Like so many other holidays, Halloween is one of those times when it’s easy to throw caution to the wind and stuff our faces with gobs of sugar. On the one hand, who doesn’t love an excuse to dress up like a cat and play with pumpkins? On the other hand, chowing down on ultra-processed, sugar-packed candy is a one-way ticket to cavities, hormone imbalances and a mean case of the grumps. Conventional candy is loaded with artificial colours, ‘natural’ flavours, refined sugars and hydrogenated oils. The good news? There are plenty of homemade healthy Halloween treat options!
But What About the Kids?
We worry about the kids, though, right? We don’t want them missing out. I can hear you now: “But I only buy Halloween candy for the kids!” Right. Despite your good intentions, you know that jumbo pack of mini chocolate bars is going to disappearlong before the trick-or-treaters come knocking. Besides, don’t the little ones deserve some superfood-filled, health-promoting goodies, too? YES!!!
There may have once been a time when Halloween was the one time of year that kids ate junk. Now, treats are everywhere. Birthday parties, school events, chocolate or candy from well-meaning grocery stores or local businesses, sports and activities – the list goes on. Even the ‘healthy snacks‘ are basically treats.
Excess sugar in our children’s diets is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease risk, dental cavities and can affect their mental health. This probably isn’t news to you – the dangers of excess sugar have been making headlines for years. It’s time to stop the processed candy cycle and there’s no time like the present!
Instead of stocking up on store-bought candy, try making these healthy treats for yourself and your family.
And there are some non-food treat suggestions for you, too!
Note: Please know I don’t mean for you to hand these out at your door. The intention behind these Halloween treats are for situations where it’s safe to interact with family and friends.
Kid-Friendly Healthy Halloween Treats
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Once you try these, you won’t be able to go back to peanut butter cups.
If you plan to be in Las Vegas for the tricks and treats, we have another list of Sin City Halloween activities that could help you plan your evening. This time we’re checking out even more scary things to do themed around the spooky evening, including food, another show, and even something for slot lovers!
If you missed the list we already put together for Las Vegas Halloween events then be sure to check that out. And of course, what scary vacation would be complete without a visit to one of the Las Vegas escape rooms? But there is so much going on there is just not enough space to list it all in one or two posts! So, here goes our third:
Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum: Ready to do something more interactive? Then head over to this “haunted” attraction! And if you can’t participate in the Sin City Halloween fun right now, this attraction is open all year long! This museum has creepy lighting and theatrics added to the exterior, some fun jump scares, and they even close on the actual holiday to embark on a live lock down investigation with the Ghost Adventures crew.
Voted one of the best attractions for your Sin City Halloween experience, you can visit them on E Charleston Blvd in Las Vegas. Rumored to be the final resting place for haunted artifacts like Peggy, the possessed doll, Bela Lugosi’s cursed mirror, and even the fake teeth of notorious cult leader Charles Manson. So if this is your idea of fun, the Haunted Museum may be quite the evening for you!Dine in the Dark!
Black Out Dining in the Dark: We’ve always been told to watch what we eat, but that may not be possible at this place! Have you ever wondered what it might be like to dine in the pitch-black darkness of a cursed and haunted restaurant? No? Well start thinking about it! This seven course dinner will cost about $100 per person.
Since you can’t see one another, there’s no need to worry if you have food in your teeth! Come to think of it, you don’t even have to worry about what your date looks like! Just be willing to eat what’s put in front of you! Trained staff with night vision goggles bring you to your table, help you get seated, and serve up your meal in complete darkness! But what about when the check comes? Open Thursdays through Mondays just a half-mile from the Strip.
“Spooky Slots” at Halloween Downtown Grand: For our slot lovers out there, the Downtown Grand Fremont Street running their “Spooky Slots” promotion for games like the Frankenstein slot machine… which we have a full review for… as well as games like Mo Mummy and Caspar! And players who earn 100 points at these featured slots will receive special prizes. The Downtown Grand finds these themed slot machines serve as a powerful draw for casino visitors. This special runs from 4 to 6 p.m. on Halloween Eve!
Vegas Halloween Club Crawl: Join LA Epic Las Vegas Club Crawls for the ultimate Las Vegas nightlife experience. With exclusive access to the trendiest nightclubs, dayclubs, lounges, and bars, enjoy VIP treatment without worrying about long queues and entrance fees. L.A. Epic selects the best venues for their outstanding ambiance, music, and overall vibe. Get priority entry to these establishments and meet other party-goers for an unforgettable adventure.
Your Sin City Halloween Club Crawl will include a party bus on the Strip or downtown with an open bar, along with free entry to all nightclubs, dayclubs, pool parties, and other venues specific to your crawl. Your price includes all cover charges, exclusive drink specials at select spots, and party photos of your crawl! And if you miss the Halloween experience they run throughout the year! All staring at $40 for a basic crawl to just north of $85 for the more expensive!
Zombie Burlesque at Planet Hollywood: The undead never looked so good! Zany musical zombies from the atomic era take to the stage at “Club Z” with variety acts, comedy, a live big band and award-winning cast of characters. Watch your fantasies come back to life! Zombie Burlesque takes you back to the year 1958 in a world where the undead have taken over! Ticket prices start at just $60 each, and during Halloween these shows will run October 26th, and from October 28th through November 2nd
Open Bars in Las Vegas: Yes, we saved the best for last! How unreal is it to think you can still find an open bar in Sin City?! And not just one… we actually found two of them! Let’s start with the Raised by Wolves Open Bar on Fremont Street, where just $25 gets you vodka, whisky and gin well drinks all night long! For $15 more you can upgrade to get tequila, rum, and bud light. A $60 upgrade brings name brand like Tito’s, Jack and add your choice of most tequilas.
