Halloween Frights, Freaks and Treats

With October offering a Friday the 13th and an almost Halloween Blood Moon eclipse, Triad hobgoblins have a helluva Halloween season ahead. 

COSTUME PARTIES

For the freaks at Euphoria in Winston-Salem, it’s costume season all month long, with themed contests running each weekend, building toward a big finale party (and cash prize). Starting on October 13 with “Nightmares and Slashers,” “TV and Movie Characters” reign on October 20, and it’s a Couple’s Court (or folks in Uniforms) on October 27. Winners from each evening advance to the blowout competition and party on October 28.

Meanwhile, the dead come alive in Greensboro for a special birthday bash and Zombie Prom celebrating College Hill Sundries’ “longest-tenured bartender” on October 13. Downtown, adults take over the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum on October 19 for a grown-up Halloween spooktacular with spirits and activities (but no kids allowed).

And as the month rolls on, “Grown and Sexy” remains a theme when NC-A&T’s “Greatest Homecoming on Earth” once again coincides with Halloween antics and costume parties across downtown Greensboro: “A Nightmare on Elm Street” at LimeLight on October 27 boasts four bars and four DJs over three-floors (with a huge-purse costume contest). On Halloween night proper, the “GHOE Purge” extends across XO Social Lounge and One 17 Sofa Bar & Lounge; plus “Super Gremlin 2” at Elm Street Lounge; and the Nxlevel “Fright Night” at Vault 816. 

BANDS AND BOOS

UNC-G hits a different Halloween note for their “Halloween organ spooktacular” at the School of Music on October 30. 

Winstoners, meanwhile, are kicking things off early: Masqued Mayhem takes over the Ramkat on October 14, with a cover show featuring Viva Le Vox as the New York Dolls, Hey Revolver as The Cure, Pilzvolk as The Cramps, and Orphan Riot as Blink 182. Mauve Angeles will enthrall into the evening with an afterparty at Gas Hill; they’re also on decks for Ramkat’s Halloween Silent Disco Dance Party with DJs SK and Pookie La Fever on October 20.

A few blocks over at Toasted, Bad Art Collective will present the “Ghoul Gala” on October 20, with $IFU, Nervous Surface, Daniel Vaughan, Lucid Amethyst, Transcendentalweather, Boydmoney, and Snoffthemaker; plus art and wares from Super Them Tooth Gems, Poniebeads, Jjunglebeads, Baby W33d, Allnbones, and Larking Vintage; a “Fright Night” Raffle; and “Bad to the Bone” photobooth to capture costumed-shots. 

Festival freaks will likewise gather for the “Graveyard Getdown,” October 20-21, at GuilRock Downs in Summerfield, for two days of art and haunts, along with a musical lineup featuring: Toubab Krewe, Big Daddy Love, Empire Strikes Brass, The Keith Allen Circus, Psylo Joe, Into the Fog, Deadtown Cosmonauts, Cosmic Superduo, DJSEANEBOY, and a ”spine-tingling festival supergroup known as The Graveyard MonSTARS.”

 Triad college radio stations, WUAG and WQFS are getting into their spooky-festi-spirits: with WUAG hosting “Terrorfest” on the EUC Lawn (October 27), featuring music from Toothsome, Katie.Blvd, Christian Summers, and Dr. Shug; plus short films from UNC-G’s Carmichael Studios and Amateur Hour Productions. 

Dr. Shug will hop over to Guilford College for WQFS’ “Neck of the Woods: Halloweekend Music Festival,” on October 28; with other N.C. artists like Breadbowl, Bedroom Division, SCOBY, and Ashley Virginia. 

SCOBY and Virginia will play double ghoul duty as scheduled artists for the “Ghoul Moon Festival” that evening, at the West Salem Art Hotel on October 28. For their second-hallowed endeavor, the folks behind the Full Moon Festival have partnered with the D.O.S.E. Artist Collective to present a moon-filled evening of art, magic, and music from Fifth Floor, Ephraim Snow, Emceein' Eye, CAKES OV LIGHT, When We’re Sober, Zach McCraw, and Spirit System. Beyond the tunes, frights and delights from more than 40 vendors and eateries will be on hand; plus demonstrations and workshops from Two-Fold Printing, Be Free Rooted, Culture, The Humane Society, Southside Food Forest, Mourning Feathers Doulas, and GreeNest, LAM Museum of Anthro WF, Red Feather Equine Rescue, and The Breathing Room. In the spirit, organizers invite folks to wander the “Ghoul Garden Trail,” and take part in one of three costume contests: kids, adults, and pups (with dog treats from Howlin’ At The Moon Bakery).

Down at the Millennium Center, it’s a big weekend for the crew at Ziggy’s, who’ve partnered with the “six-headed musical monster” known as Big Something, to present a Haunted Mansion blowout featuring special guests The Wright Ave and Red Panda on October 28. The crew will keep runnin’ with the devil as they’re also hosting “Van Halloween” that evening at Stock + Grain in High Point; featuring music from Mean Street (a Van Halen tribute harkening to the ‘78-’84 lineup), and the Hurt Line with an 80s glam costume contest to match. 

