There’s no way around it — Halloween weekend is going to be full of difficult choices. Events abound, and unless you have a TARDIS, you won’t be able to make them all. Fear not, as we have combed through the ghastly party viscera to find our favorites.
Plus, we all know (and if you didn’t, you do now) that Halloween falls on a Friday this year. Hit as many of these as possible for a fun-filled, frighteningly fantastic weekend.
Now, get out there and trick, treat and revel to your black heart’s content.
(Cover: Christopher Street / Photography: George Salisbury)
Family fun
H&8th Night Market 6-11 p.m. Friday N. Hudson Avenue between NW 6th and 10th streets h&8thokc.com Free Trick-or-treating is so last decade, full of carefree children running willy-nilly through the streets, mostly unsupervised. How about truck-or-treat? That’s the name of the game at H&8th Night Market, which opens at 6 p.m. to encourage costumed tricksters of all shapes and sizes to indulge in the age-old practice of looking adorable/funny/scary for candy.
H&8th Night Market kicks off at 7 p.m. with live music, tons of food trucks and record crowds. Costumes are encouraged, and the party will last long after the trucks have packed up. There are several after-parties in the neighborhood as well.
Halloween Festival at the Castle 6-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee okcastle.com/halloween 918-687-3625 $15-$25 Halloween celebrations at The Castle are no small matter — there is something for everyone, from the littlest tricksters to those who love to be scared out of their wits. Wander your way through the haunted maze, but be sure not to stray from the path! Or take a stroll through the haunted woods, where spooks and specters wait at every turn. Age ratings for each attraction are clearly listed on the website, and there is a selection of ticket packages for whatever gives you the shivers.
Traditionalists
31st Annual Haunt the Zoo 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday Oklahoma City Zoo 2101 NE 50th St. okczoo.com 424-3344 $6-$7 per child (accompanying adults free) This 31-year-old tradition is a delight for children and adults alike. The zoo is transformed into a wonderland for wandering costumed guests. There are stops along the way for crafts, activities and, of course, candy. The tradition has gotten better with age and is a safe, family-friendly celebration of the fun, feathered, furry and scaly side of Halloween.
Frontier City FrightFest 6-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday 11501 N. Interstate 35 Service Road frontiercity.com 478-2140, extension 200 $22.99-$31.99 Celebrating 25 years of fright, Frontier City’s monthlong celebration of things that go bump and boo is bigger and better than ever. The park is transformed into a nightmare landscape, with features that run the gamut from pure treats to nasty tricks. There’s Booville, a trick-or-treat trail for ages 10 & under. There are also four scare zones with names like Cannibal Cantina and Psycho Circus Sideshow Slaughter that sound like a wicked good time. For an extra $5, guests can wander the Nightmare Institute, a haunted asylum, hoping they don’t become inmates themselves.
Nature lovers
Sasquatch Sighting Hayrides 7-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday Arrowhead State Park Riding Stables 3995 Main Park Road, Canadian County giddyupandgostables.wix.com/oklahoma#! 918-360-7775 $5 We all know the rumors that ’Squatch has made himself nice and cozy in the backwoods of Oklahoma. For those interested in catching a glimpse of the elusive beast, Arrowhead State Park Riding Stables has organized hayrides through the wilderness in the hopes of catching the furry creature in its natural habitat.
The hayride features a campfire complete with marshmallows to toast while you lie in wait for that definitive clear photo or at least a great story to tell your friends. The farm also features a bevy of fall activities, including a pumpkin patch and petting zoo.
Nightmare at Exit 64 7-10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday The Gerold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park 25803 N. County Road 3250, Wynnewood (Exit 64/Highway 17A from Interstate 35) gwzoo.org 665-5197 $7 This zoological park features some of the most exotic animals in Oklahoma, and in October, they get in on the fun. The haunted zoo is populated with walk-through attractions with frightful moments when you least expect them. More importantly, all proceeds go to care for the unwanted animals housed in the park. The trip is only about an hour away, with lions, tigers, bears and definitely a spook or two.
Performance lovers
There is a wealth of performances in the metro that fit nicely within the theme of the holiday. There’s the pitch-dark horror of Reduxion Theatre Company’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, or a laugh-a-minute gore fest with The Pollard Theatre’s Evil Dead: The Musical, which are both featured elsewhere in this issue. But here are other suggestions that are sure to be highlights of the season.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 p.m. Friday The Boom Boom Room 2218 NW 39th St. theboomokc.com 866-966-1777 $15 So you haven’t been fortunate enough to experience this dinner theater with ridiculously good food and some of the finest entertainment in Oklahoma City? Make this your excuse; you must attend a showing of the wildly popular audience-interactive Halloween classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you’ve never seen the racy, raucous tale of the sweet transvestite from Transylvania, let The Boom’s cast introduce you virgins to the beloved cult classic as only it can.
Balthazar’s Ladies of Wrestling Monsters Brawl 8 p.m. Thursday The Underground Arena 227 SW 25th St. facebook.com/balthazarblow $10-$15 You never know what to expect from Balthazar’s Ladies of Wrestling (BLOW), and this event is no exception. What we do know is there will be food and drinks and the ladies will be dressed to the nines in their scariest regalia for some heart-pounding action. Expect to be wowed and entertained and leave a little bit in love.
