How to put on a Halloween parade this year, what with the pandemic and temperatures hanging around in the 30s? The art nonprofit LUMA8 and Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events on Monday announced the “Arts in the Dark Upside Down Halloween Parade.”
There’s no dark, and you’re the parade.
The “parade” will be a drive-through experience, with you and your family staying in your car and processing past performances and spectacles put on by Chicago Children’s Theatre, Cirques Experiences, the South Shore Drill Team and others, with oversized puppets, music, dancing and goody bags. Noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 31 on Russell Drive in Washington Park; sign up for free reservations (required) at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. at artsinthedark.com/attend
Also for your Halloween:
“Put Your House In Order”: The horror thriller by Ike Holter will be released as an audio drama by Chicago theater company The Roustabouts. The story is about a young Chicago couple “whose first charming date spirals into a chilling race against a sinister invading force.” Oct. 28 to Nov. 2, free with a suggested donation of $10 at www.PYHIO.com
“Lovecraft Chicago: History, Horror & Afrofutures”: Presented by the Chicago History Museum and inspired by HBO’s new series “Lovecraft Country.” Historians will lead virtual tours the museum’s collection in an exploration of Chicago as featured in the series. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 31 via Zoom; free with donations encouraged, register at www.chicagohistory.org
“Highway of Horror”: The Chicago bar Replay Lincoln Park has been presenting Alley of Darkness, a 30-minute, stay-in-your-car haunted house located alongside the bar in Lincoln Park. Now it has added a second haunt, the larger “Highway of Horror,” set in a vacant lot downtown alongside the I-90/94 expressway. First they show a drive-in movie to set the mood. Then the monsters come out. And the sprayed blood. Ick. “Enjoy” it all from your car or a sanitized, plastic geodesic dome (up to eight people). Through Nov. 1 on the corner of W. Madison and N. Desplaines Sts.; tickets $75-$100 at www.highwayofhorror.com
“A War of the Worlds”: As presented virtually by the Chicago theater company Theatre in the Dark, known for its pre-pandemic live audio shows with all the lights shut off. This 90-minute version, set in the Chicago area, takes the same approach via Zoom, with a cast-live streaming an audio adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel, directed by theater artistic director Corey Bradberry. Tuesday through Sunday through Nov. 21; tickets are $10 or pay-what-you-can at www.theatreinthedark.com
“Madmen & Prisoners: Two Tales by Poe”: First Folio Theatre of Oak Brook goes into the vaults for this Halloween, offering video streams of two stories from its 2018 production of “The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe”: “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Pit and the Pendulum.” These performances were recorded with a live audience in Mayslake Hall on the grounds of the Peabody Estate. Through Nov. 1; firstfolio.org
“Twisted Tales of Poe – A Streaming Radio Play”: As presented by AstonRep Theatre Company, this mock radio broadcast channels the dark Poe works “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Black Cat” and “The Raven.” Adapted by Philip Grecian and directed by Aaron Mays. Through Oct. 31; www.astonrep.com
“Splatter Theater”: Annoyance Theatre goes virtual this year with its production inspired by slasher flicks and using plenty of prop blood. Through Oct. 31, suggested donation $20 or pay-what-you-can; www.theannoyance.com
“Ghost Stories”: Chilling stories, chillingly told by ensemble members of Artistic Home as a fundraiser for the theater. Every Friday in October; www.theartistichome.org
“Holy Ghost Bingo”: Written by Vicki Quade, and starring Liz Cloud as the bingo caller and Mary Margaret O’Brien, a former nun, talking about Halloween traditions, scary movies, condemned board games and haunted churches. Through Nov. 1; nuns4fun.com
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
