It's that time of year — rustle up a costume, gather your little goblins and hit the streets for some spooky, candy-spiked fun. There's already been a sprinkling of prelude festivities, but this year Oct. 31 conveniently falls on Saturday, so expect most parties to go down this weekend. Whether you're looking for something scandalous, scary, family-friendly or somewhat in between, there are plenty of options in Anchorage and surrounding areas.
For grown-up ghouls & ghosties
Goblins and Growlers — The Historic Anchorage Hotel has a longstanding reputation for being haunted, and this year it will combine boo and brew. Come dressed in your Halloween costume for beer tasting, appetizers and treats. Best costume will take home the biggest prize. 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Historic Anchorage Hotel, 330 E St. $40. (529-6458, goblins.brownpapertickets.com)
36 Crazyfists and All Hail the Yeti — Alaska's biggest metal band, 36 Crazyfists, is home for Halloween and has brought All Hail the Yeti with them. First concert is set for 8 p.m. Thursday at Chilkoot Charlie's. City In Ashes and Shifter will round out the bill. Ages 21 and older. The second concert is an all-ages show that will also feature Old Hounds, Decepticide and Atlas. 7 p.m. Friday, Anchorage Community Works. Each concert, $20 advance; $25 door. Tickets are available online now and also at Mammoth Music. (flavorus.com/36cfacw)
Nocturnal Halloween Massive — Get some bone-rattling bass with K.J. Sawka and producer ill.Gates, who will go all out in a head-to-head battle live onstage. Organizers promise to transform the Egan Center with complex staging, lighting design and "the sickest decor you've ever seen." Full bar available. 7 p.m. Friday, Egan Center, 555 W. Fifth Ave. $42-$86. (ticketmaster.com)
Time travel costume dance party — Step up your Halloween game by mastering the steps of salsa (starts at 8 p.m.) and bachata (at 9 p.m.). After classes, organizers will turn down the lights and get the party started. The costume party this year is themed time travel. Dressing up is not mandatory. 8 p.m. Friday, Alaska Dance Promotions, 300 E. Dimond Blvd. $5-$15. (336-0333,
alaskadancepromotions.com/upcoming)
Bowie Bash — Bust out your best Bowie for this Halloween party at Williwaw. Tribute band Space Oddity will provide the tunes and there's a $500 "Best Bowie" costume contest prize. Cocktails, appetizers, a photo booth and face painting station will round out this full-on decorated takeover of Williwaw worthy of Ziggy Stardust. 8 p.m. Saturday, Williwaw, 609 F St. $20. (williwawsocial.com)
Freakshow at Sixth and F — Head to the Humpy's/SubZero/Flattop complex downtown for dangerous drinks, thumping music and cash prizes, starting at 10 p.m. Saturday. This is a 21 and older event with no cover. Nervis Rex will play at Humpy's, DJ Spencer Lee at Flattop and DJ Victamone at Sub Zero, so prepare to get your boogie man moves on. Each location will have its own costume contest with cash prizes to be given for best group/couple and best men's and women's costumes. Up to $300 to be given away at each location. (humpysalaska.com)
Tap Root Halloween party with Big Fat Buddha — Get your jam on with rock-funk band Big Fat Buddha. Best male and female costumes each win $50 gift certificates to Tap Root. Ages 21 and older. Doors, 8 p.m.; show, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Tap Root Public House. $10 in advance, $15 door. Buy tickets online. (taprootalaska.com)
Alyeska Halloween Train and Lez Zeppelin in concert — Climb aboard the Alyeska Halloween Train for a ghoulish night of dining, dancing and Lez Zeppelin in concert. Costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded. This event is for ages 21 and older only. The package is based on double occupancy and includes the train ride from Anchorage with motorcoach return on Sunday. Admission includes a one-night stay at the hotel, $40 dining credit, ticket to the Lez Zeppelin concert and two drink vouchers per adult. Call 800-880-3880 for single occupancy rates. Must have valid ID and your face must be free of mask or extreme make-up so you can be identified. The train departs the downtown Anchorage Depot at 4:30 p.m. Plan to arrive for check-in at 3:30 p.m. Parking is free in the train depot parking lot. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Anchorage Train Depot, 411 W. First Ave. $249 per person. (alyeskaresort.com)
Alice in Wonderland Halloween Party — Fall down the rabbit hole at Chilkoot Charlie's annual Halloween party. Cash prizes for best group and best individual costumes. Music from Splendid Chaos, DJ Adam and DJ Grant. 9 p.m. Saturday at 2435 Spenard Road. (facebook.com/Chilkoots/events)
Rocky Horror Show — Help celebrate Mad Myrna's 10th anniversary and Halloween, too, by taking a trip to Transexual Transylvania with live cult classic "Rocky Horror Show." Hitting your sweet spot for 10 years. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 14 at 530 W. Fifth Ave. $32. (alaskapac.centertix.net). 21 and over.