Party people
Tricks & Treats on 39th Halloween Block Party 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday 39th District OKC NW 39th St. one block west of Pennsylvania Ave. facebook.com/okcpridefan Free Come as you are, dress how you like and be who you want to be. And that goes double for this holiday, especially in the 39th Street District. In cooperation with district businesses, the blocked-off enclave will be the epicenter of the outrageous that characterizes the holiday. Enjoy tricks and treats of all kinds, including costume contests, live music and, of course, many adult libations.
Nightmare on Elm Street 9 p.m. Friday Dunlap Codding 609 W. Sheridan Ave. ticketstorm.com 343-0091 $15-$40 Wait! Teyana Taylor, Tony Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are hosting a Halloween party? And it’s at Dunlap Codding on Film Row, the scene of some incredible parties? What are you waiting for? There will be live beats by DJs, a costume contest with cash prizes and the chance to rub elbows with the Thunder players. The question is, Can you spot the team’s players in costume? We bet you can.
Rockers
Fire Bad! 10 p.m. Friday The HiLo Club 1221 NW 50th St. hilookc.com Fire Bad! is not so much a band to be heard as it is one to be experienced. Bringing a whole new meaning to monster rock stars, drummer Creter Piss, Gilbert and Pirogue O’Toole play with fellow bandmates to bring their monstrous, fuzzed-out sound to any old venue that will have them. They lead the festivities at The HiLo Club Halloween night. Prepare for a rollicking rock ’n’ roll time.
BRAAAAAAINS Zombie Apocalypse Paintball Orr Family Farm 14400 S. Western Ave. orrfamilyfarm.com 799-3276 $20 Remember season four of The Walking Dead where they spent a lot of time on a farm? Picture yourself in the action and get thee to the Orr Family Farm, where the same problem has arisen. Help save the farm while you practice your evasion techniques and always aim for the head. Pro tip: Don’t forget the double tap. While you’re out saving the farm, don’t forget there are tons of other activities for every member of the family. For more information, contact the farm by phone or visit its website.
Zombie Hunt Haunted Trail and Graveyard 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday Newcastle Nightmare 900 N. Portland Ave., Newcastle facebook.com/newcastlenightmare $15-$20 Something has gone terribly wrong at the zombie containment unit — the undead have reclaimed the holding facility, and it’s up to you to keep it together and stay alive. There has been a zombie containment unit truck tooling around the metro, and now you know what that’s about. You can experience the horror up close and personal at the Newcastle Nightmare. Live through the zombie nightmare and you get to go home and shower afterward.
A ghostly good time
University of Oklahoma Ghost Tour 7-9 p.m. Friday University of Oklahoma Visitor’s Center 550 Parrington Oval, Norman ou.edu/visit/tours 325-1188 Take a walking tour of the University of Oklahoma (OU) campus as you hear stories of the macabre side of its venerated halls of learning. Freshman programs instructor Jeff Provine leads group tours as he tells the stories he has learned in his research into the history of the university. The school has many unexplained happenings and mysterious events in its history. Take a chance to hear about the darker side of the campus.
Guthrie Ghost Walk 7:15 p.m. Thursday, 7-11:59 p.m. Friday, 7:15-10 p.m. Saturday, 7:15 p.m. Sunday Apothecary Garden 214 W. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie guthrieghostwalk.com 293-8404 $7-10 As has been established, at least for most, Guthrie is one of the most haunted places in the state. Restless spirits populate the city that was almost the capital, most likely because the majority of downtown remains much the same as it was a century ago. That’s plenty of time for some ghouls and goblins to get comfortable. Wander the sidewalks of this former tent town and hear some of the highlights of the specters that haunt it.
Thrill seekers
Guthrie Haunts and ScareGrounds 7-11:59 p.m. Friday-Saturday 4524 Riverside Circle, Guthrie guthriehaunts.com $10-$12 It was big last year, and this year, it’s even bigger. Covering several acres of deserted wilderness, the area comes alive with nightmarish things all over. There are several attractions in one, including the Hillbilly Village, The Asylum and a new Touch and Grab feature where you can get up close and personal with those out to get you. For those with strong hearts, there’s even a blackout night Saturday where you can wander the attraction in total darkness. Needless to say, this is probably a leave-the-kids-at-home kind of date night.
The Sanctuary 8-11 p.m. Thursday, 8-11:59 p.m. Friday-Sunday 530 S. Broadway Ave. thesanctuaryokc.com 237-2803 $15-$35 The brainchild of Tino and Cathleen Pascuzzi, this Bricktown haunt just keeps getting bigger and more terrifying. The pair started The Sanctuary on a shoestring budget with a dream and many friends in the special effects industry, and the results are astounding. The nightmare unfolds in a four-story warehouse that once housed an asylum where things went terribly awry. Hollywood-quality special effects only add to what is consistently considered one of the best psychologically terrifying haunts in town.
For the record, crowds in the queue, there is plenty to entertain, including zombie paintball, live suspension and acrobats and The Sanctuary Beer & Wine Garden. On Saturdays, Broadway Avenue is shut down around 2 p.m. in anticipation of the record crowds. Pro tip: Get there early and prepare to be scared out of your wits.
Print Headline: Shriek central, This holiday is all about screams of delight, especially with this Gazette roundup to lead your way.