Slightly less decadent is the open bar at Señor Frog’s at Treasure Island on the Strip! Spend your Sin City Halloween with friends and get one hour of unlimited, all-you-can-drink beer, cocktails & well-drinks including cocktails! Beer, Vodka, Rum, Whiskey, Tequila, Gin, and various flavors of Margaritas on Rocks! All at this beloved and colorful Mexican eatery!
A haunted house in Queens proved to be too horrific for some who have filed lawsuits claiming they were injured inside the frightful attraction.
A Haunting in Hollis was shut down Oct. 5th after the FDNY called it a “death trap,” citing various safety hazards inside the two-family house that had been illegally converted into a commercial haunted house.
On Friday, the New York City Department of Buildings gave it the green light to reopen saying the operators had fixed many of the issues, including installing fire-rated sheetrock on multiple walls, removing flammable materials, added exit signs and egress paths, and fixed open electrical wiring.
But Solainne Mancero-Tannis of Jamaica, Queens, could not stay silent after learning the haunted house was allowed to reopen and operate.
“I’m all for people having fun on Halloween as long as it’s safe,” said Mancero-Tannis.
It was on Friday the 13th during Oct. 2023 that Mancero-Tannis and her family visited the haunted house. She recalled the various rooms with actors sneaking up on them to scare them. She described narrow hallways, stairways and having to walk up and down the two levels to all see all the rooms.
But she says the real scare would be a slide called “Satan’s Slope.”
“I went down the slide very quickly crash landed and didn’t even see anything, it was pitch dark. I crashed into the bottom and hurt my ankles,” said Mancero-Tannis. “All I remember is the impact.”
She said she slammed feet first into a concrete wall at the end of the slide, shattering both ankles. She needed surgeries and screws and metal to put her ankles back together. A year later, she is not back to normal, having to walk very slowly everywhere she goes and she is still undergoing physical therapy.
She is now suing the operators of the haunted house.
“Her goal was number one to try to shut it down and make the public aware,” said her attorney Mike Goldberg. “And then to hopefully to try to get us some compensation for her injuries.”
There are at least four other lawsuits against the haunted house, some victims claiming they too were injured on the slide.
Lawrence Carra, an attorney for the haunted house operator, said the slide has since been removed. He told NBC New York that “the parties were allegedly injured as a result of their conduct and not ours,” that “we try to provide a safe and proper environment for the entertainment of our guests.”
He also said guests likely ignored warning signs posted by the slide, but Mancero-Tannis said there were no warning signs and no workers around who could answer questions about the slide before she took the plunge.
“To go to a place thinking you’re going to have a good time and then you come out as injured. It’s not okay. It was very hurtful, very humiliating and devastating for me.”
Halloween is on a Thursday this year, which means those parties you’ll be hitting will arrive almost a full week earlier than the spooktacular holiday. With the festivities beginning as early as Friday, October 25, your annual chance at costumed debauchery is frighteningly close, and you have even less time to procrastinate on getting your outfit together than usual.
Luckily, we nerds here at Kotaku love a good costume (including non-spooky cosplay costumes). If you need some last-minute inspiration, take a look at a few of the Halloween costumes we’ve covered this year.
As you get ready for your Halloween festivities, who better to soundtrack your October than ‘el Diablo’ himself? mgk has been making the perfect music for Halloween for over a decade, and we’ve rounded up just a handful of songs that you definitely need on your playlist to get you into the spooky mood. There’s no “house too haunted” to play these on repeat, so grab your earbuds, munch on some candy corn, and get ready to jam out with us!
‘Sex Drive’
The perfect opener for your EST Halloween playlist is ‘Sex Drive,’ of course! The opening track of Hotel Diablo sees Colson singing “come and find yourself” until a bunch of creepy demon voices interrupt him, representing how forces like depression can scare you away from discovering your purpose. And if you’re hosting a haunted house on Halloween night, this song would work great as a soundtrack for your trick-or-treaters, inviting them closer for a little fright.
‘Candy’
Is half of this article going to be about Hotel Diablo? Maybe, but we won’t apologize for it. Candy is a Halloween staple, and it’s time to make ‘Candy’ a Halloween playlist staple as well! Even though it’s not necessarily about a sweet treat you get from your neighbor’s door, ‘Candy’ is ridiculously easy to jam out to and anyone you spend Halloween with will be singing along by the end of the song. Bonus points if you get some friends together to dress as Kells, Trippie Redd, and Pete Davidson in the music video!
‘DAYWALKER!’
In supernatural stories, a daywalker is a type of vampire who can actually walk in the sunlight without getting hurt – think Simon from Shadowhunters or Blade from Marvel. But in the mgk universe, it’s an iconic collab with CORPSE that compares healing from mental health struggles to feeling like a monster in the everyday world. mgk started working on the song shortly after he started his therapy journey and wanted to keep his positive progress going, which he clearly has! This track will help you let out any negative energy or aggression while sounding pretty sinister, making it a great choice to help you enjoy Halloween night to the fullest.
‘In These Walls’
Speaking of creepy vibes, ‘In These Walls’ is a no-brainer to include on this list! We first heard this song during mgk’s memorable Lockdown Sessions series and it samples the chorus of PVRIS’ ‘My House’ to describe feeling haunted by someone from the past. Lynn Gunn’s vocals sound so beautifully eerie while Kells’ rap adds a stunning edge to the mix. We’re forever grateful for the day this song arrived on our favorite streaming platforms!
