Japanime Costume Ideas
Peelander-Z
Wed. Oct. 27, 5pm at Streetlight Records, 9pm at Blank Club
Not sure what to wear this year? Get inspired by Peelander-Z, a "Japanese Action Comic Punk Band" with trippy music videos and even trippier live shows. Catch them Oct. 27 at Streetlight Records and their free show at Blank Club later that night with the Japanese girl rock trio Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re.
Haunted Opera
Masked Gala Fundraiser
Sat. Oct. 30, 6:30pm at Triton Museum of Art
Opera singers from the Mission City Opera will perform their favorite arias for a costumed crowd at the Triton Museum of Art. The fundraising event includes a tapas bar, silent auction, dessert, and a live auction.
Spooky Symphony
Witches' Brouhaha
Sun. Oct. 31, 3pm at McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center
The San Jose Wind Symphony's 2010-11 season opener includes macabre medleys from "Wicked" and "Phantom of the Opera" and creepy classics like Dukas' "Sorcerer's Apprentice" and Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor." Prizes will be awarded to the best costumes.
Haunting Blues
Blues Bands and Po' Boys
Fri. Oct. 29 and Sat. Oct. 30, 6-10pm at Poor House Bistro
The blues are already haunting, but they get even more haunting with Lara Price on the mic, Bobby Welsh on guitar and the audience in costume for Halloween weekend at Poor House Bistro. Gut-wrenching blues, cold beers, and the best po' boy sandwiches in San Jose will keep the ghosts away. Lara Price and Bob Welsh perform Friday and the cool cats of the J.C. Smith Blues Band are on Saturday.
Hardcore Rock
The Rivals 9th Annual Rock 'n Roll Halloween Bash
Fri. Oct. 29, 8pm-2am at The Blank Club
The Rivals have been staging a popular Halloween hardcore rock party at Blank Club for nine years now. This year's lineup includes Jonny Manak and the Depressives, Relapse and Los Bastardos de Amor. Dress in a costume and get $2 off at the door.
Ghoulish Rock and Arts Festival
Rock N' Arts Halloween Festival
Sun. Oct. 31, 12pm-12am at Avalon Nightclub
A slew of bands and artists converge at Avalon on Halloween including Letters Make Words, Point of View, The Parade, Thunderhorse, Until We Sleep, Kenny Thomas and the Southern Baptists, TrickMechanics, Rezn, Billions Upon Us, Ghost Town Hangmen and Klank. The all-day and all-ages festival features live painting, a costume contest and specialty vendors.
Theater & Film Events
Spooky Sing-Along
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Sat. Oct. 30 and Sun. Oct. 31, 9pm at The Retro Dome
Dress up as any gender (or non-gender) and sing-along to the "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The 1975 cult classic starring Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry and Barry Bostwick - with a bit part played by Meat Loaf - will be screened at The Retro Dome on both Saturday and Sunday nights.
A Truly Scary Play
Secret Order
Thu. Oct. 14 through Sun. Nov. 7 at San Jose Repertory Theatre
Plays can sometimes be scarier than movies. In "Secret Order," researchers pursuing a cure for cancer expose the corporate greed and politics involved in today's world of big business and biomedical science.
Family Events
Hunt for Real Ghosts
Flashlight Tours of the Winchester Mystery House
Fri. Oct. 29 through Sun. Oct. 31 at Winchester Mystery House
Get tickets in advance for this popular ghost-hunting tour. For Halloween weekend, the sprawling Winchester Mystery House cuts out all the lights and gives tours lit only by souvenir flashlights. Rumor has it the place is haunted by ghosts.
Freaky Fido
Sunnyvale Howl'oween Pet Parade and Faire
Sat. Oct. 30, 11am-4:30pm at Downtown Sunnyvale
Some dogs just love wearing costumes. Downtown Sunnyvale hosts the Howl'oween Pet Parade and Faire on Saturday. The pet parade starts at 11am and the faire includes contests for best animal costume, best human costume, best float, and best dog treat stacker.
The Mega Halloween Scare-tacular
Halloween Haunt
Fri. Oct. 1 through Sun. Oct. 31 at California's Great America
Billed as Northern California's biggest Halloween event, Halloween Haunt transforms the Great America theme park into a nightmare of haunted mazes, scare zones, thrill-seeker attractions, and spooky stage shows.
Meerkats and Turtles and Goats, Oh My!
Haunt the Hollow and History Park Too!
Sun. Oct. 31, 12-4pm at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Trick-or-treat inside the Park & Zoo and the History Park. Stations will be set-up throughout the Park & Zoo and at the houses in the History Park, providing a fun, safe and family friendly experience. Admission also includes trolley car rides, games & crafts, puppet shows, play areas, and the Zoo.
Day of the Dead Art
El Dia De Los Muertos Community Day
Sat. Oct. 30, 11am-5pm at San Jose Museum of Art
San Jose Museum of Art is once again celebrating the Day of the Dead by inviting the public and their families to enjoy Halloween from the perspective of a different culture. The day is full of entertainment from hand-on activities to live performances and demonstrations. This event is free and open to the public.
Trick or Trees
Free Trick-or-Tree Tour
Sat. Oct. 30, 2-4pm at Saint James Park
Our City Forest invites people to get in the spirit of Fall with a tour of St. James Park. The guide, a knowledgeable aboriginal in a Halloween costume, will show how to identify different species of trees including the shadow trees in the park. This event is free and open to the public. Costumes are encouraged.