Meanwhile, the Beer & Fear Bash returns to Castle McCulloch on October 28, with a strictly costumed entry to the elaborate compound party with music from Brother Pearl, Deadbeat Barbie, and DJ Eargasm. 

In other High Point area happenings: Nomad Wine Works will host a “Nevermore Halloween Ball” on October 28; 1614 Drinks - Music - Billiards is having a costume party with DJ Fame on October 27, followed by a Halloween cover show party with Sugar (System of a Down) and Exploder (Audioslave) on October 28; Vinyl Tap will be at the FireHouse Taproom Halloween bash on October 28; and Radio Revolver will party in costume at The Deck that night. 

A Halloween Dance Party with Devil Disco Darlings at Monstercade on October 28 leads the way for Forsyth-area musical frights. Downtown, American Deathcult will headline a spooky show that evening at the Wrong Number Bar; Gipsy Danger plays the Foothills Brewing party; the Hollirockets rock the crypt at Incendiary Brewing Lewisville; Taylor Mason haunts Kernersville Brewing; and RetroVinyl rattles Gypsy Road Brewing. 

Over at the Brewer’s Kettle Kernersville, DJ Big Cig spins a Halloween dance party on October 28; followed by a JamOween Boograss show with His & Her’s on October 29. Terror and twang also align in Asheboro for the Four Saints Brewing Company’s Halloween Hootenanny on October 28. 

For Greensboro ghouls looking to get down: Jive Mother Mary will host a costume party at the Flat Iron on October 27, meanwhile Brian Shepperd’s Rockhouse Band will play the Halloween party and costume contest at Saints & Sinners Tavern. Huckleberry Shine spooks up the Garage Tavern’s costume contest on October 28, meanwhile Killing Fiction looks to slay at Springers; Royal Jelly leads a Halloween extravaganza at Oden Brewing; and "Steel-O-Ween" at Steel Hands Brewing gets competitive with a DJ on deck for judged pumpkin carving and a costume contest for people and their pups. 

Down in Lindley Park, the block is Halloween-hot at Elam and Walker, with Walker’s Bar hosting a spooky (and spicy) chili cook-off October 28; a fairy hair party October 29; pumpkin carving October 30; and “scary-oke” on October 31. Next door at Wahoo’s, Sweet Dream channels the Police (and other covers) along with original tunes blasting into Halloween night. 

STAGE AND SCREEN

In the realm of spectator spooks: Modern Robot will bring its live score screening of “Night of the Living Dead” to the Flat Iron on October 13 and to the Reeves Theatre in Elkin on October 27. Horror Movie Freaks descend on Walnut Cove for the HMF Film Festival, featuring 33 independent horror films screened over two days at the Palmetto Theatre, October 13-14. 

In Winston-Salem, the RiverRun Retro Halloween series rolls into Marketplace Cinemas: showing “Eyes Without A Face” (along with a special introduction by Renata Jackson, Film Historian and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts), on October 14. On October 21, Woody Hood (Director of Film Studies at Wake Forest University) will introduce a special 90th anniversary screening of the monster classic “King Kong.” Downtown, a/perture cinema is celebrating women-led movies with a “Hey Ghoul Hey” series featuring “The Slumber Party Massacre” (directed by Amy Holden Jones) on October 16; and “Pet Semetary” (directed by Mary Lambert) on October 23. 

In Greensboro, the Carolina Theatre presents the “Nightmare Off Elm Street” retro horror series, pairing screenings with specialty-themed cocktails in the Crown. Flicks include: American Werewolf in London (Oct. 12); Friday the 13th (on Friday, Oct. 13); Psycho (Oct. 19); Carrie (Oct. 20); The Thing (Oct. 25); Hellraiser III (Oct. 26); Suspiria (Oct. 27); Return of the Living Dead (Oct. 28); Poltergeist (Oct. 29); and The Shining (Oct. 30.) Meanwhile, in the big room, the Carolina will host Hocus Pocus on Oct. 30; and Nosferatu (with live accompaniment from organist Mark Andersen on the Theatre’s original Robert Morton Pipe Organ).

While Jason gets his day, folks on “team Freddy” needn’t fear: Summerfield Farms is showing Nightmare on Elm Street on October 13; they’ll also host Hocus Pocus on October 19-20. 

Jumping from screens to the stage, the Goodly Frame Theatre will debut Triad playwright, Jay Smith’s, adaptation of “Frankenstein,” Oct. 13-15, at the Greensboro Masonic Temple. Around the Winston-Salem area: deadites return to Camel City Playhouse for “Evil Dead: the Musical,” Oct. 19-29; “Rocky Horror” comes alive at the Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, Oct. 26-30; and Camel City Burlesk teams up with Breathe Cocktail Lounge for a “Big Top Freakshow,” followed by a costume party on Oct. 28.