Rocky Horror Picture Show 40th anniversary celebration — Kick off Halloween and celebrate 40 years of Rocky Horror at Denali Drama's "Rocky Horror Picture Show" film party. Dress to impress in your best Rocky Horror attire, and don't be afraid to join in the audience participation parts. Prop participation bags are available for purchase, but supplies are limited. This film is rated R. 9 p.m. Friday, Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, downtown Talkeetna. $10-$20. (733-7929, denaliartscouncil.org)
Frightfully fun for families
Pumpkin carving class for kids — Executive chef Tim Fynskov will share his secrets for great carving crafts and techniques for all ages. Complimentary juice and cookies. Reservations are required. Space is limited. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Hotel Captain Cook, 939 W. Fifth Ave. $40 for one child accompanied by one adult. (343-2228)
Halloween Pops — Dress in your Halloween finest and join the chorus for this spooky afternoon of fun music. Favorites from "Sweeney Todd," "Nightmare Before Christmas," "Addams Family," "Harry Potter" and more. Treats in the lobby following the show. 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, 621 W. Sixth Ave. $15.50. (274-7464,
alaskapac.centertix.net)
Trick or Treat Street — This is a free event for families and children to trick or treat from business to business in downtown Anchorage in a safe and friendly environment. Enjoy activities throughout downtown including face painting, Halloween cookie decorating at the Hotel Captain Cook, costume contests, horse-drawn hay rides and more. Go online to download the official Trick or Treat Street map. This will help guide you to participating merchants and activities. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, downtown Anchorage. (anchorage
downtown.org/upcoming-events/trick-or-treat-street)
Skinny Raven's Frightening 4-K — Back for the third year, this out-and-back course will have team and individual costume contests with prizes after the run. All activities are based on the Fourth Avenue side of the Hotel Captain Cook. After you run, hit businesses downtown with the kids for Trick or Treat Street starting at noon. 11 a.m. Saturday, Hotel Captain Cook. $30-$35. (skinnyraven.com)
Zoo Boo — There will be be treat stations and activities all over the Alaska Zoo this Saturday, along with trail decorations, event staff in costumes and a bonfire for warming toes. Come in costume, dress warmly and carry a flashlight to help light your way around the zoo as you visit our animals in a nocturnal setting. The coffee shop and gift shop will be open with food, warm beverages and gifts. Pay at the gate or go online to purchase tickets. 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Alaska Zoo, 4731 O'Malley Road. Tickets are $6 per zoo passholder and $8 per non-pass holder. (alaskazoo.org)
Halloween Ceili — In the Celtic tradition, Halloween is the time when the veils that separate the world of the living and the world of the spirits are lifted and the living and the dead may pass into each other's world. Celebrate this tradition with songs, music and dance brought to you by the Irish Cultural Collective. 6:30-10 p.m. Friday, Snow Goose Pub, 717 W. Third Ave. Free. Donations to performers appreciated. (277-7727 or 278-7637; visit Irish Cultural Collective on Facebook)
Mall-oween: Say Boo to Hunger — Stay out of the cold at the Dimond Center and trick or treat to benefit local charities. Your donation of $5 will benefit the Red Cross of Alaska or your donation of two cans of food per participant will benefit the Food Bank of Alaska. Register and pick up your official Malloween Trick-or-Treat from now until Oct. 31 at Guest Services. Or register online and bring your confirmation to Guest Services and get your official Trick-or-Treat bag and skip the long lines. 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dimond Center, 800 E. Dimond Blvd. (929-7108, dimondcenter.com/sales/malloween-2)
Halloween pizza party — Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop will host its annual pizza party Saturday at its 1340 G St. location. The once-a-year pizza tradition includes a variety of selections, including cheese, margherita, Italian sausage, roasted vegetable and wild mushrooms. The pizzas are $10-$15 and can be pre-ordered by calling the G Street location at 569-0001. The bakery hours are extended to 8 p.m. at both locations. The 16th Avenue location will offer a place to warm up (with bathroom access), free coffee and tea for adults and cookies for trick-or-treaters.
