Music Events
The Rivals 8th Annual Halloween Bash
Fri. Oct. 30, 8pm
at Voodoo Lounge
The Rivals have been on the San Jose music scene for nine years, and for the last eight of those they've been building a real local tradition: their annual Halloween party. It now draws hundreds of costumed clubgoers each year; in the last two, it's sold out the Voodoo Lounge. This year, the Rivals asked old-school skate-rock legends the Drunk Injuns to headline, and Johnny Manak & the Depressives will open, with The Gunslinger kicking things off on Friday night. On Saturday night, the Return of the DJs Halloween Massacre when music will be pumping so loudly that the patrons will become victims.
Monster Machine: A Tribute to Michael Jackson's Thriller
Sat. Oct. 31, 6pm
at Smoke Tiki Lounge
DJ GoldenChyld & The Bangerz spin a tribute to Michael Jackson's Thriller for Smoke Tiki's all-out Halloween party. In addition, classic horror flicks will be shown on the big screens and, for all you wannabe vamps, Smoke will be mixing cocktails with True Blood (yes, HBO's official True Blood). All that, plus a costume contest.
Halloween at the Brit
Sat. Oct. 31, 6pm
at Britannia Arms San Jose
The Brit will be rocking in style when G Beats the Soul Child and Metrorock will be on stage with a live drummer. $500 in prizes will be given out for the best dressed and the most creative costumes. And don't forget, guests can't get a freak on without a Ghoulaide Kool-Aide.
Tributes Halloween Party and Costume Contest
Sat. Oct. 31, 8pm
at Little Fox Theatre
A plethera of tribute bands including Damage Inc. (early Metallica), Paradise City (Guns 'n Roses), Children of the Damned (Iron Maiden) and Strangers in the Night (UFO). Also, a contest will be held with prizes for scariest, sexiest and funniest costumes. There will be also be prizes for costume with the most colors and costume making the best use of plastic or wood. A grand prize for best costume will include a Fox Theatre night on the town.
Subsonic Halloween Spookfest
Fri. Oct. 30, 6:30pm
at Cow Palace
Live 105's Halloween fest features one of the hottest indie bands around, The Faint, as well as electronic music icons the Crystal Method and the party-ready Basement Jaxx. Delivering on the promise of a "spookfest" will be Zombie Nation, and even Jonathan Davis from Korn sort of counts. Besides multiple dance floors, there will a Zombie Wrestling Slaughter House where Live 105 DJs No Name, Matty and Katie will be duking it out.
Halloween with Extra Large
Sat. Oct. 31, 8pm
at Don Quixote's
Extra Large, a popular funk band, will play live to accompany a costume contest with prizes.There are 14 chances to win with categories like Scariest Costume, Most Colors in a Costume, Sexiest Costume, Funniest Costume and costume with best use of plastic or wood products.
Halloween with Rebelution
Sat. Oct. 31, 8:30pm
at The Catalyst
Halloween costume ball with Rebelution, Tribal Seeds and Hallway Ballers. Cash prizes will be awarded for best costumes.
Halloween Spooktacular Party
Sat. Oct. 31, 8pm
at Quarter Note
Featuring Bray and 667 Neighbor of the Beast performing. Drink specials include Dracula's Kiss and Pina Ghoulada. There will be a costume contest with cash prizes.
Blues Society Jam: Halloween
Wed. Oct. 28, 8pm
at Little Fox Theatre
The popular Wednesday night blues jam at the Little Fox Theater has become known as a place where the biggest names in Bay Area blues are likely to drop in on any given night. On this night, however, they'll take on a Halloween theme. If you don't think the blues can be spooky, you've never heard Robert Johnson singing about meeting the devil, or Howlin' Wolf moanin' at midnight. There will also be a costume party.
Club Events
8th Annual Monsters Ball Weekend
Fri. Oct. 30, 8pm
Sat. Oct. 31, 8pm
at Sabor Tapas Bar & Lounge
The 8th Annual Monsters Ball Weekend is destined to be better than last year with 8 DJs on both nights. To enter this realm of riotous partying, guests must be on the guest list and must wear a costume. No "normals" allowed. Plus, this is the only time of the year when Sabor will serve the glorious Jack-O-Lantern drink which consists of 42oz of witch's brew.
Halloween at Pearl
Thu. Oct. 29 8pm
Fri. Oct. 30, 8pm
Sat. Oct. 31, 8pm
at Pearl
Pearl will be celebrating Halloween starting on Thursday with the pre-Halloween party, Spooky. On Halloween Eve, Pearl will be transformed into a haunted mansion. If you dare to go inside, 99 gift bags will be waiting for 99 lucky, costumed guests. Also, DJ Miss Lisa from the Girls On Top tour will provide inspiring tricks to treat. On Halloween night, for Pearl's Halloween Hooker Ball, be prepared to see some sexy outfits (and or course some Ninja Turtles). There is a costume contest with $1000 cash and prizes.
Halloween at Toons
Sat. Oct. 31, 6pm
at Toons
Haunted House Specials, Toons is celebrating the night of haunts and horrors with a blow-out costume party complete with drink specials and a DJ. This promises to be one boo-tiful night.
