How about celebrating Halloween in the mountains this year? With the first snowflakes on the horizon, resorts are decked out in autumn colours and pulling out all the stops to keep winter sports enthusiasts entertained. Between the Northern and Southern Alps, Switzerland and the Pyrenees, pumpkins and hats are already rubbing shoulders: a delicious mix of impatience and magic, where you can rediscover your favourite resort in a new light before the slopes open.
We offer a selection of resorts that make All Saints’ Day a real taste of winter. In Valloire, the village comes alive with monster parades and horror films; in Vaujany, Halloween is celebrated to the sound of brass bands and laughter; in Orcières, chamois rub shoulders with little wizards; in Saint-Lary, stories and potions spark children’s creativity; in Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000, the Draco’Snow sledges offer wild descents before the snow arrives; and in Verbier, the panoramic views of the Valais invite you to breathe in the fresh air and get away from it all before the winter season.
At All Saints’ Day, the mountains invent a new season of fun and discovery, where you share hot chocolate rather than mulled wine, and put on your costume rather than your skis. Halloween in the mountains is the best way to wait for the ski season to begin, while enjoying nature, laughter and the traditions of your favourite resort.
Orcières: the call of the forest and the chamois
In Orcières, in the Hautes-Alpes, autumn transforms the forests of Champsaur into veritable living canvases where copper, gold and deep red crackle under the rays of the low sun. The larch trees catch fire, the ferns turn red, and the undergrowth fills with a breathing silence. During this season, hikers rediscover slowness, contemplation and direct contact with nature. From Prapic, a picture-postcard village, a gentle walk leads hikers to a natural viewpoint where a silent theatre plays out: chamois, discreet but curious, come out to be observed by attentive eyes — with binoculars in hand, from the age of 5, you become a mountain observer. An autumn activity at the crossroads of sport and wonder, where children become explorers and parents become privileged spectators.
But as night falls, nature gives way to imagination: Orcières Merlette 1850 is transformed for its famous event, ‘Les Vacances de la Peur’ (Holidays of Fear). From 20 October to 1 November 2025, the programme is packed with activities: ‘monster’ workshops (origami, crazy crafts), creation of enchanted jewellery, escape games (children and adults), parent-child yoga, themed cooking, ‘Montagn’Art Déco’ exhibitions, puzzle competitions and treasure hunts. On 31 October, the Halloween Party will take place in the Grande Ourse hall, with a make-up stand, festive music and a twilight atmosphere.
Throughout the fortnight, you can also enjoy guided ‘Heritage & Chamois’ outings, listed in the events calendar – a perfect balance between nature and mystery. Some events in Orcières are free (monster workshops, escape games for children), while others (guided outings, cooking workshops, yoga) require registration or a small fee.
Valloire: pumpkins take over
Thrills are guaranteed in Valloire for Halloween! On 31 October, the Savoyard resort becomes the scene of a veritable festival of gentle horror. From 10 a.m., the Cultural Centre is transformed into a den for little monsters, with make-up workshops, pumpkin carving and spooky snacks to keep them going until the evening.
When the sun sets around 5.30pm, the heart of the village lights up: witches, ghosts, pumpkins and chimeras gather for a grand bewitched parade, from Place Claude Pinoteau to the cobbled streets, torches in hand. The Halloween Parade is free and starts at 6.30pm from the Cultural Centre.
When night falls, the party steps up a notch: at the local cinema, a horror film is screened at around 8.30pm — but with a mischievous twist: popcorn is free for spectators in fancy dress. In this autumnal setting, reddened by the evening light, the peaks around Valloire seem to echo the folklore, enveloping the festivities in a sensitive setting.
Throughout the All Saints’ Day holidays, the resort has scheduled street performances, fun workshops, high-altitude yoga sessions, guided stargazing nights, and youth activities centred around the local area (autumn cooking workshop, discovery of mountain plants). All this takes place in the warm and friendly spirit for which Valloire, an authentic alpine village nestled between hamlets and peaks, is renowned.
Vaujany: a magical Halloween in the heart of the Alps
In Oisans, Vaujany proves that small mountain villages can combine festive traditions with creative daring. On 31 October, the resort is transformed into a veritable theatre of enchantment. The day begins with a magic show at the cultural centre, followed by a make-up workshop where children — and adults — can perfect their costumes with cat’s eyes, scary scars or autumnal colours mixed with black.
In the afternoon, as the shadows lengthen, the party gets playful: families take part in the big game ‘trick or treat?’, a fun challenge combining riddles, surprises and laughter. Then, for those who dare, comes the Chamber of Fear, an immersive journey where the tension slowly builds—loud noises, fleeting silhouettes, and that childish thrill that makes your heart beat faster.
