On the 1st of November, 2025, Movie in the Park (MIP) hosted its Halloween Edition of their outdoor cinema experience, transforming Muri Okunola Park, located in Victoria Island, into a horror-themed cinema night filled with costumes, celebration, and community spirit. The event brought together creatives, fashion lovers, and both the young and old for a night that blended film, fashion, and spooky Halloween energy.
About The Movie in the Park (MIP) Experience
Movie in the Park (also called the MIP Experience) is one of Nigeria’s outdoor cinema platforms focused on curating movies on the big screen under the night sky that combine film, fashion, music, food, and community. Self-acclaimed as the biggest outdoor movie experience in Nigeria, MIP invites attendees not simply to watch movies but to experience them in a communal, open-air space.
Founded in 2021 by Ihechi Opara, a law graduate turned content creator and event producer, MIP has grown over the years into a major event, alongside a network of cinephiles, food lovers, and creatives. It has held several themed editions across Nigeria, expanding from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Abuja, with over 3,000 attendees monthly.
With this growth, the brand has also evolved to secure several high-profile partners for events, including but not limited to Cadbury, Oraimo, Pepsi, Campari, Amstel Malta, Star Radler, and influential personalities like Funke Akindele, Yhemo Lee, and even the cast and crew of the latest Nollywood horror film, Idia, at this past Halloween edition.
What Made This Halloween Edition Special
The event kicked off in the late afternoon, with people arriving early to take pictures in their Halloween costumes, connect, get food from the various amazing stands, and add to the common art canvas: an artwork where every attendee is invited to add to in their own way.
Soon after, the movie section began, featuring horror movies including A Song from the Dark, starring veteran actress Nse Ikpe-Etim. All of these served as a precursor to the night’s feature film, Idia, a psychological horror released that week in cinemas, starring top names like Gbubemi Ejeye, Linda Osifo, Tope Tedela, and Mercy Aigbe.
After the movie finished screening, the cast and crew made a stage appearance to discuss the film, giving fans the chance to meet them, take pictures, and connect further.
The Halloween celebration continued with an energetic after-party that lasted until midnight, featuring multiple DJ sets and live performances that kept the party going. Between the after-party and the best-dressed competition, two winners emerged. One of them was awarded one hundred thousand naira by Amstel Malta, while the other won two hundred thousand naira from Pepsi.
Partners And Sponsorships
Sponsors and partners for the Halloween Edition included big names like Campari, Pepsi, Amstel Malta, Espolon Tequila, Wild Turkey, Munch It, Reel Fruit, Twenties Tribe, News Central, TVC, and Trace Naija, all of which are testaments to MIP’s growing success. As a media partner, the editors of this publication were also invited to cover the event, sharing real time posts and edited content around it.
Just like founder Ihechi Opara commented, the Halloween edition “exceeded expectations” and showed how outdoor cinema is proving to become a cultural experience in Nigeria. The costumes were amazing, as were the decorations and overall ambience. Many guests fully embraced the Halloween theme, with costumes that were as terrifying as they were creative.
The most important thing to note, however, is that the MIP experience isn’t just about movies. It’s a cultural connector for the community. Many people were in attendance not just for the screened movies, but for the experience: for the food, the fashion, the people. By combining film with music, fashion, and social interaction, MIP is creating a safe space for cinephiles, fashion lovers, and foodies to enjoy. As people who have attended, the experience is truly like no other. The ambience was welcoming, the night sky and open-air environment made the film experience even more enjoyable, and it was amazing to see people openly react to the film, unlike in cinemas.
