Halloween Event Selections

Your guide to a bloodcurdling good time this Halloween.

|27| THURSDAY

DUH! A Halloween dance party with Mine, The Butter Boys and The Real Chuck Norad

Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave S Mpls – 7 PM – Free – All Ages

The 90’s Preservation Society assembles a funky loud time at the Cedar with top notch locals Mine, Butter Boys, and The Real Chuck Norad. Live shows from The Real Chuck Norad are already far out, so the band’s Halloween show is a must-see for any musical psychonaut. —TC

Cult Film Collective’s Universal Monsters Double Feature

Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Mpls – 7 PM – $15 – All Ages

This collection of scary cartoons, shorts, and more media are presented on extremely rare 16 mm prints to bring new life to the Golden Age of scary movies from the Cult Film Collective. The screening runs 160 minutes of screams and fun. —SH

The Lost Boys (1987) with pre-movie music by Al Church

Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave S, Mpls – 8 PM – $9-$12 – All Ages

The Lost Boys might be considered an ’80’s cult classic, but in fact it captured the teenage bloodlust for gaunt and well-coiffed vampires well ahead of its time. It’s the fraught tale of a young dude wavering between joining the vampires (so cool!) and the vampire hunters (also pretty cool!). Al Church starts the party with his ’80’s-influenced sounds. —IW 

Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin performs the live score to Dario Argento’s Suspiria

The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 Exchange St E, St. Paul – 8 PM – $35-$165 

Without hyperbole, horror fans will be flying into MSP to take in legendary Italian rockers Goblin doing an actual live score to Argento’s thrilling masterpiece. Spring for the VIP tix to this once-in-a-lifetime Halloween event. —TC

|28| FRIDAY

Prom Night and Road Games 

Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Mpls – 7 PM, 9 PM – $8 – All Ages

Catch Jamie Lee Curtis earn the title of scream queen in 1981’s Road Games and 1980’s Prom Night. In Road Games, a long haul trucker, played by Stacey Keach, teams up with Curtis’s hitchhiker to find a misogynistic serial killer on the backroads of Perth, Australia. In Prom Night, whatever bad prom night you might have had is put to shame as Curtis and her prom group is stalked by a revenge-driven mysterious murderer. —SH

Halloween at Club Underground 

Club Underground, 355 Monroe St NE, Mpls – 8 PM – $10 – 21+

In a spooky, underground evening, Chad Erikson & the Untimely will kick off the night with their outer space hard rock flavor. Apocalypse Theater takes the stage next with their industrial-goth-punk sound. Finally, local legend Venus DeMars, accompanied by her band All The Pretty Horses, will close out the night with her groundbreaking dark trans-glam rock. —SH

Nur-D Halloween Concert and Costume Party 

Urban Growler Brewing Company, 2325 Endicott St, St. Paul – 5-9 PM – $20-$25 – All Ages

Hosted by KFAI’s Quinn “Shimmer” Villagomez, Support KRSM and WFNU Radio in this monstrously fun night: booths from local vendors, food trucks, beer from Urban Growler’s extensive tap list, performances by local DJs, a costume contest with prizes, and an end-of-the-night performance by Nur-D. —SH

Wookiefoot Halloween

The Cabooze, 917 Cedar Ave S, Mpls, 8 PM – $20-$25 – 18+

Head down to the West Bank to enjoy Halloween the Wookiefoot way. Wookiefoot covers several categories, from band and non-profit organization to a “circus” and “a community of globe-trekking bliss junkies” (their words). Put simply, they are a reggae band committed to getting you dancing. Live shows can include light shows, projections, costumes, fire, and more, so this drama is a must-add to your Halloween calendar. —SH

Honky Tonk Halloween

Palmer’s Bar, 500 Cedar Ave, Mpls – 8 PM – $15 – 21+

Cole Diamond mixes up his signature blend of vintage rock and roll and outlaw country to bring you a slew of Alan Jackson covers, and will be joined by special guest and fellow country music singer, Clare Doyle. —SH

