Bar Events
Wonderland 3 Party: The third year running for this seasonal bash, celebrate Halloween Alice in Wonderland-style Oct. 29. More frightful festivities on Oct. 30 with a costume contest and bartenders in costume. More details to be announced. FB’s, 126 W. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-246-4333.
Longworth’s Halloween Party: Come on out and see your favorite bartenders dressed in costume while enjoying half-priced appetizers (3-8 p.m.) and $3 beer specials. Music by DJ Astrck. Oct. 29. Attend the Heaven & Hell Party (Heaven theme upstairs and Hell downstairs) 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 30. Great music and ghoulish fun both nights. Longworth’s Tavern, 1108 Saint Gregory St., Mount Adams, 513-651-2253.
Mayday Halloween Extravaganza: Come celebrate Halloween in style at this hip establishment (formerly Gypsy Hut). The original Gypsy Hut staff will be featured, plus live music — bands TBA. Oct. 28.
Mayday’s First Annual Beer & Sausage Fest: Enjoy unique and seasonal craft beers, kegs tapped at 4 p.m. and Bierwurst (made just for them by Avril-Bleh). Homemade mustards, choucroute garnie and other exciting sausages. Oct. 29. 4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, 513-541-0999.
Mount Adams Pavilion’s Halloween Bash: Offers one of the city’s best costume contests, with cash prizes. Drink package with admission. $13 cover. Oct. 29. Mount Adams Pavilion, 949 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-744-9200.
Free Music at Northside Tavern: Halloween weekend includes free live music from Wussy (Strawberry CD Release) and Slack Panther at 10 p.m. Oct. 29, The Tillers play 10 p.m. Oct. 30 and Northside Jazz Ensemble performs 10 p.m. Oct. 31. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-542-3603.
Scary Good Music: This year’s Southgate House weekend lineup includes Sebadoh, Oct. 27, ANR Oct. 28 and Iron Mike Oct. 31. 24 E. Third St., Newport, 859-431-2201. Concert details, including ticket information online at: www.southgatehouse.com.
Masquerade Balls and Special Events
Main Street Zombie Crawl: A collection of bars in Over-the-Rhine will offer killer drink and /or food specials to anyone dressed up as a zombie. At sundown zombies will take to the streets walking within a two-block area to and from these burgeoning Main Street bars in this unique part of OTR. Participating venues include The Drinkery, Japp's, MOTR Pub and Neons Unplugged. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Oct. 29. 1200 and 1300 blocks of Main Street, Over-the-Rhine. For more information call MOTR Pub at 513-381-6687 or go to www.motrpub.com/otr_zombie.html.
Angel of Death Haunted Trail: A thrilling jaunt through the woods, including a wagon ride, chainsaw chase and a few new surprises along the way. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 30. $10. 6162 Wilmington Road, Oregonia, Exit 36 off I-71, 937-304-4215.
Graveyard Gala Halloween Dance 2011: The perfect chance to get out, get down and support a good cause. Sponsored by St. Joseph Drama Club, the Graveyard Gala is a fundraising event for St. Joseph Parish in Cold Spring, Ky. Enjoy a catered dinner from Pompilio’s from 8-9 p.m., live music by the band 24/7, costume contests and raffle drawings. $25 tickets include dinner, beer, wine and soft drinks. Age 21 and older. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 22 at St. Joseph’s Memorial Hall, 4011 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Ky. Tickets are limited. Call 859-760-1433 to order. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/sjdramaclub or www.sjdramaclub.com.
Love at First Bite Friday: Boogie Nights dance club inside Hollywood Casino hosts a vampire and undead-themed ball with a romantic twist. Dress like a vampire and get in free. Arrive before 10 p.m. and the cover is only $10. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Oct. 28. 777 Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg, 812-539-8000. www.boogienightsindiana.com.
Then comes the Booo-gie Nights II Halloween Bash featuring prizes for best ’70s, ’80s, sexiest, scariest and most outrageous costumes. Plus, don’t miss special video montages and reenactments of the greatest scary movies of all time. $10 before 10 p.m. Doors open at 9 p.m. Oct. 29. 777 Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg, 812-539-8000.
www.boogienightsindiana.com.
Over-the-Rhine Ghost Tour: Queen City Underground Tours presents a colorful one-hour walking tour through historic buildings and sites that have been reported to be haunted. Visitors will learn about Cincinnati’s most prolific murderer as well as the specters that lurk in Music Hall. $28. Starts at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 29 at 12th and Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. A Special New Tour and Investigation will take you into two haunted structures to help detect the presence of spirits. Use an electronic device to become a real ghost hunter. Seating is limited. $28. 10:30 p.m., through Oct. 22. 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. www.queencityishaunted.com.
Ride the Duck Haunted Tour: Ride Newport’s Duck to see some of the area’s most haunted sites including the Carneal House, Taft Museum of Art, Music Hall and the Southgate House. Enjoy a part-land, part-water tour as your guide spooks you with some local haunted lore. Recommended for ages 16 and up. 6, 6:30, 7 and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29, plus Oct. 30 and 31. $17. Trips depart from Newport on the Levee, 859-815-1439. www.newportridetheducks.com.
Run Like Hell: Dress in costume for the 20th annual nocturnal 5K run through Walnut Hills Cemetery. Start at Dana and Woodburn avenues and end up at a Halloween-themed afterparty with free food, drinks and live music. The event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year’s theme is in honor of Mark Buschle, an adult living with CF. Registration fees run $35-$45, $20 for Party Only Tickets. 7:30-11 p.m. Oct. 28. 513-533-9300 ext. 13. www.cff.org.