‘D3MONS’
Let’s head back to 2012 for a second to spotlight ‘D3MONS,’ a collab with the late DMX that definitely suits a creepy Halloween vibe. The backing vocals and adlibs alone could soundtrack a horror movie! Kells and DMX take turns rapping about their experiences with the demons in their mind, making for a raw song that shows off both artists’ knack for storytelling. They even reference The Shining in one verse, so you could dance around the house to this song before switching gears to watch some spooky movies.
‘Waste Love’
Come on, we warned you a lot of this article would be about Hotel Diablo! The final song on our list is ‘Waste Love,’ which Kells even said himself during a Discord Q&A is a song that deserves better. This collab with Madison Love is a tale of love damaged and maybe lost, but there’s a back-and-forth that keeps both sides of the relationship hooked. “Wanted me to chase you inside, but the house too haunted,”Colson reflects on how his past experiences have impacted his more current relationships. If you’re feeling heartbroken this Spooky Season, ‘Waste Love’ is right there to help you feel less alone in it.
Which of these songs are you adding to your Halloween playlist? Are there any other mgk tracks you’d suggest? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to infuse your home with a little creativity and a lot of spooky fun! This season, why not turn your living space into a spooky home of ghoulish decorations crafted by your little ones? Halloween crafts for kids are not only a fantastic way to bond with family, but they also allow their imaginations to run wild.
As Kim Bloomberg from Art Beat Box says, “As the days get shorter and the temperatures begin to cool, I can feel the excitement in the air. Fall has always been my favorite season because of the beautiful foliage, the crisp air, the apple picking, and Halloween. Now that I have two kids of my own, Halloween takes on an extra special meaning in our house.
Halloween isn’t just about trick-or-treating and candy; it’s also a wonderful opportunity to be creative, slow down, and spend time with family. One of the best ways to do this is by making art together. I love making art that can be used in our home. This year, we got together as a family and made resin Halloween coasters. Each of us chose one item to include and the result made all of us happy!”
With a little glue, some colorful paper, and a dash of creativity, you can create a magical atmosphere that brings joy to your family and all your visitors. Whether it is an apartment in Seattle, a spooky new home in Savannah, or a rental home in New Orleans, with ideas from this Redfin article, let the spirit of Halloween inspire your projects, and enjoy the delightful process of crafting together!
Courtesy of Juice Box Homeschool
Crafting across ages, making Halloween fun for everyone
When it comes to Halloween arts and crafts, the great news is that there’s something for every age group! For the youngest crafters, around ages 3 to 5, simple projects like decorating paper pumpkins or making ghostly handprints can be both fun and easy. As kids grow older, around ages 6 to 10, you can introduce slightly more intricate activities, such as creating spooky masks or baking and decorating spider cupcakes.
For tweens and teens, ages 11 to 16, you might consider projects that require a bit more skill and creativity, like carving pumpkins with detailed designs. Parent blogger Dave Taylor of Go Fatherhood piece of advice is, “Halloween is a great time to work on craft projects with your kids, and it’s easy to make something just the right level of spooky for any age, from 3 to 16. From experience, I recommend you pick a craft project that’s just a bit more challenging than what your children usually do, then be hands-on with them so that you all create something together. Spider cupcakes, ghostly toilet paper rolls, spooky paper plate masks, glow-in-the-dark slime, or that old standby, pumpkin carving, they’re all fun and add to the enjoyment of the season!”
Marybeth from Kids Crafts by Three Sisters adds, “When making Halloween crafts for kids it’s important to consider the child’s age and let them be involved in the decision-making process! For example, I would always pick two crafts, one that used unconventional items and a second that used items around the house to teach the concept of upcycling. Then I let them decide which one they wanted to make. Their two favorite Halloween crafts were the Cheesecloth Ghosts and the Halloween Cotton Ball Magnets. They had never seen anyone do it before plus they LOVED to get messy while letting their creativity flow. So there was not only a reward for making it with mom, but the next morning they would be able to see all their hard work and put it on display for everyone else to enjoy.”
Courtesy of Rediscovered Families
Boo-tiful art projects, bring Halloween to life with creativity
Diving into art ideas to explore, Brittany of Daycare Detectorsays, “Start by choosing Halloween crafts that kids can personalize, like our egg carton ghosts, which allow for a wide range of creative expressions while keeping it fun for home decor. Use materials that are easy to handle and safe, such as non-toxic paint and simple household items, to keep the experience enjoyable and stress-free. To truly engage the little ones, let them choose their colors and fun little details for this craft. These projects not only add a festive touch to your home but also make crafting a memorable part of your family’s Halloween traditions.”
Amanda at Barly & Birch notes, “ At its heart, Halloween is all about letting the imagination run wild. Whether you prefer cute or creepy, it’s a great opportunity to make some things that convey the mystery and magic of October. Keep it simple by limiting the number of supplies you’re working with. Forcing yourself to work with less can sometimes lead to the most creative Halloween craft surprises!
Try mixing familiar themes with unexpected colors or experimenting with a new supply to keep your Halloween art and craft-making fresh, exciting, and appealing for kids. You don’t have to look further than your recycling bin or a pile of scrap materials from costume-making for creative crafting supplies.
Find the themes and activities you get the most enjoyment out of sharing together. Whether you’re inspired by classic movie monsters, October nature supplies, or prefer spontaneous process art activities – work with the styles, supplies, and subjects that bring you all the most joy! Showcase your kid-made or family projects front and center in special frames, a shadow box, or a place of honor. Nothing adds style, warmth, and heart to a space like kid-made masterpieces.”
Sharon Harding from Rediscovered Families shares, “For Halloween arts and crafts, focus on simple and festive projects that can double as home decor. Some ideas would include spooky wreaths, sun-catchers, garlands, and painted pumpkins. You could also make a batch of fun spiders and display them with your Halloween decorations. Another popular idea with kids is to make crafts that double as candy holders.
