Scream Or Dance

Scream Or Dance (SOD) is a yearly Halloween-themed electronic dance music festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. It blends DJ sets with horror attractions, theatrical setups, and cosplay, offering a mix of Halloween and music festival elements. The event is regarded as Indonesia’s largest annual Halloween EDM festival and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia.

The first SOD took place on 28–29 October 2022 at Ancol Beach City International Stadium in North Jakarta. It featured horror installations like a haunted house, wax museum, “crow house,” a food bazaar, and themed interactive zones. Founder Shaheen Alkubaysi described it as a space for young people to express themselves through costumes, performance, and dance.

In 2023, the festival moved to Phantom PIK 2 on 27–28 October, with the theme “The Lost Pyramids.” The 2024 edition, “The Undiscovered Universe,” returned to Carnaval Ancol in North Jakarta, adding sci-fi and cosmic-horror visuals. It included multiple stages along the beachfront, a large laser show on the main stage, and drew several thousand attendees daily. VIBE was the official sponsor.

The 2025 edition, “Forbidden Wonderland,” was held at Ancol Beach City International Stadium from 31 October to 1 November. It featured five themed stages: The Wonderland, Inferno Cage, Hatchi Area, Red Misfit Arena, and 999, along with a large cosplay and costume parade. The target attendance was 10,000 per day, and Chivas Regal was a major sponsor.

The first SOD was originally planned as a two-day event but only ran on 28 October 2022. Local police intervened and attempted to shut it down, though the exact reason remains unclear; permit issues are often cited as a possible cause.

The festival is known for combining theatrical horror design with electronic dance music, setting it apart from standard EDM festivals. Each edition includes scare zones, horror mazes, artistic installations, and interactive characters. It emphasizes creative freedom, encouraging attendees to wear Halloween or fantasy costumes.

SOD has received broad coverage in Indonesian media and is recognized as one of the country’s largest Halloween music festivals. The 2025 edition drew particular attention for its large youth audience, extensive cosplay, and expansion to multiple stages.