Voodoo Fest 2
Sat. Oct. 31, 7pm
at Zen Lounge
The second annual Voodoo Fest kicks off with an open bar from 7-9pm. That's right, open bar. As if that wasn't enough for a celebrating zombie, there will also be a costume contest with a $100 prize.
2nd Annual Witches and Warlocks Ball
Fri. Oct. 30, 7pm
at Club Auto Sport
This year, Restaurant O and Club Auto Sport combine to produce 120,000 square feet of cursed ground. In addition to the club-like atmosphere provided by a live band, DJ, food and drinks, there is an extra treat: a haunted house. This ghostly night out requires guests to wear costumes and to have a devilishly good time.
4th Annual Halloween Bash at Fahrenheit
Sat. Oct. 31, 9pm-2am
at Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge
The Heit's 4th Annual Halloween Bash will feature more than $1,000 in prizes for Best Costume, Sexiest Costume and Best Couple Costumes. DJ J-Wicked and DJ B-Side will be filling the Halloween-decorated club with live video mixing of hip hop, top 40, '80s hits and club favorites. All guests who are in costume will receive free entry until 10:30pm. The Zombie Punch and the Deadly Sin Cocktails are to die for.
Stephens Green for Halloween
Fri-Sat. Oct. 30-31 9:30pm
at Stephens Green
On Friday night, there's only a $5 cover for the Halloween party hosted by DJ Cesar. While dancing to the top hits, the best male and female costumes will win $100 gift vouchers. On Halloween night, a South American Halloween Party means more dancing, more prizes ($200 and $100) and drink specials all night long. For a traditional summer solstice celebration, the Incas would have a parade with the corpses of their past rulers. Let's hope it doesn't get that wild.
Halloween Salsa Party
Fri. Oct. 30 8pm
at Alberto's Night Club
The pre-Halloween party at Alberto's will have Julio Bravo y su Orquesta performing as a special guest. The Peruvian singer, songwriter and bandleader is celebrating 20 years as a musician. The salsa party will be open to experienced dancers as well as people with a love for the beat despite their 2 left feet.
Number One Broadway's Halloween Party
Sat. Oct. 31 9:30pm
at Number One Broadway
Live music from the Blind Pilots will accompany artist and photographer Ricki Nelson on his spontaneous photo shoot. There will also be a costume contest that will include great prizes from Sharks tickets to cash.
Halloween Dance Party w/ DJ Rawkstar
Sat. Oct. 31 9:30pm
at Avalon Nightclub
It's officially "One Hell of a Halloween Dance Party" as Movin 99.7 and the Avalon presents the Bay Arean's own DJ Rawkstar (aka Robbie Rich) spinning dance cuts late well past the witching hour on Halloween. St. John will be the night's horror host, and there will be a $250 cash giveaway.
Bar & Restaurant Events
Tessora's Barra di Vino Halloween Bash
Sat. Oct. 31 6:30pm
at Tessora's Barra di Vino
Best known as a great wine bar, Tessora's will have beer and festive treats in addition to the great wine selection this Halloween. Isis & Co. will be playing live, and guests are encouraged to take part in the costume contest with prizes for most imaginative, most elaborate and best couple.
Family Events
Great America Halloween Haunt
Fri. and Sat. Oct. 2-31, 7-10pm
at California's Great America
You Must Be This Brave to Ride This Ride: For the Halloween season, California's Great America is transformed into the fright fest Halloween Haunt. In addition to the regular rides, the familiar Loggers Run has been morphed into a thrilling escape from the ghosts of a haunted campground. There are also four shows that deal with hypnotism, freaks, magic and percussion; six grim mazes including a cursed cornfield complete with evil scarecrows, a werewolf hunting ground, and the new toy factory; and four scare zones that are littered between attractions. Since this is a constant spookapoloosa, the haunting is not recommended for people under 13 or the faint of heart.
Haunted History
Sat. Oct. 31, 1-4pm
at History Park
History San Jose is presenting a "scare-free" Halloween party that will be all about treat-or-treating fun. While visiting the historic houses, kids will also be able to take part in trolley rides, a costume parade and story time. There will also be contests for mummy wrapping, jack-o-lantern decorating and costumes. To help other families have just as good a time, please bring non-perishable food for the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Gamble Garden Halloween Haunted House
Sun. Oct. 25, 6:30-8pm
at Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden Center
This family friendly event in the Gamble Garden mansion is aimed as a treat for children ages 4-10. Everyone is encouraged to be in costume just like the witches who are running the festivities. Only good witches; no wicked ones in sight.
Goblyns Glen
Fri. and Sat. Oct. 9-31, 7-10pm
at Oak Meadow Park
Families are invited to journey through the woods of Oak Meadow Park and take a carousel ride to a Halloween town. Once in the village, guests are invited to trick-or-treat and meet several of the town's local residents. A ride on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad waits at the end on the line.
Hillsdale Shopping Center Halloween "Spook"tacular
Sat. Oct. 31, 5pm
at Hillsdale Shopping Center
Local children are invited to a festive Halloween "Spook"tacular event at Hillsdale Shopping Center! To kick-off the festivities, participating stores will hand out treats to costumed children ages 12 and under. Kids will also enjoy spooky special events including performances by the Fratello Marionettes, Ventriloquist Jungle Joe and Comedy Magician Timothy James. The fun will continue with bewitching balloon twisting, Halloween crafts, a Mad Science Slime Booth and more.
