What is billed as the world's biggest Halloween party takes place in Zurich on October 26.

Once an exclusively American festival, Halloween has become so popular in Europe, including Switzerland, that it has spawned "the European Halloween Festival".

The party is being held in Oerlikon, near Zurich, at the "ABB Areal". Each of the seven party floors are being given over to different Halloween themes and musical styles- from House to Latin and Salsa.

About 50 tonnes of homegrown pumpkins, scattered around the building, will help lend the right atmosphere to the event.

Halloween, Swiss style, gets underway at 8pm and ends at 6am. Tickets to the event cost SFr45 ($30).

Witches maze

Trick or treating takes on a new dimension in the town of Evionnaz in canton Valais.

Witches, devils, ghouls and goblins will haunt a 3.5 kilometre long garden maze in Evionnaz - the longest of its kind in Switzerland.

Until November 3, the maze will be open every day of the week - and appropriately - until midnight. Glowing pumpkins will light the way.

Basel fair

The more traditional Basel Autumn Fair begins on the last weekend of October.

As has been the case for centuries, the festival opens when the bells of St Martin's church strike noon.

For two weeks, nearly 400 market stalls will bring the streets of the old city on the Rhine alive. The fair also boasts a particularly large selection of merry-go-rounds.

The event was founded in 1471 when the then mayor of the city travelled to the court of the German emperor, Friederich the third, to ask for permission to hold a fair.

The emperor gave it his blessing, and said it should be held each year "for eternity".

swissinfo

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative