Like Pennywise, The Blob or the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, Halloween now stretches and inflates way beyond its resting proportions, this year ballooning to more than a week long. We’ve already covered the immediate weekend, so here’s a guide to what’s coming next week.
Wednesday, October 29
Vampire Trivia | Ordinary | 7:30 p.m. | “Got more brains than bite? Prove it!”
Halloween Karaoke | Cafe Nine | 8 p.m. | “CT’s most deranged and unhinged karaoke night is back for a special Halloween edition.”
Thursday, October 30
Trick-or-Treating | Connecticut Post Mall | 4 to 7 p.m. | “Bring your little ghosts and goblins for our annual trick-or-treating event throughout the mall.”
Halloween Potluck & Fall Fest | MakeHaven | 5:30 p.m. | “Make a fall candle with Ellen & Catherin [sic?] ($5 materials cost) or just bring a favorite fall treat to share…”
Band Halloween #3 | Cafe Nine | 7 p.m. | “Band Halloween is a yearly tradition at Cafe Nine where local bands pick a legendary or well-known band to ‘dress up’ as and perform a short cover set.” This time, nine bands play nine other bands, with all proceeds going to IRIS. “$10 suggested donation at the door. NOTAFLOF. Bring a donation of personal care/hygiene products, school supplies, or diapers and get a free drink from the bar!”
Costume Trivia | Blue Orchid | 7 p.m. | “Win double prize when your team is in costume.”
Nightmare on Crown Street | Rumaj Night Club | 9 p.m. | “Cash costume prizes, discounted drink deals, limited VIP bottle service and Halloween surprises.”
Friday, October 31 - Halloween
Kid-Friendly Halloween Party | Bear’s Smokehouse | 3 p.m.
Halloween Party | CITA Park | 5 p.m. | The beer garden’s final event of the year.
Alien Invasion | Shore Line Trolley Museum | Hourly, 5 to 10 p.m. | On a historic trolley, enjoy “an interactive 30-45 minute show/presentation combining an alien invasion, thrills, theater, audience participation, and a heavy dose of comedy—where you help decide the outcome of this curated UFO adventure.” The attraction also runs Saturday, November 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. (There are also showtimes today through Sunday, October 24 through 26.)
Halloween Trunk or Treat | SCSU Parking Lot | 5:30 p.m. | Organized by New Haven Youth & Recreation. “Tons of candy, games, scary costumes.”
Macabre Masquerade | Counter Weight Brewing | 6 p.m. | “Join us for a night of horror merchants, live tarot reading, live music, craft beer and dark surprises around every corner.”
Rum Runners Halloween Jam | New England Brewing Company (Woodbridge) | 6 p.m.
Halloween Murder Madness! | The Woodwinds | 6:30 p.m. | “Join us… for a killer dinner party and help crack the case in our interactive murder mystery dinner!”
Nightmare on River Street | Armada Brewing | 7 p.m. | “Step into the darkness and dance the night away… if you dare.” Costumes—which is to say, commitment—required.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror | Yale’s Humanities Quadrangle | 7 p.m. | A live-scored screening of Murnau’s Nosferatu, featuring “the definitive Count Orlok, cinema’s first great vampire.” The film is “esteemed for its evocative location shooting, merciless point-of-view shots, and haunting Expressionist style.”
Emo Night Halloween Bash | Stella Blues | 8 p.m. | “Paper Suns will be rocking out all your favorite tunes live, while you explore unique vendors, snag some exciting giveaways, and soak in the Halloween vibes.”
Halloween Glow Party & Costume Contest | Toad’s Place | 8 p.m.
Temple’s Haunted Halloween Bash | 144 Temple | 8 p.m. | “Creepy decor, thrilling music and a costume contest” with “fang-tastic prizes.”
Halloween Fright Night | Gioia Rooftop | 8:30 p.m.
The Biggest FKN Halloween Party in Connecticut | Rumaj Night Club | 9 p.m. | “Cash costume prizes, discounted drink deals, limited VIP bottle service and Halloween surprises.”
Friyay Dance Halloween Party | Blue Orchid | 9 p.m. | “Costume contest at midnight!”
Sanctuary CT Halloween | Cafe Nine | 9 p.m. | “Join ESA and the trifecta of DJs R.I.C.H.A.R.D, Azrael, and Omegatelik for another wild and crazy halloween. Bring your costumes.”
Halloween ’Night’Mare Party | Dockside Brewery | 9 p.m. | “Thrilling music, haunted vibes and dancing till close,” plus themed cocktails and a costume contest.
Partners Halloween Party | Partners Cafe | 10 p.m. | “Join us for the hottest LGBTQ+ Halloween party in New Haven.”
Saturday, November 1
Halloween Bash | New England Brewing Company (Branford) | 5 p.m. | “Costume contest, specials, a bunch of live music, and more. Full details coming soon.”
Freaky Tiki Halloween Bash | Riva | 7 p.m. | Haunted tiki bar, live and DJed music and cash-prize costume contests. “Come ride the mechanical pumpkin!”
Día de los Muertos x Halloween Latin Dance Social | St. Paul & St. James Episcopal Church | 8 p.m. | A bachata dance class at 8 gives way to a salsa/bachata/Latin dance party at 9. “Complimentary themed snacks and giveaways. Costume contest, musical games and prizes.”
Bordello Macabre: Día de los Muertos | Cafe Nine | 9 p.m. | “Featuring an amazing mariachi performance by Mariachis Los Rancheros! The punishing brutality of dominatrix Dark Miss Sugar skull face painting courtesy of Nicole Sikora Designs! Tarot card readings by The Tarot Mistress Rose! Puppet Master TJ Jacobs has an especially sinister puppet show that will fascinate and terrify! The Bordello DJs of Sanctuary CT will be spinning DJ sets that will punish your soul!”
Día de los Muertos Dance Party | Toad’s Place | 9 p.m.
The Purge | Rumaj Night Club | 9 p.m. | “Cash costume prizes, discounted drink deals, limited VIP bottle service and Halloween surprises.”
Annual Halloween Costume Party | Club Vandome | 10 p.m. | Two dance floors, cash prizes.
Written by Dan Mims. Image by Romolo Tavani. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations, prices and other details.
