I'm going to be a zombie this year. I recently bought gray face paint, fake blood capsules, and stick-on stitches. Yes, gross. Yes, Halloween! Read below for Halloween events in Milwaukee where you can flaunt your spooky selves this October. (These are in no particular order.)
1. Whitefish Bay Great Pumpkin Festival
Wednesday, October 26 - Sunday, October 30th, 6pm to 9pm (Saturday 3:30pm to 9pm)
Old Schoolhouse Park, located directly across from the WFB Public Library
5420 N. Marlborough Drive
Back at it again this year, Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation is hosting their Great Pumpkin Festival which invites people to pick a pumpkin and carve it on-site. Carving tools and Jack-O-Lantern inspirations are included in the experience. Local music and food provided each night!
Saturday, October 29, 7pm
Center Street, Riverwest
This party is in its second year. It's a multi-venued Halloween event that includes costume contents ($300 to the first-prize winner), face painting, photo booths, and bonfires with warm alcoholic beverages served on the patio. There's a special Halloween raffle with the purchase of a $15 wristband and tons of local music. At 7pm, there is a screening of “Alice and Wonderland” with a musical accompaniment of the live soundtrack by the DIY Chamber Music Presents.
3. Mad Planet Halloween Retro Dance Party & Costume Contest
Friday, October 28 - Saturday, October 29, 9pm
Mad Planet, 533 E Center St
Two words: dance and party. Also, a costume contest, obviously. There's a $150 cash prize to the best costume. Go dance! ($10 cover)
4. Cactus Club Halloween Spooktacular
Friday, October 28, 9pm to 2am
A night of concerts. Performances from Soul Low, Rio Turbo, SURGEONS IN HEAT and Sex Scenes. There's a costume contest as well as a raffle with prizes from Fischberger's Variety, The original Fuel Cafe, Adventure Rock MKE, Black Husky Brewery, and Riverwest Tattoo Company.
5. Oconomowoc Dark Carnival Haunted House
October 21, 22, 28, and 29 (Ticket check-in 6:30pm-10:30pm, Doors open 7:00pm)
212 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Downtown Oconomowoc
Considered one of the top haunted houses in Southeast Wisconsin, the Dark Carnival features fear-inducing actors, special effects, blacked out rooms and confusing mazes! Average time to get through is about 30 minutes unless you get lost...
6. Halloween-themed Rocky Horror Picture Show Screening
Saturday, October 29, Midnight
Oriental Theater, 2230 Farwell Ave
This is a classic. I went two years ago and I'm going again this year. It's insane. Dress up in whatever you want. Get in line. File into Screen 1 at the Oriental and try to keep up. Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 cult film about newly weds whose broken car forces them to seek shelter in a cryptic mansion filled with characters. The screening is accompanied by a live theater performance as well as constant dancing, screaming, singing, throwing things. In 2014, they had RHPS "virgins" crawl through a spank-train. Leave your expectations on the sidewalk outside.
7. ComedySportz Spooky Standup
Friday, October 28, to
Feeling like a good witch cackle? Watch some fantastic Milwaukee comedians do stand-up in their chosen Halloween getups. Mojo Dojo Comedy brings back this October classic.
8. Iron Horse Hotel Halloween Freak Show Party
Saturday, October 29, 8pm
Iron Horse Hotel, 500 W Florida St
Boasting as the "spookiest Halloween party in the city," Iron Horse is hosting a freak-show-themed costume party featuring Milwaukee DJs, The Kiings. They'll have a costume contest and events throughout the hotel and the Yard. Also, there's an exclusive show with The Human Pincushion and Sword Swallower Sally Marvel. Details in the hyperlinked headline!
Saturday, October 29, 9:30pm
Brady Street
A massive pub-crawl that will be crawling with creepy characters. There is a collective costume contest between 14 different bars on Brady. Grand prize for the best costume is $1,000!!! *Googles how to become a real-life werewolf* Throughout the night, each bar will peruse potential outfits and choose their representative. The ultimate winner will be chosen at the Nomad Pub at midnight.
10. Riverwest FemFest Halloween Ball
Monday, October 31, 9pm
Company Brewing, 735 E Center St
In anticipation for FemFest 2017, the people at Riverwest FemFest will be throwing a Halloween Ball. FemFest began two years ago to be a beacon of empowerment and support to "celebrate women, femmes and feminine identifying groups, as well as those who support them." Their Halloween Ball will include a costume contest and tons of local music!