The time is upon us, folks. Next week we’ll celebrate Hallow’s Eve, a holiday passed down by our Pagan ancestors to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year — a liminal time where the boundary between this world and the Otherworld is especially thin.
In 2019 we usually use it as an excuse to get drunk — on booze or sugar, pick your vice.
Not to worry: the Philly region boasts a ton of opportunities to do so. There’s also events for eating, for dancing, for nerding out and for bringing along your kids.
Looking for a Halloween party this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a handful of options to get your spook on.
A witches’ ball
Style: Party
Cost: $5
Location: A British pub in Old City (10 S Front St)
When: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25
Don a costume and get ready to dance.
Get spooked on a ship
Style: Party
Cost: $8
Location: A Tall Ship on the Delaware River (401 S Christopher Columbus Blvd)
When: 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25
Because a 115-year-old former war ship is def haunted.
Music, cold beers, tons of spirits
Style: Party
Cost: Free, except the drinks
Location: A chill bar in North Philly (5911 N. Broad St)
When: 8 to 12 p.m.. Friday, Oct. 25
Get creative! There’s a cash prize for the best costume.
Tour Philly’s oldest candy store
Style: Food
Cost: $28
Location: A historic candy store (110 Market St)
When: Lots of options here — 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Friday Oct. 25, Saturday Oct. 26 and Sunday Oct. 27
Arguably the most delicious option.
Healthy Halloween at a playground
Style: Family friendly
Cost: $10 (free for Smith members and PA ACCESS card holders)
Location: A Fairmount Park playground (3500 Reservoir Dr.)
When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Some wholesome family fun — arts, crafts, playtime and healthy snacks.
Comic book party
Style: Nerdy
Cost: Free
Location: A Kensington comic book shop (2578 Frankford Ave.)
When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
There will be a section for kids and a local marketplace with discounts. Plus if you show up in cosplay, you get a $5 store gift card!
Spooky bar crawl
Style: Day party
Cost: $29.99
Location: The great outdoors (Rittenhouse Square)
When: 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
One of the few socially acceptable opportunities to dress up like someone else and be drunk during the day.
NoLibs costume parade
Style: Family friendly
Cost: Free
Location: A Delaware Ave brewery (901 N. Delaware Ave.)
When: 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Casual brew-drinking plus kid-friendly activities, like pumpkin carving and a costume contest.
Party at a batting cage
Style: Party
Cost: Suggested donation of $10, but they won’t turn anyone away
Location: An Olde Kensington batting cage (529 W. Girard Ave.)
When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
The place to be if you want costumed karaoke.
Costumed yoga and dance in a historic theater
Style: Day party
Cost: $15-$35
Location: The Met on North Broad (858 N. Broad St.)
When: 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
Help raise money for the local civic association and snag CBD drops while you’re at it.
Be a dancing queen on South Broad
Style: Party
Cost: $5
Location: A South Philly dance bar (1539 S. Broad St.)
When: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
If you say you can’t get into throwback ABBA then you’re lying.
An emo Halloween party
Style: Party
Cost: $7 *if* you wear a costume
Location: A Fishtown dive bar (1248 N. Front St.)
When: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
Use mid-2000s emo music to conjure your middle school memories. 10/10 literally nothing scarier.
Fundraise for death at a gay bar
Style: Party
Cost: Free
Location: A Gayborhood institution (204 S. Quince St.)
When: 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
Looking for spook? No further than this fundraiser for a group that promotes “death acceptance.”
Silent movie at an old church
Style: Cinema
Cost: Free
Location: A Rittenhouse church (201 S. 21st St.)
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
They’re playing the 1915 film The Golem, about a clay statue that’s brought to life as a servant and eventually falls in love. Beautiful stuff folks.
Just stuff your face with pasta
Style: Food
Cost: Free — except the price of the food, obv
Location: That new South Philly pasta joint (627 S. 3rd St.)
When: 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
Costumes encouraged and a DJ will be there. When all else fails, just eat pasta.