Bars and Restaurants
Irish Halloween
Halloween Bash
Sat. Oct. 30, 9pm-2am at Fibbar Magees
Trick-or-treating, or guising, and the carving of jack o'lanterns originated in Ireland so it's only fitting to celebrate Halloween at an Irish pub. Just be culturally considerate and avoid wearing a leprechaun costume or making jokes about pots o'gold at the end of the rainbow.
Moroccan Halloween
Halloween Party and Dinner Buffet
Sat. Oct. 30, 5pm-12am at Morocco's Restaurant
It's an endless 7 course buffet with unlimited sangria and beer. Tickets are $30 presale or $40 at the door. Lounge beats from all around the world and the mesmerizing belly dancing of Adriana will produce a night to remember.
Fahrenheit Halloween
Halloween Bash
Sat. Oct. 30, 9pm-2am at Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge
Spend Halloween in downtown San Jose at Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge. The Fahrenheit Halloween Bash is for adults 21 and up. Entry is free for guests who email [email protected] and who arrive before 11pm.
Halloween Salsa
Club Illusions Halloween
Fri. Oct. 29, 9pm-2am at Illusions Supper Club
Offering best of Halloween, both tricks and treats, Club Illusions is a great choice for people looking to dance. Wear comfortable shoes with costumes for the salsa dance lessons from 9-10pm.
1970's Halloween
Halloween Party with Superbad
Sat. Oct. 30, 10pm-2am at Britannia Arms Almaden
Sport the bellbottoms and afro wigs and come to the Britannia Arms Almaden the night before Halloween to ring in the holiday with Superbad, the party band that jams music from the 1970's to the present.
Singles Halloween
Halloween Party for Professional Singles
Fri. Oct. 29, 8pm-12am at Hotel Sofitel at Redwood Shores
Halloween is a great time to meet other professional singles. The Halloween Costume Party and Dance for Singles is hosted by The Society of Single Professionals. Costumes aren't required but there will be a costume contest with prizes.
Dubstep and Rock
Haunted Halloween Party
Sat. Oct. 30, 8:30pm-2am at Johnny V's
South Bay Dub Massive and Johnny V present the Haunted Halloween Party with two floors of music. Local bands Talky Tina and Sweet Revenge bring the rock while SBDM and Cypher Squad DJs Johnny 5, DU3, Audio Dru, Tarzan and Smizzle Monster drop the dubstep. There's no cover with costumes so come dressed to kill.
The $666 Giveaway
Halloween Costume Contest
Fri. Oct. 29, 9pm-2am at Agenda Lounge
Agenda Lounge is giving away $666 (the number of the beast!) in cash and prizes in their Halloween costume contest on Friday. DJ Ren Barrera will be spinning R&B, hip-hop and old school club classics. It's free admission with a flyer before 10pm.
Freaky Tales
Freaky Tales Halloween Bash
Sat. Oct. 30, 9pm-2am at Agenda Lounge
As Too Short once said, "These are the tales, the freaky tales, the freaky tales that I tell so well." Compete for $200 in the Freaky Tales sexiest costume contest at Agenda Lounge on Saturday night. DJ Quam will be on the decks. RSVP online for the discounted $10 entry before 11pm.
Clubs
Don Lynch and DJ Roctakon
The Land of Jigsaw
Fri. Oct. 29 and Sat. Oct. 30, 9pm-2am at WET Nightclub
The 2004 teen comedy "Mean Girls" solidified the existential dilemma everybody faces at Halloween: to dress scary or to dress slutty. In some cases, those can be the same thing. But since WET is hosting their mega Halloween party spread across two nights, the choice is simple: dress scary on Friday and slutty on Saturday. Conundrum resolved.
Halloween at Motif
Fresh to Death
Sat. Oct. 30, 10pm-2am at Motif Club
Celebrate Halloween weekend in downtown San Jose at the two-story Motif club with two full bars and two dance floors plus the outdoor patio. For the ultimate costume that's both scary and sexy, dress like Christine O'Donnel or Sarah Palin.
Halloween for Hookers
Halloween Hooker Ball
Sat. Oct. 30, 9pm-2am at Pearl Night Club
The 2010 Halloween Hooker Ball at Pearl Night Club is said to be the largest Halloween party in northern California. There's a $1,000 first place prize for the winner of the costume contest.
Gay Halloween
Gay Halloween Party
Sat. Oct. 30 and Sun. Oct. 31, 9pm-2am at BRIX Nightclub
Halloween only comes once a year, so why not party two nights in a row in honor of the holiday? DJ Sean B., dancers and photographers will be at BRIX, one of the most highly rated and popular gay clubs in San Jose, on both Saturday and Sunday nights.
Hallows Ball on the Waterfront
A Night To Die For
Fri. Oct. 29, 8pm-1:30am at American Legion Post 99
Help veterans keep American Legion Campbell Post 99 by attending this fun Halloween event. The location is currently available to other groups and with all ticket money at the event the Koa Restaurant Group hopes to keep the location for the veterans. There will be three bars with drink specials, food by Koa Restaurant, a haunted house, live music and a costume contest $250 prize.
Indie Electro Halloween
Atomic Halloween
Thu. Oct. 28, 9pm-2am at Blank Club
It's a special Halloween costume edition of the downtown hipster dance party for people who don't like dance parties. DJ Basura spins new wave, 80's, electro, mod, and indie tracks all night long.
