Halloween 2026: treasure hunt and a haunted house at the Maurice Genevoix Library

The Great Halloween Day invites families to the Maurice Genevoix Library in Paris’s 18th arrondissement for free activities that mix a few frights with brain-teasing puzzles, on Saturday, October 31, 2026. On the program: treasure hunt, workshops, a film screening and storytelling, all available by reservation.

Chills are creeping onto the shelves: the bibliothèque Maurice Genevoix, at 19 rue Tristan-Tzara in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, is hosting La Grande journée Halloween, a free celebration for children and their families, from 10:30 AM to 5:45 PM on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The team has crafted an age-appropriate program to mark Halloween, with a morning geared toward the little ones and an afternoon where the mysteries deepen. Costumes are encouraged!

In the morning, the 0 to 7 years crowd has their schedule: board games, creative workshops, and readings to gently tame their fear. Children aged 3 to 6 years can also take part in the Little Wizards’ Treasure Hunt, offered from 10:30 a.m. to noon. A witch has misplaced the ingredients for her potion: equipped with a mission sheet, the little ones and their chaperones search for the hidden items in the library. A surprise awaits those who complete the recipe.

The afternoon brings a spine-tingling challenge for the grown-ups. The haunted-house escape game, open to players aged 12 and up, hinges on an augmented-reality experience: teams of two use a tablet provided on site to unravel the mystery of the Vonleaken manor and Amelia's disappearance. Cards scattered around the library reveal virtual objects that must be combined to push the puzzles forward. Reservations for this activity are handled by the librarians on site.

For children aged 7 and up, the program also features a Cinélloween. At 4 p.m., the storyteller Maya Bergamote takes the stage with "Not Even Afraid!", a one-hour run of traditional tales populated by witches, ogres, and strange creatures. Humor accompanies the suspense: perfect for family listening, as you wonder which encounter will send the biggest shiver down your spine.

A horror-themed musical snack, announced at 5:20 p.m., will bring participants together. The day is free, with mandatory registration, by phone at 01 46 07 35 05, by email at bibliotheque.maurice-genevoix@paris.fr, or directly with the librarians.

And once outside, maybe a story will keep wandering through people’s heads. That’s the charm of a good scare: to stretch it out with a chat, to dream up a different ending… or leave it to the grown‑ups to explain why the monsters can’t follow us all the way home.

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