Halloween is an opportunity to dress up as a favorite character, scare the life out of unsuspecting friends and eat more candy than would ever be recommended.
However, staying at home, munching on Kit Kats and watching “Halloween” (1978) is not for everyone.
Memphis has plenty of fun and frightening options for students and families to enjoy this spooky season.
Kicking off family-friendly activities is the Haunted Happening: a Victorian Carnival. The carnival will be at the Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. The event is expensive, costing $30 for adults and $12 for all children under 12. The event will feature food trucks, face painting, dancing, tarot readers and paranormal investigators.
The Children’s Museum of Memphis will also host a Spooktacular Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 26. The event will cost $20 and includes entry to the museum. Museum members can enter for $3. The event will feature a host of activities, including a magic show, costume contest, food trucks, a scavenger hunt, petting zoo, scarecrow racing and more. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will happen rain or shine.
Also, families can have fun at the Crosstown Creep Sweep Trunk or Treat Thursday, Oct. 31. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to the public. Children will get the chance to walk around collecting candy from volunteers handing out sweets. The Creep Sweep also features live music from Almost Elton John and a Thriller dance flash mob.
Moving into the less family-friendly territory is the Orpheum’s showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Rated R) Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m. Tickets will cost $8 per person. Rice, toast, water guns, lighters and confetti are expressly forbidden during the movie. If you arrive early enough, you can snag a $5 prop bag of assorted items. The showing also features a costume contest.
From this point forward, all events will be adults-only, starting with Hallowmeme, a party held at the Rec Room Saturday, Oct. 26. Beginning at 9 p.m., guests 21 and older can pay the $5 cover fee and dance the night away dressed as their favorite meme. The party features a live DJ, a meme contest (with prizes), pizza, drinks and memes on 20’ screens.
Next up is the All Hallows Eve Bloody Masquerade, Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Growlers, with an entry fee of $20 at the door. The 18+ dance features the musical talents of G-REX, Z-Dougie, DudeCalledRob, Don Twan and BasSick.
On Halloween itself, two 21+ parties will be taking place: The Massacre at Minglewood and the Monsters Ball Masquerade.
The Massacre at Minglewood runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with tickets starting at $15.
The Monsters Ball Masquerade runs from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. and will be held at the Cadre.
Both events are sponsored by Memphis DJ Young Ike Diddy and encourage attendees to wear costumes.
Two University of Memphis students also offered up their Halloween plans, neither of which involved any of these spooky events.
“I’m going to hand out candy and dress up as a hot dog,” said Christopher Boyd Jr., a junior business information technology major. “I just dress up as a hot dog when I’m at the UofM and give out candy when I’m home.”
German exchange student Louisa Feickert wants to make the most of her time in the states.
“On Wednesday, we are going to New Orleans, staying until Sunday,” Feickert said. “We heard that there is some voodoo stuff going on. I watched American Horror Story, so I really want to go to New Orleans.”