To make the experience more fun, allow kids to explore different materials and textures, such as felt, tissue paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and glow-in-the-dark paint!
You can boost the excitement by creating a “Halloween art gallery” at home, where their creations are proudly displayed for all to see if you have space, set up a crafting station. Kids would love it if you also provided spooky-themed snacks and music while they work. Why not join them? Plus, involve them in decorating different rooms with their creations, making them feel like they’re part of your home’s spooky transformation!”
Trisha Vuong, of the Juice Box Homeschoolblog agrees with Sharon when she says, “One of my favorite ways to weave kid crafting into our home is by turning their creations into meaningful decor. This not only adds a personal touch to our space but also gives my kids a sense of ownership and pride, knowing they’ve contributed to the atmosphere of our family home.
Beyond crafts, I love incorporating children’s literature into our seasonal decor. The festive illustrations bring a whimsical charm, and scattering books throughout the house inspires my kids to pick them up and read during their free time!”
Raelen blogger of Lesbian in the Treehouse states, “One of my favorite Halloween crafts for kids is “Monster Mason Jars.” This project is great because it lets kids explore their creativity without any limits or gendered expectations. All you need are mason jars, paint, googly eyes, and some fun extras like pipe cleaners and felt.
Kids can turn each jar into a unique monster — spooky, silly, or somewhere in between! It’s a simple craft that doubles as a fun decoration or a treat holder. I love how this activity encourages self-expression and lets kids explore all sides of themselves, which fits perfectly with the gender-creative approach I often talk about on my blog. It’s all about making space for every child to express who they are without the pressure to conform to outdated ideas of what’s ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls.’ ”
Elle Sitek of Beanstalk Mums suggests, “Make Halloween arts and crafts double as spooky decor by creating easy DIY projects like ghost garlands, pumpkin lanterns, or bat wall art. To keep kids engaged, turn it into a game by timing each activity or playing Halloween music while crafting. Encourage them to personalize each piece with their favorite colors or glitter to add a fun touch. Display their work proudly around the house to build excitement leading up to Halloween night.”
Joy from Anuri’s Journey shares her approach to creating her favorite arts and crafts idea, spooky paper lanterns.
“Kids can draw their favorite Halloween characters, like ghosts or bats, vampires or witches on black construction paper, cut out the shapes, and then glue them onto orange or purple paper cups. Any color of paper cups can do as far as it goes with the theme which is Halloween.
After this, they can insert a battery-operated tea light inside, and create fun and safe lanterns to light up the home and add some spooky decor to compliment the Halloween season. To make it more engaging, I suggest turning it into a storytelling activity. Have the kids come up with a short story about what they created.” Little Lions Learn’s Khara Sandoval suggests recycling as a great way to engage kids’ creativity. “Fall is a great time of year to explore creative ways to recycle things around us. Whether it’s tying up corn stalks, making fall wreaths out of dried leaves and pine cones, or stuffing old clothes to make a scarecrow, there is plenty of fun to be had! This fall, encourage your kids to use their imaginations to come up with fun new projects using old items around your house! Maybe, go on a nature walk and collect odd items to turn into a collage or fall-themed bouquet. Better yet, consider decorating a spooky front door with them!”
When it comes to Halloween fun in Sin City, what could be more perfect than a Las Vegas escape room? And this time of year, what could be more perfect than the scariest experiences of all? With that in mind, we compiled a quick list of some of the most promising rooms we could find!
Escape IT: This is exactly what you think it is! One to ten players have to face off with the evil clown with two versions of this Las Vegas escape room. There’s the Fun House experience and the Severs experience, so pick your poison. One review noted that “The company who produces these horror escape rooms doesn’t disappoint. This one did a great job referencing the movie while providing a unique experience that leaves you on your toes.” The cost is $55 per person for an hour of entertainment that’s hard to beat!
Escape Blair Witch: Again, you know what you’re getting into just by reading that title! Brave souls can go alone, but for those of us with a little less courage they take groups up to eight. One visitor stated that “Blair witch escape room was hands down amazing. It was so scary and the clues were so cool. Lyric the host of the escape room and he was awesome.” The cost is just $46 per person.
SAW Escape Room: Want to take the horror up a level? Now we’re getting into some really scary territory with the SAW Las Vegas escape room! One player said “Certain areas made my jump cause it caught me by surprise. It was challenging and fun and I enjoyed the special effects of the different rooms.” The cost is $50 each and they take up to ten players at a time, and “The attention to detail and the sets were amazing.”
The Basement: This place has two rooms, The Basement and The Study, and offers a unique experience in escape rooms with a continuous story and separate chapters to choose from. The adventures are immersive and keep players engaged throughout their time. Up to 16 players can participate and the cost is just $40. One guest stated: “Our group of 5 are escape room junkies and we had a blast in both of their rooms. The live actors are scary yet fun. The rooms are logical and also present new styles of puzzles. Overall a fantastic…”
Third Gate Hotel Escape Room: A Las Vegas escape room in the middle of a Haunted Hotel! What could be more perfect? Come to Third Gate Hotel Escape and have an unforgettable experience! Reviews claim that this is the “Best Escape Room in Las Vegas hands down! We had such a blast! The live actor was so creepy and this game was so crazy.” The price is right at just $45 and they can take up to 10 guests at a time!
Mansion Murder: One of the last rooms on our list is this little beauty. This is one of the more challenging Las Vegas escape rooms, and asks if you have what it takes to find the family killer before you are framed and lose your inheritance? Freedom and wealth can be yours if you solve this murder mystery!
Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express: Solve the most famous murder mystery of all time? Sure, why not! Before you check out this escape room keep in mind that the the game utilizes strobe effects, so if you’re sensitive to that you may want to try something else. Otherwise, a minimum of two players and a maximum of eight can participate and the associated cost is $45.
Information on these Las Vegas escape rooms was provided by EscapeRoom.com and the Escapology website. You can visit both to learn more and set up your booking!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
Have you been looking for the perfect Halloween costume for this year? Then, you might want to try shopping for a Halloween costume based on your hair color.
By shopping for costumes based on hair color, you’ll narrow down your search and make it so much easier to find a great costume — no itchy wig required.
So, in order to help you find the best Halloween costume for you this year, I have included a list of cuteHalloween costumes that are perfect for specific hair colors.
Blonde Hair
Christina Aguilera
If you are a blonde, Christina Aguilera’s outfit from her “Dirrty” music video is an iconic choice!
This is a great costume for those of us who want to have a costume that is a throwback from the past, but also a unique costume. It’s also great if you want to turn lots of heads on Halloween.
So, if you are interested in this costume idea for Halloween, make sure to get this costume which is a perfect replica of Christina’s outfit.
Also, if you want to make the costume look even more real, clip in some black hair extensions to look even more like Christina.
Dolly Parton
Another great costume for those of us who want to dress like an iconic blonde celebrity is a Dolly Parton costume like this one!
This costume is a replica of one of Dolly’s iconic looks. She is known for wearing pink outfits just like this one. So, this costume would be a perfect fit for blondes this year for a unique and fun costume!
And don’t forget to curl and tease your hair to get that Dolly vibe.
Sailor Moon
If you are a fan of Sailor Moon, she’s a great costume for the blondes out there!
With this costume, you will get the adorable dress that is worn by Sailor Moon, which you should pair with high white boots like these.
Also, if you want your costume to look even more like the character, you could recreate the Sailor Moon pigtails — just add clip-ins as needed.
Princess Peach
Princess Peach is also another fun costume option for blondes. So, if you are a fan of Super Mario Bros, then this might be your perfect Halloween fit.
This costume comes with the classic pink Princess Peach dress seen in the game. Also, you should wear some gloves and an adorable pink mini crown to complete your Princess Peach costume.
Britney Spears
This Britney Spears costume is another blast from the past and another perfect choice for blondes who want a super cute costume.
Not only does this “Slave 4 U” costume include an outfit that is almost the same as Britney’s from her famous VMA performance, but it also includes a fake snake so everyone will know who you are.
Brown Hair
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn is a cute and classy costume for anyone with brown hair.
To look just like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you will need her classic black dress and gloves with a pearl necklace and a tiara.
Don’t feel like buying a costume? This is an easy costume you can make at home with a little black dress and accessories. See our guide to black dress Halloween costumes for more.
Woody from Toy Story
If you have brown hair and are looking for a super cute costume for this Halloween, you might want to try this Woody costume based on the Toy Story character. (It’s very Kendall Jenner!)
This is an adorable costume for those of us who loved the movie Toy Story. This costume will give you a crop top and chaps that will give you the look of Woody’s costume.
Also, make sure to wear a cowboy hat like the one Woody wore in the movie.
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is also another classic and fun costume for brunettes.
To recreate Dorothy’s iconic costume in The Wizard of Oz, you will need her blue gingham dress and some red shoes to finish the look.
Also, make sure to wear your hair in braids, just like Dorothy, to finish this look!
Snooki
Snooki is a unique costume for people with brown hair that you might not have thought of for Halloween. It will also work for black hair.
Snooki is known for her leopard outfits, so to recreate a Snooki outfit for this Halloween, you will want to wear a leopard dress like this one.
Also, to add more to your costume, you could wear her iconic glasses and furry boots.
Belle
You might also be interested in dressing up as a princess this year. If so, then you should check out this adorable Belle costume, which is perfect for those of us with brown hair.
With this costume, you will be getting a super cute yellow mini dress based on Belle’s classic dress from Beauty and the Beast.
Black Hair
Evil Queen
You might also be interested in dressing up as a villain this Halloween. If so, then I definitely recommend checking out this Evil Queen costume.
This costume will give you a stunning purple and black costume based on the Evil Queen’s outfit.
You should also make sure to wear a crown like this one inspired by the look of the Evil Queen.
’80s Glam Rockstar
Another costume for those of us with black hair is an ’80s rockstar costume like this one!
This ’80s rock costume will give you everything you need to look just like a glam rockstar for the ’80s with mesh, leopard, and studs on this fun costume.
Maddy Perez
If you have black hair and are a fan of Euphoria, you might want to dress up as Maddy Perez this year. One of Maddy’s most iconic outfits is her cheerleading outfit.
So, if you love this TV show, you might want to check out this costume, which is a perfect replica of Maddy’s cheerleading look from the show!
Betty Boop
Betty Boop is also another fun character that you could dress up as for Halloween if you have black hair.
You could wear Betty Boop’s iconic red outfit, or you could wear this unique Betty Boop sailor costume!
Lydia Deetz
If you love the popular Halloween movie Beetlejuice or the recent sequel, then you might want to dress up as Lydia Deetz this year!
Lydia Deetz is the bride of Beetlejuice, so you will definitely want to make sure you wear her iconic red wedding dress look, which you can totally recreate by purchasing this costume.
Red Hair
Wendy’s Mascot
There are also plenty of fun options for Halloween costumes if you have red hair. For example, you could wear this super cute Wendy’s girl costume.
With this costume, you will look just like the Wendy’s mascot with the adorable blue and white dress that she wears and the iconic red and white stripes on the gloves and socks that come with this costume!
Strawberry
Another fun costume for those of us with red hair is a strawberry!
