Just call us your Halloween event planners, or like, Halloween administrative assistants or something, cause we’ve got all your plans lined out for this year’s festivities.
Most notably this year is the fact that everyone seems to be really into clowns and evil circus themes, all thanks to “IT Chapter Two.” We appreciate all the nightmares, Stephen King. Just see below for proof.
Haunted CircusWhut, whut! Who doesn’t like a good ol’ fashioned haunted house on a college campus? Have you ever seen a scary movie?! College campuses and Greek houses are prime pickings for psycho clowns, monsters, and murder-y creatures of all sorts. And, not only will you get your fill of scares at Fort Lewis College’s Haunted Circus, but your hard-earned, and harder-spent money will ALSO go to a great cause, because the proceeds will benefit Annie’s Orphans and the continuation of the haunted house. Just keep your eyes out for the dudes with the chainsaws. Nothing good comes from that.
Information: Fort Lewis College’s Annual Haunted House, October 23-24, 6-10 p.m., $5 for community members, free for students, Student Union Ballroom, 1000 Rim DriveCarnival FreakshowIs your home badly in need of art oddities worthy of a carnival freakshow? Of course, it is! Thus, it’s that time of year for you to make your way over to Candlelight: A Celebration of Halloween – Carnival Freakshow, a creepy, carnival-themed art event that occurs every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Browse through all manner of gloriously ghoulish decor to hang on your walls and display on your shelves. Consider it your opportunity to stock up on items that could either be great conversation starters or used to ward away unwelcome guests to your home.
Information: Candlelight: A Celebration of Halloween – Carnival Freakshow, October 25-26 from 5-10 p.m., free, downtown Farmington, 115 W. Main, Farmington, N.M.Carnevil’s Demented CircusCarnevil’s Demented Circus doesn’t want to be responsible for your kids’ nightmares – this place is NOT kid friendly – but they do want to be responsible for YOUR haunted dreams. This haunted house, held at Sunray Casino in Farmington, is the stuff IT’s nightmares are made of, yet there’s a bright side to this madhouse. The circus proceeds will go to supporting San Juan County Special Olympics, which is a pretty darn cool thing for them to do, especially for a buncha psychotic ringmasters and clowns who live to scare you.
Information: Carnevil’s Demented Circus at Sunray’s Haunted Stables, October 26 and November 1-2 from 8 p.m. to midnight, October 30-31 from 7-10 p.m., $5-$10, Sunray Park and Casino, 39 Road 5568, Farmington, N.M.Nightmare on Elk StreetGetting scared silly is never NOT fun, but it’s especially fun when it’s getting scared silly to benefit local causes, which is precisely what Nightmare on Elk Street is. Each year, the Nightmare on Elk Street “house” looks terrifyingly different, and this year is no exception, so head on over and you’ll be walking into … well, no one knows. You’ll have to find out fo’ yo’self.
Information: Nightmare on Elk Street, October 25, 6-10 p.m., $7, Durango Colorado Elks Lodge, 901 E. Second Ave.Cemetery TourCemetery tours! There is nothing scarier than a creepy ass old cemetery, which is … you know, the point of this tour. You’ll be lookin’ for ghosts of Halloween past while on foot, armed with only a flashlight and some historical knowledge to get you through. Just remember to hold your breath in the cemetery so you don’t breathe in any rogue spirits. That’s a thing, you know.
Information: Ghost Walk Durango’s Cemetery Tour, October 25, 26, and 31, 7 p.m., $50, age limit 15 and up, Ghost Walk Durango, 201 E. Twelfth, ghostwalkdurango.comKiller Bike CruiseDoes the horror genre, true crime, and a bike ride go together? Abso-friggin-lutely, unless a Freddy Krueger is chasing someone on a bike – which should never be a thing. But, if you fall under the camp of people who enjoy one or all three of those things, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a bike ride combining those interests taking place on Halloween. Starting at Chainless, bikers will make their way to various breweries around Durango. Plus, if you’re all about costumes, you can even deck yourself out as a homicidal maniac, whether that be Freddy, Jason, or, hell, even Chuckie.
Information: Killer Bike Cruise, October 31 at 6:30 p.m., free, Chainless Brewing, 3000 Main Ave.Costume PartyNo Halloween is complete without a ton of costume parties. Good thing Sunray Park and Casino is on top of this and will be hosting its own Halloween costume party. The contest will be broken down into the following categories: scariest, best va-va-voom (sexiest), best couple, most creative, best make-up, best TV show costume, and SunRay’s pick. There’s also be music and games hosted by Galaxy DJ. Best part? It’s free cause we all love a free night of fun. Side note: This is a grown-ups party only. You have to be 21 and older to get in on this fun.
Information: Halloween Costume Party at Sunray’s Haunted Stables, October 31 from 9 p.m. to midnight, free, Sunray Park and Casino, 39 Road 5568, Farmington, N.M.All Hollwed SoundzWant to have a chilly, boozy Halloween WITHOUT some ax murderer chasing you through the hallway of a haunted house? SAME. And, if that’s the case, maybe you should stop by Animas City Theatre for a Halloween dance party with Dancing Arrow, Squoze, Krunkle Stilt Skin, and Teknique instead. There will be drink specials, dorks in costumes (us included), and the only scary thing at the bar will be your dance moves.