Taking the tease to tea, Triad kings and queens are also in the spooky spirit: Euphoria in Winston-Salem is hosting a “Halloween Tea Dance & Social Mixer” on Oct. 15, with a newcomer Drag Talent Show rolling into the evening. Scheduled performer, Genesis de Vil, will also be at Joymongers Barrel Hall on Oct. 29 for the Yacht House Party Halloween Brunch, featuring: Anna Yacht, Liam Laughin, Genesis de Vil Diana Grey-Addams, Elia D’Watzmeow, Sophiebot 5000, Melody Rose, The Vikens, Karma Killz, Thigh Fieri. Yacht, meanwhile, will be in Greensboro the weekend before, as part of the “Witches Ball” Triad Drag Brunch at Boxcar on Oct. 22.

HISTORY AND HAUNTS

From flash and falsies to history and haunts: Woods of Terror, Kersey Valley Spooky Woods, Scream Dreams, Spooky Bottom Trails, Cypress Trails, and Wicked Whimsies are all in full swing through Halloween weekend. 

Getting to the facts: the Historic Jamestown Society will host “Tales from beyond the Grave,” highlighting the history of those who rest at Deep River Friends Cemetery (one of the oldest in the area,) Oct. 13-14. Meanwhile, they’ll also share “True Tales of the Macabre,” with a special after-dark series at the Mendenhall Homeplace, Oct. 20-21. 

In Greensboro, storyteller Cynthia Moore Brown will share ghost stories and spooky tales on the lawn at Blandwood Museum and Gardens on Oct. 13 and 20; and as part of the Greensboro History Museum’s “Unliving History” Ghoulash celebration in the museum’s graveyard on Oct. 21. 

Specters arise around Winston-Salem as Jeff Jenkin’s hosts “Paranormal Night,” a discussion of otherworldly encounters, at Gas Hill Drinking Room on Oct. 25. A “Spirited Halloween Ball” and seance engulfs Korner’s Folly on Oct. 27 (with suggested Victorian attire, to boot.) And “Boo! at Bethabara” offers a chance encounter with the spirits who linger in the park’s 189-year-old Log House on Oct. 28.

TRICKS AND TREATS

Families and furry fiends can also look forward to the fun of varying frights. Around Winston-Salem, the Mixxer Community Makerspace will host a Halloween Open House and Costume Contest on the afternoon of Oct. 21; meanwhile, the Treat Trail returns that day to Bolton Park. On Oct. 29, Kaleideum North will host a “BOOsted Truck-and-Treat” event in their parking lot, with a trick-or-treat taking over the Outdoor Science and Environmental Park. On Halloween proper, Kernersville will host its 29th annual downtown trick-or-treat; and Foot Hills Brewing goes to the dogs for a canine costume contest. 

Dogs rule at the All Pets Considered BOO! Bash in Sedgefield on Oct. 21, with pumpkin carving and face painting for the humans; plus an adoption fair and costume contests for the pups. Family-friendly spooks continue at the third annual Adam’s Family Halloween that afternoon as the JH Adams Inn turns into a haunted hotel of its own; and the High Point Athletic Complex. Goes ‘“Halloween Hoopla” with hayrides, haunted trails, and a trunk-or-treat. 

In Greensboro, the Windsor Recreation Center will host a Trunk-or-Treat on Oct. 21; meanwhile, Ghoulash descends over downtown with scare-free trick-or-treats and a host of kid-friendly activities across area businesses and parks. Rock 92 joins the less-frightening fun with their “Nightmare Off Elm Street” trunk-or-treat party on Oct. 25, with a special appearance from 2 Guys Named Chris.

Around the corner, Acme Comics will host an opening celebration for their new downtown location (335 S. Davie St.) on Oct 28, coinciding with national "Halloween Comics Fest" with comics, candy and costumes.

Boxcar’s Halloween party starts early and goes late on Oct. 28. Families and fur-babies can enjoy costumes and treats during the day; as the evening rolls on, Magician Matt Novak will dazzle with magic and macabre; before DJ Wawa takes the decks of the main bar that night for an adults-only costume contest, meanwhile DJ “The Alyen” will take the Boxcar event space to outer space (with a neon alien experience and costume category all its own).

In more earthly events, the Lake Brandt Halloween Party will offer a costumed paddle session, Creepy Creatures family activities and spooky stories shared over campfire s’mores on Oct. 28. Meanwhile, Guilford County Animal Resources will present “Howl-o-ween,” a costume party with treats for all ages (and breeds) at Country Park on Oct. 29.

As Devil’s Night looms, the Glenwood Zombie Walk beckons the undead to shamble from the Glenwood Library to the Glenwood Recreation Center for face painting and pizza on Oct. 30; by the following evening, the Glenwood Rec center will turn into a real Monster Mash, with costumes, candy, crafts and games on Oct. 31. Spooktacular celebrations continue at the Brown Recreation Center. And roll even further, with a costumed skate session hosted by the Triad Skate Group, at Smith High School Halloween night. 

Once the ghouls go back to rest and the pumpkins start to turn, the City of Greensboro’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience invites the community to a big ol’ pumpkin smash at Lake Brandt on Nov 4. 

Katei Cranford is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.