Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun

Bongo's Bingo is bringing its Halloween special to the O2 Academy in Bournemouth on Saturday 24 October. If you've never been, it's not your nan's Tuesday night bingo. The whole thing was started by Jonny Bongo, and it's built around a mix of traditional bingo, rave rounds, dance-offs, audience participation and prizes that are usually anything but conventional. It's designed as immersive entertainment, so you're as much a part of the night as you are watching it.

This particular edition is the Halloween one, and the organisers are leaning hard into the theme. They're calling it 'bone marrow-curdling chaos', and the night is built around themed surprises and fancy dress. Jonny Bongo has said Halloween is one of the group's favourite themes, and that they love how creative people get with their outfits. They've suggested a few starting points for your costume: a killer clown, a drooling demon, or the horror of an obsessed lover, but you can take it wherever you like. The more you commit to the dress-up, the better you'll fit in.

So, the basic format is bingo, but the rave rounds and dance-offs are what usually take over. You'll be marking your card one minute and on your feet the next, with the crowd pulled into the action throughout. It's a high-energy night, and the fancy dress is a big part of that, so it's worth putting some thought into your outfit before you head down. The Halloween special runs at the O2 Academy on Saturday 24 October.