This costume will give you a super cute and unique look for Halloween that will definitely make you stand out.
This costume will give you an adorable crop top, skirt, and matching accessories to make you look like a strawberry.
Chucky
Chucky is also another great costume option for red hair this Halloween!
So, if you love horror movies and are obsessed with this classic, then I recommend checking out this costume. It’s one part cute, one part terrifying.
Poison Ivy
For those of us who love superheroes, you might want to dress up as Poison Ivy! This is the perfect superhero costume for red hair.
To recreate Poison Ivy’s look, you will want to wear a costume like this one, which includes a green bodysuit and fake wrap-around leaves to look just like her.
Daphne Blake
Daphne Blake from Scooby Doo is also another super cute costume idea for red hair!
This costume will give you Daphne’s super cute purple dress, green necktie, and purple headband, just like her outfit from the show. Bring a friend to be Velma for a great BFF costume.
Which Halloween costume will you be wearing this year?
What Halloween costume best fits your hair color? Which costume from this list do you love the most?
If you’re headed to Sin City soon, we have several Las Vegas Halloween events designed for your enjoyment and fright! What else would you expect from this town? From downtown to the Strip and all points in between, you will find no shortage of spooky things going on to keep you occupied! We will be posting more things to do as we get closer to Halloween!
Fremont Street Experience Rock of Horror Halloween Bash
Join us on Thursday, October 31st, at the Fremont Street Experience in the heart of historic downtown Las Vegas for the legendary Rock of Horror Halloween Bash! Dive into a night filled with Halloween thrills, flash mobs, and free nightly entertainment, featuring theatrical musical performances and exclusive shows that showcase stunning visuals, captivating dancers, and aerialists. Don’t forget to wear your favorite Halloween costume for a chance to win in the costume contest!
Sin City Halloween Ball
If you’re looking for more adult-oriented Las Vegas Halloween festivities, make your way to the Artisan Hotel Boutique for the annual Horror Hotel Halloween Bash. Here, no one cares where you’ve come from—just embrace the spooky spirit and join the fun at this unforgettable gathering in Sin City! Taking place on Saturday, October 26th, 2024 at 9pm at The Theater at Virgin Las Vegas.
The Haunted Manor at Circa Las Vegas
Prepare for an evening of “haunting” and “eerie” elegance at Circa Las Vegas’ “Haunted Manor” party! Set in the Legacy Club, this event invites you to don your spookiest attire and dance the night away to our DJ. Enjoy an open bar featuring delicious beer, wine, spirits, and specialty cocktails. And don’t forget your costume! Taking place the evening of Saturday, October 26th, starting at 7pm.
Twisted Tent at Area 15
This isn’t just a party—it’s an immersive, haunting, Las Vegas Halloween experience! The Twisted Tent event at Area 15 encourages creativity, whether your look is spooky, funny, or glamorous. Just make sure your costume is appropriate and respectful. Costumes of all kinds are welcome! The event is on October 30th at 8pm.
Fremont Street Experience Rock of Horror Halloween Bash
On Thursday, October 31st at 9pm, the Fremont Street Rock of Horror Halloween Bash will make its return. Attendees can look forward to Halloween-themed haunts, flash mobs, and captivating performances. The popular costume contest is back, offering cash prizes of $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third.
The Halloween Maze
Get ready for an exhilarating experience that will leave you craving more! For those in search of thrills, the Halloween Maze promises a heart-pounding adventure that’s perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit. You can find the maze at 8665 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, running from October 17th to November 1st from 9am to 9:30 pm.
Freaks on Fremont
Downtown Las Vegas is gearing up to unleash the spookiest ghouls and goblins on Fremont Street this Halloween! Join us for the inaugural Halloween Night Street Party in DTLV, where a thrilling experience awaits! Enjoy live music from local DJs, a special Trunk O’ Treat, and full bar access for guests 21 and older. Get ready for a night of fun and fright! be there Thursday, October 31st at 8pm!
Paranormal – A Mind Reading Magic Show
Spend your Las Vegas Halloween in the mind-bending realm of Frederic Da Silva, where his mentalist show blends mystery with magic, hypnosis, and mind reading to leave you in awe! This show is playing at the Horseshoe Las Vegas on October 26th, 28th, and 30th, as well as November 1st through 3rd. (Additional show times are available outside of these dates. We only listed shows for the week of Halloween travel)
Criss Angel MINDFREAK
Prepare for the unbelievable Criss Angel MINDFREAK LIVE!!! This 90-minute magical mystery tour features over 50 new, jaw-dropping illusions and cutting-edge technology, immersing you in Angel’s world and the universe of his hit A&E TV show, MINDFREAK! This show is at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, with shows on October 26th and 27th, as well as the 30th. More shows available November 1st to 3rd. (Additional show times are available outside of these dates. We only listed shows for the week of Halloween travel)
ABANDON at the Vegas Theatre Company
Just in time for perfect Las Vegas Halloween, the Vegas Theatre Company has announced the return of the award-winning theatrical production “ABANDON.” This groundbreaking show takes audiences on a chilling journey through the life and writings of the Marquis de Sade during his imprisonment in an asylum, pushing the boundaries of live theater. You can catch this show at the Vegas Theatre Company October 17th though November 3rd.
Circus Circus’ Halloween Trick-or-Treat Event
When the scary stuff is over and you want to take the kids someplace, you can join Circus Circus Las Vegas for a spooktacular experience at The Adventuredome on Saturday, November 2nd! Guests who come in costume will receive a 50% discount on wristbands from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plus, enjoy trick-or-treating at the rides for an extra festive touch!
