'Tis the season for ghouls, angry specters and all things bloodcurdling, orange and black. I'm going to go out on a severed limb here and say it's far more fun than that other, adjacent festive holiday season, provided you're doing it right. To help you navigate the scary movie marathons, the festivals and the parties — of which there are many — here's a quick hitlist of events to help you make the most of your Halloween week, so you can get spooky or die trying.*
- Friendly, not Frightening: Find family-friendly fun at Ellwood Thompson's every day this week. The Beet Café is screening Halloween films, beginning at noon daily, whether it's "Hocus Pocus" or "The Addams Family," my personal fave. (Find the full movie lineup here, why don't you?) Then on Saturday, hit up the Ellwood’s Halloween Fest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for face painting, cider and beer tastings, a dead-flower-crown craft station (take that, Pinterest), and more. On Halloween, stop by in your finest seasonal garb and get your picture taken for the costume contest from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Photos of entrants will find their way to the Ellwood's Facebook page, where the public will vote on the winner from Nov. 1 through 4. If you're the lucky No. 1, you'll win a $100 Ellwood's gift card. Think of all the local produce you can buy with that! Go forth.
- Die Laughing: From a "Troll 2" movie screening to a live, improvised horror film featuring fake blood (so much fake blood), downtown's Coalition Theater has you covered this Thursday through Sunday. At 8 p.m. tomorrow, head to 8 W. Broad St. for a free screening of that absurd aforementioned film, then circle back on Friday at 8 p.m. for Vincent Price's Late Night Horror Program, $10, where you'll find an improvised episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark," plus other fun(ny) spooky performances. While you're there, you might as well stay for the 10 p.m. Roast of Dracula, also $10, and maybe you should just go ahead and move into the theater because Saturday night marks the return of Slasher!, $10, an improvised horror comedy with so much fake blood that you're given a complimentary poncho before the show. Close out the weekend at Sunday's 8 p.m. Big Spooky Game Show, also $10, where you can participate for prizes. (See also: costume contest.) Ticket links and more deets, right this way.
- Brain Food: Get into a mob mentality in the best possible way at the 12th annual Richmond Zombie Walk. If you're into scaring the shoppers of Carytown — and I mean, who isn't? — meet at Boat Lake at Byrd Park on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a zombie huddle, or just show up at 2901 W. Cary St. in full costume and makeup at 2:30, when the real fun begins. Those not interested in dressing up and terrorizing can be prey, but TBD on whether we're talking escape from Romero-speed zombies or the ultra-fast ones from "28 Days Later." (I am slow and essentially what science refers to as an immovable object, so I'd be toast in the case of the latter.) And in addition to the classic "Double Tap," "Limber Up" and "Don't Be a Hero" admonitions, there are a number of zombie-related rules to follow, especially when participating in Richmond's own zombie walk. Find the full set of regulations here, plus details on the costume contest, ride sharing and more. Participation is free, but a suggested $5 donation benefits the American Cancer Society.
- Bloodthirst not Required: Saturday night, get in the Halloween spirit with The Rogue Gentlemen's lengthy list of spirits. The restaurant and cocktail bar is hosting its very first Halloween party, and what's more, proceeds benefit Diversity Richmond. Each $45 ticket to The Devil's Cut includes unlimited snacks such as parkerhouse rolls, pimento cheese, those addictive fried chicken skins and a new pâté, plus a spiced bourbon welcome punch. There'll be a costume contest, tarot card reader, bobbing for apples and more. Buy your tix in advance via phone (447-3456), or IRL at the restaurant (618 N. First St.) day of. 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. More details here.
- A Lot of Alcohol has Sugar in it so You're Basically Trick-or-Treating but More Fun: Go adult trick-or-treating at the Scott's Addition "Booz" Crawl on Saturday night, where the neighborhood's breweries and cideries will be offering specials from 6 to 9 p.m. Grab a punch card at any of the participating locations — Blue Bee Cider, Ardent Craft Ales, The Veil Brewing Co., Buskey Cider, Reservoir Distillery, Isley Brewing Co. and Three Notch'd Brewing Co.'s RVA Collab House — and rack up three stamps, and you'll get entered to win a $25 gift card from one of these spots. Each location will also offer spooky touches, such as a very on-theme dry-ice cider display at Buskey.
*Please don't die at or en route to any of these events, but in case you do, consider this your reminder that whatever clothes you die in will probably be your eternal ghost outfit, so always be mindful of that.