The Nightmare Before Christmas with the Minnesota Orchestra

Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls – 8 PM – $50-$103 – All Ages

The Minnesota Orchestra plays Danny Elfman’s magnificent score to The Nightmare Before Christmas under the helm of guest conductor Nicholas Buc with a broadcast of the film on the big screen. —IW

Gothess Halloween

Mortimer’s 2001 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls – 9 PM – $15 – 21+

What better time to take in the dark dance party of Gothess than All Hallow’s Eve right before the haunted holiday? Bring your own sacrifices before the queer DJ’s and their music-making altar.

Murder and Monsters: The Story of Harry Hayward and Other Victorian Horrors
Hennepin History Museum, 2303 3rd Ave Mpls – 7-9 PM – $50 

Hear all about the ‘Minneapolis Svengali’ Harry Hayward and explore artifacts directly related to the manipulative murderer himself, his execution, and his victims. Stick around to learn more from Reverend Matt’s Monster Science about what made a monster in this time and what they tell us about the people who were afraid of them. —SH

|29| SATURDAY

Skalloween

Turf Club, 1601 University Ave W, St. Paul – 6 PM – $15 – 21+

Whoever thought ska was dead doesn’t know about Halloweekend at the Turf Club. A huge bill of ska bands come together to celebrate, including Goodbye Mordecai, Courtesy of Tim, Runaway Ricochet, Prizefighters, and Space Monkey Mafia. —SH

Free Film Screening | Classic Monster Movie – Presented Live!

Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Mpls – $8 – All Ages 

This Halloween, Trylon is combining classic monster movies with modern takes and discussions with the Camp Kaiju podcast. In this live recording, hosts Vincent Hannam and Matt Levine discuss a secret film. Hint: It’s a classic 1931 film starring Borris Karloff. —SH

Halloween Bash

Driftwood Char Bar, 4415 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls – 6 PM – Free – 21+

It’s a monster bill: Hear Landfill Harmonic’s list of punk covers. Wasted Sundays follow up with a mix of punk originals and covers. Next, the 747s take on the music of the B-52s. Then, Revo brings Devo to your ears. We’re not done yet! Finally, the Snotty Rottens round out the night with the music of the Sex Pistols. —SH

John Waters // A Halloweener Celebration w. Mad Mojo Jett!

Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave, Mpls – 7 PM – $69 – 18+

The Prince of Puke. The Duke of Dirt. The Sultan of Sleaze. Whatever you feel like calling him, no one brings Halloween quite like comedian, actor, and director John Waters. Waters is returning to the Parkway this Halloween with a brand new, rapid-fire monologue with a ‘Halloweener’ spin, talking through his early artistic influences, his fascination with all things morbid, fashion lunacy, and everything in between. —SH

POP PUNK HALLOWEEN! w/ Linus, My Kid Banana, and Clothesline

White Squirrel Bar, 974 7th St, St. Paul – 7:30 PM – Free – 21+

If your middle school OOTD was heavy eyeliner, way too skinny jeans, and a My Chemical Romance t-shirt, this show is for you. Join local bands Linus, My Kid Banana, and Clothesline as they celebrate the holiday with a night of pop punk music. —SH

Halloween Spooktacular Surf Show

Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2507 E 25th St, Mpls – 8 PM-12:30 AM – $10 – 21+

Think surf rock can’t get spooky? Think again. With the help of Hot Pastrami, The Swongos, and the Black Widows, this event promises to be spooktacular. Come for the music, but stay for the costume contest and awards. —SH

Nightmare On Cedar Avenue w/Monica LaPlante/Carnage The Executioner/Rupert Angeleyes/River Sinclaire

Palmer’s Bar, 500 Cedar Ave, Mpls – 8 PM – $15

Join local fuzz and garage bands Monica LaPlante, Carnage The Executioner, Ruper Angeleyes, and River Sinclaire for a killer night at Palmers this Halloweekend. —SH