Halloween nature walk — Families with children are invited to visit a series of fun and educational Halloween-themed stations set up along the Rodak Nature Trail (¾ mile round-trip). 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Free program; $5 parking for non-members. (694-2108, ernc.org)
Night at the Museum — This is an event for younger kids. Explore a haunted train, enjoy apple cider and trick or treat for goodies. 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry, 3800 W. Museum Drive, Wasilla. $5.
Faith Lutheran Church's Trunk or Treat — There will be treats, face painting and a chance to make your own gourmet popcorn and hot cocoa with lots of flavorful items to mix in. 5-7 p.m. Friday, Faith Lutheran Church and School, 5200 Lake Otis Parkway. Free. (563-3499, faithalaska.com)
Trunk or Treat — Enjoy the music, contests, games and tons of candy while visiting the spooky cars. Contests for best costume and best decorated car. 5-7 p.m. Saturday, 2B Bail Bonds, 3400 Spenard Road. Free. (222-6789)
Trunk or Treat at ChangePoint — A safe, fun, family-friendly trick-or-treating option. 4-5 p.m. Saturday, ChangePoint, 6689 Changepoint Drive. Free. (646-4843, changepointalaska.com)
Beat the Treats — Join staff at AlaskaFit Bootcamp on Halloween morning to raise money for The Children's Lunch Box Program of Bean's Cafe. The cost of this workout class is up to you. All funds donated will go toward ending hunger for kids in Anchorage. Prepare for a "sweet" 45-minute sweat session. Costumes not required but encouraged. 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Saturday, AlaskaFit, 6251 Tuttle Place, No. 102. Donation. (783-1241, alaskafit.com/beat-the-treats)
Ice Spooktacular Boo Bash — In Wasilla, head to the Brett Ice Arena for two-for-one skating admissions, DJ and light show, trick or treating, costume contest, on-ice games and skating performances. The community event is presented by the arena and the Alaska chapter of the National Organization for Women. 4-6 p.m. Saturday, 746 E. Bogard Road. Two-for-one skating admission for this event: Public skate, $5; Ages 5 and younger and seniors, $4. (861-7690, matsugov.us/bretticearena)
Halloween Hollow — Halloween Hollow is a trick-or-treat carnival at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds. It is an indoor, safe, handicap-accessible festival with more than 35 games for the children to play. Concessions: hot dogs, nachos, drinks and more. No pets allowed. Service dogs will be admitted. 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Mile 40, Glenn Highway, Palmer. (alaskastatefair.org)
The Witch and Her Owl — This all-ages program focuses on why owls are associated with Halloween. Find out all about owls from volunteer Ginamaria Smith, who will bring her live great horned owl to the Nature Center for a fun and educational program. 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Eagle River Nature Center, 32750 Eagle River Road. Free program; $5 parking for non-members. (694-2108, ernc.org)
Spooky on stage and film
Halloween Thrillusion Spooktacular — This family-friendly but spooky Halloween show will have monsters aplenty, a mad scientist, a master illusionist and beautiful assistants. 7-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Alaska Fine Arts Academy, 12340 Old Glenn Highway, Eagle River. $20. (903-2780, akfinearts.org)
Kobuk's All Hallows Eve Event — Enjoy a choral reading of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven," with an assist by Bernard the Butler, fortune telling by Helga and lots of fun, spooky happenings. Bring your best Halloween joke for a chance to win a tower of treats. 5-7 p.m. Friday, The Kobuk, 504 W. Fifth Ave. Free. (272-3626, kobukcoffee.com)
Haunted houses
Fright Night haunted house — For 30 years, the Fright Night haunted house has been scaring Alaskans — just keep your eyes peeled for the evil guy carrying a chain saw. 6-11:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Northway Mall, 3101 Penland Parkway. $10 Thursday; $15 Friday-Sunday.
Mat-Su Animal Shelter's Haunted House — Admission includes free games and activities for children in the lobby. Come on down for some good, clean, family fear. Proceeds raised will support shelter projects. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Mat-Su Animal Shelter, 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer. $5. (746-5500)
Note: This article has been edited to reflect that the Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop pizza party Saturday is occurring only at the G Street location.