Halloween Calendar

Pick Your Poison: Happy Halloween days are here again

by Nancy Ford

You could stay home and dispense fun-sized candy bars to diminutive trick-or-treaters who are already over-sugared beyond their parents’ wildest nightmares. Or you could toss on your favorite disguise and head out to any of these Halloween-themed events ranging from the inspired—like Miller Outdoor Theatre’s screening of Dracula—to the truly, truly frightening, like the passing parade that is the 800 Pacific Halloween Block Party. However you choose to celebrate Halloween in Houston, have a safe and frighteningly good time!

The Booootiful Bunny. Fresh from her appearance on Logo’s RuPaul’s Drag U, The Lady Bunny blows into town to judge Guava Lamp’s annual Halloween contest, awarding cash and prizes totally $500 to characters competing in group, individual, and “bartenders’ choice” categories. Oct. 30, 10 p.m. and midnight shows. 570 Waugh Dr. • guavalamphouston.com • 713/524-3359.

Bare Bones. Teams from all over Houston work together to create human skeletons from papier-mâché for the Health Museum’s Siege of the Skeletons, on display Oct. 1–30. Open to schools, organizations, businesses, and individual participants, ages 10 and up. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr. • thehealthmuseum.org • 713/ 521-1515.

Howling Is Optional. Note for note, a cast of singers and musicians recreate Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, using every instrument that it took to record the classic rock album. Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. • milleroutdoor
theatre.com • 281/373-3386.

Dia de los Muertos. Lawndale Art Center continues its long-held Mexican tradition of celebrating Day of the Dead in a contemporary context with an open call, non-juried art exhibition, Oct. 18–Nov. 6. LAC’s Gala and Silent Auction is scheduled Oct. 22, 7–9 p.m. Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main St. • lawndaleartcenter.org • 713/528-5858.

Costumes Are Encouraged at Run for Your Life 5K race and a 1K family walk, the Health Museum’s first annual sanctioned road race and fun run. Oct. 23; registration 6 a.m. Benefits programs of John D. Hawkins Memorial Scholarship Fund. 1515 Hermann Dr. • thehealthmuseum.org.

Any Excuse to Put on a Sparkly Dress. Okay, it’s not a Halloween event, per se, but Theatre Under the Stars OUT@TUTS recognizes our community’s need to don costumes by presenting Dolly Dress Up Night, a night of Dolly Parton-inspired karaoke in partnership with TUTS’ upcoming performance of 9 to 5. Oct. 28. Meteor Lounge, 2306 Genesee St. • meteorlounge.com • 713/521-0123.

Monsters vs. Aliens. The evening starts with a costume contest with prizes (6:30 p.m.) followed by a screening of the popular Dream Works 2009 animated film featuring the voices of Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Rudd (7 p.m.). Oct. 29. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. • milleroutdoortheatre.com • 281/373-3386.

ArBOOretum Halloween Festival. Children and adults alike enjoy Halloween festivities like pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, face painting, costumes, and pony and train rides. Oct. 30, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive in Memorial Park • houstonarboretum.org • 713/681-8433.

Green Scream. Costumed guests compete in adult and children’s contests while enjoying Halloween treats, scary music, and more at Discovery Green’s third annual Scream on the Green. Oct. 30, 6–11 p.m. Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St. • discoverygreen.com • 713/400-7336.

Terrifyingly Tony’s. Enjoy devilishly delicious food, howling entertainment, and a costume contest at PWA Holiday Charities’ fourth annual Halloween Party & Show. Oct. 30, 7 p.m. (party); 8:30 p.m. (show). Tony’s Corner Pocket, 817 W. Dallas St. • pwaholidaycharities.org • 713/571-7870.

Pump It Up. Hosted by OutSmart’s perennial “Most Divine Drag Queen,” Miss Kofi, the 800 Pacific Street Halloween Block Party’s second annual High Hell Drag Race returns to scare and delight Montrose. The well-heeled, high-heeled participants have two races to choose from, with each first-place winner receiving $100. Second-placers win $50 and a trophy, and the first 50 entries receive two complimentary tickets to the Texas Renaissance Festival. The first race is open to everyone, but the second race is restricted to runners costumed in full drag. The biggest Halloween block party in gay Texas, the traditional 800 Pacific Street Halloween Costume Contest, follows the races. Oct. 30; registration, 9–9:45 p.m. 800 Pacific St. Info: [email protected].

Dracula Vants to Suck Your Blood.
Experience the ultimate horror film from 1931 starring Béla Lugosi, under cover of darkness with the circling bats and other assorted outdoor park goblins. Oct. 31, 7 p.m. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. • milleroutdoortheatre.com • 281/373-3386. n