Handicaps be damned. Mary Cervicato isn’t letting the fact that she’s deaf get in the way of her passion. Cervicato is serving up some of the most frightening, gnarly, and downright impressive make-up artistry you’ll find anywhere on the internet.
How she doesn’t have a million loyal fans is beyond me, but just take a few minutes to enjoy the Hollywood-caliber SFX projects from the one and only Mary Cervicato.
The longer nights, the wind, the chill – all great for Halloween.
Halloween is big in the US with 96.95% of 25 to 34 planning to celebrate in some form – this is more than the 18-24 crowd (93.18%). The holiday come to the US in the 19th century was with my traditional coming from the Irish and Scots, andCajuns. It is now a huge season and worth a record $12.2 billion in spending. This is a significant increase the $8 billion spent in 2020. It is also one of the top 5 drinking and top 10 marijuana holidays in North America.
The word “Halloween” is derived from “All Hallows’ Eve,” which refers to the evening before All Saints’ Day. As Irish immigrants brought their traditions to America in the 19th century, Halloween evolved into a community-centered holiday characterized by activities like trick-or-treating, costume parties, and pumpkin carving. Interestingly, the first jack-o’-lanterns were made from turnips, not pumpkins, as they are today. The traditional colors of black and orange with black symbolizing death while orange represents the fall harvest.
Halloween costumes were originally vampires, ghosts, skeletons, scary looking witches, and devils. Over time, the costume selection extended to include popular characters from fiction, celebrities, popular memes, ninjas and princesses. In the 1940s, Halloween retailers Ben Cooper, H. Halpern Company (Halco), and Collegeville started licensing costumes for existing characters like Superman and Donald Duck. These store bought outfits were more appealing and easier for kids and adults. You didn’t have to think, everything was all put together. The Ben Cooper company were the first to premier the very popular Richard Nixon mask in the late 1960s, which sold as equally well as its Ronald Reagan mask even in the late 1980s. The women’s lib and gay revolution introduced the sexy costume in the 70s. These cultural events made way for the normalization of sexy costumes today.
On average, children eat around 7,000 calories and three cups of sugar on Halloween, which is equivalent to almost 169 sugar cubes. Adults eats about 3.4 pounds during the time around the holiday – about 222 sugar cubes.
The most popular candy for Halloween is:
M&M’s.
Reese’s Cups.
Sour Patch Kids.
Skittles.
Starburst
At your next event, you can share these fun facts about Halloween.
Boo! It’s an informal Halloween get-together. Who said that kids get to have all the fun? OK, they can come, too.
This year the big day falls on a Thursday, an almost-end-of-the-work-week date that calls for a one-bowl entrée style gathering. A delicious soup can be a festive main course that stands on its own without a side dish.
In two of the soup recipes that follow, the preparation can be done in advance; they can be prepared a day or two ahead, cooled and refrigerated airtight. Keep them warm in a slow cooker if you like. The Italian Savoy Cabbage Soup is an exception. The components for that dish can be prepped the day before, but it requires some last-minute assembly followed by four minutes under the broiler to achieve an appealing brown spotted surface atop a layer of shredded cheese.
Serve in individual soup bowls or coffee mugs. For more generous servings, use large cappuccino cups with large loop handles. No need to set a formal table — this dinner can be portable.
These are soups that would happily warm any mummy’s tummy.
Chipotle, shrimp and hominy tortilla soup can be made with varying degrees of spiciness, based on how many chipotles are used. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chipotle, Shrimp and Hominy Tortilla Soup
Tortilla soup becomes party food when augmented with shrimp. This one flavor spikes the broth with a mixture made by pan-toasting spices (cumin seed, whole clove and whole allspice) and then pureeing them with onion, chipotle and a little broth. And of course, the toppings bring delicious flavor to the party: crisp tortilla strips, avocado slices and chopped cilantro. As for the chipotles, adding one makes a broth that is mild; adding two makes a broth that is spicy.
Yield: 10 servings
INGREDIENTS
8 to 10 corn tortillas, cut in half, then cut into 1/4-inch wide strips
2 to 3 tablespoons canola oil or vegetable oil for tortillas, plus 2 tablespoons for soup
Coarse salt, such as kosher salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 large yellow onions, finely chopped, divided use
7 3/4 cups canned, low-salt chicken broth, divided use
1 to 2 canned chipotle chili plus about 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce
2 teaspoons salt
2 (29-ounces each) cans golden hominy, drained
1/3 cup canned crushed tomatoes with added puree
Salt and/or pepper, if needed
1 pound uncooked small shrimp (51 to 60 per pound size), peeled and deveined
Garnish: 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 ripe avocadoes, sliced
For passing: lime wedges
Cook’s notes: Chipotles are ripe jalapeños that have been slowly dried over wood smoke. They may be purchased in many supermarkets in small cans; canned chipotles are surrounded with adobo, a tomato-based sauce.
DIRECTIONS
1. Adjust oven racks to bottom third and top third positions. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss tortilla strips with 2 to 3 tablespoons oil. Scatter strips on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Season with coarse salt. Bake, stirring every 5 minutes or so, until crisp and golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil on medium heat. Add half of the onion, plus the carrot, celery, garlic and oregano. Cook until vegetables are tender-crisp, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, in a small skillet toast the allspice, clove, and cumin seeds. To toast, place skillet on medium-high heat and shake handle frequently. They are toasted when they smell fragrant and the cumin is a shade darker.
4. Place remaining onion in a blender. Add 3/4 cup broth. Add toasted spices, chipotle, adobo sauce (sauce from the can), and salt. Cover and whirl until very finely ground, about two minutes.
5. Add contents of blender to pot with the vegetables. Add remaining broth, hominy and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer on high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and simmer 30 minutes.