Information: All Hollwed Soundz, October 31, 8:30 p.m., $15, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, DurangoHalloween Bash The shenanigans in Pagosa Springs are cheeky and fun, not cruel and tragic. And what better way is there to enjoy the Halloween weekend than with the third annual Shooters & Shenanigans Halloween Bash? Ya know, the place with the goofy shit on the walls and mozzarella sticks? There will be prizes for costumes, drink, and food specials. Well, maybe not, but they will have The Garrett Young Collective performing spooky music and, of course, lots of booze and shenanigans. OK, we’re done with the “Super Trooper” references.
Information: Shooters & Shenanigans Halloween Bash, October 31 from 8 p.m. to midnight, Shooters & Shenanigans, 23 Pike Drive, Pagosa Springs, COHocus Pocus Halloween Party It’s all a bunch of hocus pocus, but lucky for you, Angel’s End Zone won’t make you wait 300 years for a virgin to light a candle to celebrate this party. There will be prizes for best costume and, better yet, a hocus pocus Jell-O party. We don’t know exactly what a Jell-O party entails, but we hope it involves shots.
Information: Hocus Pocus Halloween Party, October 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Angel’s End Zone, 309 N. Broadway, CortezRocky Horror Picture ShowOhhh, Rocky! Brad and Janet (dammit, Janet, we love you) had no idea what they were walking into when their tire went flat in the STRANGEST part of Texas to have ever existed, which is saying something. The story of their foray into the world of Dr. Frank N. Furter, a self-proclaimed “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania,” is one of the most beloved cult classics to have ever graced the screen, and you can be part of that craziness this Halloween at Henry Strater Theatre, because they’re throwing a Rocky Horror party just for you. Costumes are encouraged and so are props for you virgins.
Information: Rocky Horror Show, October 31 at 8 p.m., November 1 at 7 and 10 p.m., and November 2 at 7 and 10 p.m., $29, 699 Main Ave., henrystratertheatre.com/eventsA Wild Halloween PartyHalloween ain’t just for the bars and kids dressed in white sheets. Turns out brewers love this creepy holiday just as much as the next person, which is why WildEdge Brewing is putting on their own beer bash. Hey. Any time you can combine beer and something else that’s awesome, we’re all about it. There will be a performance by The Great Contention, a costume contest with prizes, local food, beer, wine, and cider all the livelong night.
Information: Halloween Party, November 1 from 7-10 p.m., $15, WildEdge Brewing Collective, 11 North Market Street, CortezBlondie’s Halloween Bash and Costume ContestBlondie’s isn’t just known for its $3 Fireball shots. Oh no. They’re also known to throw a pretty mean Halloween bash for all you revelers looking to enjoy the (best) holiday like an adult. Soak in live music by Rob Webster from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and a DJ from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. You can also expect some killer door and cash prizes, 21+ games, and giveaways.
Information: Halloween Bash, November 1 from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Blondie’s Trophy Room, 45 E Main Street, CortezHalloween at the Break Room Only ghouls and goblins are welcome to participate in an evening of Halloween drinking at Pagosa’s Break Room. OK, that isn’t completely true, but the good people who work there would like you to at least dress up. There’ll be music by Dave Mensch, a costume contest with prizes, and what we can only assume will be a lot of booze.
Information: Halloween at the Break Room, November 1 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., The Western Slope Break Room Bar & Grill, 2045 Eagle Drive, Pagosa SpringsCirque Du SpookDon’t be putting your Halloween costumes into the back of your closet at the stroke of midnight October 31 because this year, Halloween doesn’t stop once October ends. Animas City Theatre will still be pulling in the scares with its annual Cirque Du Spook event, hosted by 4 Corners Alliance for Diversity. For those of you who don’t want Halloween to end, there’ll be music with DJ NOONZ, performances by local circus acts, and a Halloween contest.
Information: Cirque Du Spook Halloween Dance, November 1, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., $15, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College DriveCirque De Los MuertosAll right, so this TECHNICALLY isn’t a Halloween event, cause Dia de los Muertos, which we hope you’re aware of, isn’t about Halloween. It’s Day of the Dead, which is … a time to celebrate the dead. Pretty obvious. But what isn’t obvious is that it’s not morbid or morose; it’s a time when bright colors, beautiful flowers, AND skeletal remains are celebrated. Remembering the dead is muy importante in most of Latin America, and you can join in on the cultural celebration of life and death in Durango this year, because there’s a Festival de los Muertos right in your own backyard, and it will feature aerial and acrobatic performances, people walking on stilts, jugglers, and tons of activities. We’re beyond in.
Information: Cirque De Los Muertos, October 25-November 2, $27 ADV/$35 DOE, Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino Del Rio DGO staff
