, created by Joshua Burke and Jonny Lacey, known as Jonny Bongo. It has since grown into a touring entertainment brand with regular nights across the UK and events overseas. Its official description sums up the format as a combination of bingo, dance-offs, rave sections, audience participation and prizes, rather than a conventional bingo hall experience. Tickets for the Bournemouth Halloween shows are available through the Bongo’s Bingo website, while the venue’s own listings provide updates for events at O2 Academy Bournemouth.