At dusk, the village lights up: the sunset parade brings together ghosts, witches, walking pumpkins and decorated creatures in a joyful procession through the stone alleyways. The procession leads young and old alike to the Buvette de l’horreur, a gathering point where the Brassband Oisans delivers a frenzied musical performance: brass and percussion mingle with laughter and murmurs, transforming the party into a festive ritual.
Saint-Lary: autumn celebrations, between tales and potions
At the gateway to the Pyrenees National Park, Saint-Lary Soulan reimagines All Saints’ Day with its cultural enchantment. From 18 to 31 October, the ‘Les Automnes de Saint-Lary’ programme invites young and old alike to experience autumn as a sensory journey between heritage, creativity and gentle madness. On the menu: shows, readings, concerts, conferences, youth workshops, graphic art, cinema… and of course Halloween.
As soon as this fortnight-long event gets underway, the Maison du Patrimoine will open its doors to a Halloween mask-making workshop, free to attend on 31 October from 10am to 6pm, giving children free rein to let their imaginations run wild with pumpkins, bats and chimeras. Sculpted, painted or cardboard masks will come to life in the late afternoon in the golden light of the village, combining mischievous scares and knowing smiles.
On 31 October, as the shadows lengthen, the village takes centre stage. The Halloween parade winds its way through the streets of Saint-Lary, bringing with it costumes, lights and laughter in a festive atmosphere. After the parade, the party continues with a snack and film, where treats and thrills compete for attention on the screen. In this natural setting sculpted by autumn, the party becomes a celebration of the imagination in the heart of a vibrant valley.
Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000: wild descents and mischievous dragons
In the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees, Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000 combines daring and autumnal gentleness around Halloween. During the All Saints’ Day holidays, the resort is opening its Draco’Snow toboggan run for the first time, every day from 18 October to 2 November, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. This now iconic attraction allows you to slide through the forest, thrills guaranteed, in a setting of reddening fir trees and autumn lights.
On 31 October, the Draco family will be casting its night-time magic with a special Halloween night event from 7.30pm to 10pm. Participants, dressed in costume, are invited to enjoy an illuminated descent in an atmosphere of mystery and celebration. The make-up workshop transforms faces, while the darkness adds excitement to the coaster’s trajectory.
As part of this celebration, a big contest will be held throughout the period: winners will receive ski passes and be among the first to hit the slopes next winter. The idea is to prolong the magic of the holidays and create a connection between autumn and winter.
Font-Romeu is not a resort like any other: perched at an altitude of 1,775 metres, it enjoys generous sunshine and a large ski area (up to 2,213 metres above sea level), which already suggests the proximity of winter. The local architecture, beautiful wooden terraces and landscape stretching to the Pic Carlit add to the mysterious charm of a celebration that takes place between the sky and the fir trees.
Verbier: autumn in the Swiss
In Verbier (Switzerland), autumn is not a transitional season, but an invitation to explore, breathe and marvel. Thanks to the VIP Pass, offered to all visitors staying at least one night in the Verbier – Val de Bagnes – La Tzoumaz destination (and paying the tourist tax), families enjoy privileged access until 31 October: free ski lifts for pedestrians, 50% discounts for cyclists, and unlimited public transport in the municipality.
The Swiss resort is extending the summer season with panache. Its Bike Park (downhill and enduro trails) remains open 7 days a week until 26 October, offering technical descents in an autumnal setting. In addition, Verbier boasts around 800 km of mountain bike/e-bike trails and more than 500 km of hiking trails accessible during the autumn — a real backdrop for lovers of singletracks or contemplative walks.
Swing and altitude come together here: the two golf courses (36 holes in total) remain open until the end of October, offering the opportunity to play on a green carpeted with golden fir trees.
For nature lovers, the late season offers rare opportunities: watching the deer rut, twilight hikes, or even the immersive experience of ‘night among the trees’, a night in the forest under the stars, for the more adventurous.
Autumn in the mountains is now establishing itself as a season in its own right, full of energy, creativity and emotion. As the valleys turn golden and the mountain pastures regain their tranquillity, resorts are reinventing the mountain experience: they are becoming places for sharing, inspiration and gentle adventure. By combining nature, culture, sport and imagination, they prove that there are a thousand ways to love the mountains, even without snow.
From Halloween workshops to illuminated hikes, tobogganing to local markets, each destination cultivates its own magic. For eager skiers, it’s also an opportunity to reconnect with their favourite resort, discover what goes on behind the scenes and prepare for winter in a different way: in the golden light of October, enjoying conviviality and mild thrills.
Before the first snowflakes cover the peaks, let yourself be tempted by this autumnal interlude: the mountains await you, more alive, more welcoming and more magical than ever.