Scream Acres Court: A unique home haunt created by a student of the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Scream Acres Court benefits the children of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In its eighth year running, this 5,000-square-foot haunt is scarier and better than ever this year. Scream your way through a maze, all new rooms, props, animatronics and much more. Suggested $3 donation. Prizes for larger donations. 7-10 p.m. October 21, 22, 28, 29 and 31. 5603 Green Acres Ct., 45248, 513-703-7384. www.cincyscreams.com.
Witch’s Ball: Don’t miss this whole-house event, filled with entertainment on all levels including a pirate costume contest, tarot readings, magicians, belly dancers and much more. The mission of the Witch’s Ball, now in its 12th year, is “to hold one kick-ass costume party each and every year, with the most fabulous, talented performers we can find, gifted readers in our divination room, vendors with the best wares … raffles, a costume contest, moderately insane pirates, in a killer venue with a bar on every floor!” Hosted this year by Robin’s Hood Not for Profit. Oct. 15. $30 per ticket, $45 for two or $75 for five friends. Southgate House, 24 E. Third St., Newport, 859-431-2201. www.southgatehouse.com.
Cincinnati Zombie Walk 2011: Join the hoards of living dead taking part in this “ultimate zombie takeover.” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Freedom Center. 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, 513-333-7500.
Return to the Hall of Justice Halloween Party: A not-to-be-missed fundraising party for Enjoy the Arts. Plan on joining the superheroes and villains while taking in music provided by PROJECTMILL and DJ Kenneth Wright. Enjoy food, drinks, a signature cocktail, comic book films, a raffle and all the fun to be had in one evening. Help Cincinnatians connect with the local arts scene, and have a hell of a time in the process. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 28. $40 per ticket purchased day of event, $35 in advance online. Admission includes parking, food and drink ticket. Cincinnati Museum Center’s Union Terminal. 513-287-7001. www.enjoythearts.org/Halloween.
Halloween Events for the Whole Family
Augusta Ghost Tour: The city of Augusta, Ky., hosts its annual Ghost Tour, departing from the old 1811 jail and traveling the town’s streets, stopping at houses where the owners tell stories about the spirits living inside. Then the tour proceeds to “Long Stretch Road,” where strange things have been happening. Reservations are required. $6, $3 children under 12. 7-11 p.m. Oct. 29. Main St., Augusta, Ky., 606-756-2183, www.augustaky.com.
Halloween Walk in the Woods: Trick or treating with Mother Goose and friends, a magic show and more. Geared to children ages 10 and younger.
Free. Noon-3 p.m. Oct. 22, Blue Ash Nature Park, Cooper Road just east of Reed Hartman Highway, Blue Ash.
HallZOOween: Discover the creepy and the crawly at Cincinnati Zoo. Little ghouls and goblins ages 12 and younger can trick-or-treat their way around the zoo grounds at a variety of Treat Stations. Join in a manhunt for the golden Frisch’s Big Boy, witness animals smashing pumpkins and a magic show, ride a ghastly train and enjoy other unspecified or at least vaguely described Halloween hijinks. Free with Zoo admission. Noon-5 p.m. Oct. 15. 16, 22 and 23. 3400 Vine St., Avondale, 513-559-7759. www.cincinnatizoo.org.
St. Williams 19th Annual Haunted House & Fall Festival: A time-honored tradition, St. Williams Haunted House has prepared yet another year of chills and thrills for the whole family. Brave the upper floors of the Convent building for a bone-chattering experience in the haunted house, or just take a stroll through the Enchanted Forest. Have your picture taken with a monster, get your face painted or enjoy the other festivities before or after touring the Haunted House. 7-10:30 p.m. Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29. 4108 W. 8th St., Price Hill. 513-921-0247.
Haunted Pirates of the Ohio Cruise: Come and sail the high seas of the Ohio this fall with the Pirates of the Ohio BB Riverboats Cruise. A great hoopla for the whole family, Pirates of the Ohio is a good chance to show off your Halloween costumes, play with pirates, enjoy some Halloween games and collect your bounty of loot. If you enjoyed the Summer Pirates of the Ohio cruises, you’re sure to have a great adventure on Haunted Pirates. $15 adults, $13.50 seniors (60+) and $12 children ages 4-12 (infants are free, but a ticket is required). Oct. 22 and Oct. 29. Call for times. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, 859-261-8500. www.bbriverboats.com.
Haunted Village at the Heritage Village Museum: Come out and enjoy another season of spooky fun for the whole family. Trick-or-treat throughout the Haunted Village, watch the Mad Scientist cook up some weird concoctions and take a stroll through the haunted cemetery – but don’t run into the Headless Horseman! Wagon rides and Monster Mash Dance nightly. Shopping in the Witch’s Emporium and the Museum gift shop. 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October through the 29th. Admission is $8 per person. 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. Please enter the Haunted Village through the Sharon Centre in Sharon Woods. 513-563-9484, heritagevillagecincinnati.org.
Howl-O-Fest: Kings Island presents this kids’ Halloween bash with a costume parade, indoor maze, mask painting, trick-or-treating, dance party, story-telling witch, talking pumpkin, food and more, including a petting zoo. $29.99 when purchased online or free for season pass holders. Noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 30. 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, 513-754-5700. www.visitkingsisland.com.
Parky’s Farm Halloween Nights: The Hamilton County Park District’s magical, non-scary take on Halloween includes animated and decorative light displays, a hayride through the woods, S’mores by the campfire and more. 6-10 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays throughout October. $6 plus $3 per vehicle. $1 discount on admission if purchased online; children younger than 2 are free. Winton Woods, 10037 Daly Road, Forest Park, 513-521-7275 ext. 285.