Flip Phone XXL: Halloween w/ Pangina Heals

First Avenue, 701 N 1st Ave, Mpls – 9 PM – $10-$20 – 18+

Stop by First Avenue for an event rated D for Drag. Hosted by Domita Sanchez, this night features Pagina Heals (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Darienne Lake (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Nocturna Lee Mission, Priscilla Es Yuicy, and more. Grab a costume, grab some dollar bills, and grab some friends! —SH

Halloween Bar Crawl 

Pourhouse, 10 S 5th St, Mpls – 4 PM-12 AM – $10-$20 – 21+

Explore the bars of downtown Minneapolis on the 5th year of the spooky crawl! Start at the Pourhouse and make your way down for drink and food specials at some of the best bars downtown has to offer with no covers, including Cowboy Jacks, Glueks, and more! Don your best costume for your chance to win the $1,000 grand prize in the costume contest and get your photo snapped by professional photographers. —SH

Halloween Half (Marathon)

Father Hennepin Park, 420 SE Main St, Mpls – 8:30 AM – $43.50-$59.50 – All Ages

There’s nothing scary about running for a cause. Join Minneapolis runners for the 6th Annual Minneapolis Halloween Half Marathon, where you can take your favorite costume out for a test run and enjoy a fun morning with others! —SH

|30| SUNDAY

Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch XXL

Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy St NE, Mpls – 10 AM- 3:30 PM – $30 – All Ages 

“It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus …” especially at the Hocus Pocus Drag Brunch! Experience the Halloween performances of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson. Sasha Cassadina, Darienne Lake (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and several other local performers will be honoring the greatest Halloween movie ever made throughout brunch. —SH

Friday I’m In Love – New Wave From uʍoꓷ ǝpᴉsdꓵ ǝɥꓕ – A Stranger Things Dance Party

Uptown VFW Post 246, 2916 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls – 9 PM – $5-$10 – 21+

Binged the latest season of Stranger Things and can’t get ‘Running Up That Hill’ out of your head? Already craving the soundtrack for the next season? This Stranger Things dance features a full music video lineup of your new New Wave favorites including Joy Division, The Cult, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, and more. —SH

|31| 

HAUSU

Trylon Cinema, 2820 E 33rd St, Mpls – Various Times – $8 – All Ages

One of the few traditions that hopefully never, ever, ever dies, the cinephiles at the Trylon celebrate Halloween with their annual screening of Hausu, a bizarre masterpiece that still feels fresh, even though it was released in 1977, and fun—even though everyone in attendance sees it every year. If you go to one spooky screening all year, this is the one. 

Halloween at the Parkway

Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave, Mpls – 8 PM – $9-$12 – All Ages

There have been a million sequels and prequels, but there can only be one true Halloween. The film follows the story of Michael Myers, a six-year-old who brutally murders his 17-year-old sister on a cold Halloween night. Fifteen years later, the now-21-year-old killer steals a car and escapes during a pre-court date transfer and sets out to complete what he’s already started. If you enjoyed the Jamie Lee Curtis horror fare presented by the Trylon, this is a must-see to celebrate the holiday. —SH

DISPATCH presents

First Avenue’s Annual Halloween Party and Costume Contest presents HAUNTED DISCO ⏤ The Best Halloween Party in Town

First Avenue, 701 N 1st Ave, Mpls – 8 PM – $10-$15 – 18+

An absolute classic of a Halloween party—honestly a bigger part of the holiday for Minneapolis-St. Paul than whatever year that blizzard hit—First Ave’s massive dance bash and highly competitive costume contest features sets from DJ Rowsheen, DJ Michael Grey, and many others following the lead of Zeke from The Current. Go early, go late after trick-or-treating, go to see the inventive and expertly executed costumes (seriously, folks work on these for months).