6. Taste and add salt and/or pepper if needed. Add shrimp and simmer until just barely cooked through and opaque in center, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Divide soup among 10 bowls. Top with cilantro, tortilla chips and avocado slices. Pass lime wedges for optional squeezing.
Gingered Carrot Soup is a Thai-style concoction that is perfect for a cool fall evening. (Photo by Nick Koon, The Orange County Register/SCNG)
Gingered Carrot Soup
Only a modest amount of dried red pepper flakes is used in this version of a Thai-style carrot soup. Be sure to taste it after it is pureed and adjust the spice level to suit your taste. I like to use Frank’s RedHot because it is a hot sauce that is both spicy and tart.
1. In large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, garlic, ginger and carrots; cook 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent. Add broth, pepper flakes, coriander, turmeric, fish sauce (if using), lime juice, vinegar, peanut butter, brown sugar, sesame oil, and milks; bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover and allow to cool slightly.
2. Process in batches in either food processor fitted with metal blade or blender until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
3. If making ahead, cool the soup and store, airtight in refrigerator until ready to gently reheat.
4. Heat on low until simmering gently. Remove from heat and ladle into soup bowls or cups. Garnish soup with chopped fresh cilantro and pinch of toasted sesame seeds.
Source: “The Wine Lover’s Cookbook”’ by Sid Goldstein (Chronicle, $22.95)
Italian Savoy Cabbage Soup, a cold-weather dish from the Italian Alps, looks more like a casserole than a soup. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)
Italian Savoy Cabbage Soup (Zuppa alla Valpellinentze)
This cold-weather dish hails from Valle d’Aosta in the Italian Alps. Arranged in a 9-by-13-inch broiler-proof pan, it looks more like a casserole than a soup. Much of the hot broth, flavored with Savoy cabbage and pancetta, is absorbed by large chunks of dry bread. Bite into the Fontina cheese topped bread and your mouth fills with delectable broth.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
10 to 12 ounces whole hearty rye bread, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes, see cook’s notes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
4 ounces pancetta, cut into small dice
1 onion, halved, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 head Savoy cabbage, about 1 1/2 pounds, cored, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 cups beef broth
2 bay leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
5 ounces fontina cheese, shredded, about 1 cup
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Cook’s notes: This dish requires an uncut loaf of bread. I find it difficult to track down whole loaves of rye bread. I substitute sturdy La Brea Bakery Italian Round, or La Brea Bakery Whole Grain, or La Brea Bakery Country White that are sold at my local Albertson’s market.
DIRECTIONS
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Spread bread in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until dried and crisp throughout, about 45 minutes; let croutons cool completely.
2. Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat until butter melts. Add pancetta and cook until browned and fat is rendered, about 8 minutes. Stir in onion and salt; cook over medium heat until softened and lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
3. Stir in cabbage, broth and bay leaves; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until cabbage is tender, about 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. If you want to make the soup a day ahead, you can cool the soup and refrigerate it airtight. Store the dried bread cubes airtight at room temperature. Reheat the soup before proceeding to Step 4.
4. Adjust oven rack to 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Discard bay leaves from the hot soup. Spread half of the cabbage mixture evenly in bottom of a 9-by-13-inch broiler-safe baking dish, then top with half of the bread cubes. Repeat with remaining cabbage mixture and remaining bread cubes. Gently press down on croutons with rubber spatula until thoroughly saturated. Sprinkle with cheese over top and broil until melted and spotty brown, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Source: Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at @CathyThomas Cooks.com.
Whether you decorate with average-sized skellies or have snagged the coveted 12-foot Home Depot version, bone-based décor is an undeniable icon of Halloween. In Morgan Thaxton’s hands, the traditional plastic skeleton is elevated to a work of art…
As Halloween approaches, D.C. will transform into a playground for the spooky with bars and restaurants across the city conjuring up thrilling pop-ups that embrace the eerie and the extravagant. In this roundup, WTOP has gathered 12 of the most exciting Halloween bar and restaurant pop-ups in the D.C. area.
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This D.C. Halloween pop-up is perfect for Tim Burton lovers
As Halloween approaches, D.C. will transform into a playground for the spooky with bars and restaurants across the city conjuring up thrilling pop-ups that embrace the eerie and the extravagant.
These ghostly retreats are pulling out all the stops, offering festive experiences that blend creative decor, themed menus and immersive atmospheres. In this roundup, WTOP has gathered 12 of the most exciting Halloween bar and restaurant pop-ups in the D.C. area.
Whether you’re in it for the Instagrammable moments, the spooky vibes or the seasonal cocktails, these pop-ups promise to deliver an unforgettable experience.
Get ready for a hauntingly good time as we explore where to eat, drink and be scary this Halloween season. For more spooktacular events to consider in the D.C. area, head over to WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area guide.
The historic National Union Building is hosting an immersive, themed pop-up experience inspired by Tim Burton’s movies and horror classics. Here, guests can enjoy a complimentary themed welcome drink (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic options available), plus access to a Halloween-themed menu. The experience runs through Nov. 3.
For your next Monster Mash party, head to this Kalorama bar for its Monster Mash-themed cocktail list. With drinks like “Coffin Banger” and “Transylvania Twist,” guests should expect all treats and no tricks on its menu.
Be transported to Diagon Alley at this Blagden Alley pop-up. The underground bar Never Looked Better is launching a Wizarding World-themed pop-up with potion cocktails included.
Bask in autumnal decor at this family-owned cafe and cocktail bar. Be sure to make a reservation for a chance to enjoy pumpkin-spiced martinis and other themed drinks.
With tickets that cost $20, the Halloween-themed masquerade ball planned at Morris American Bar on Oct. 25 will include a live DJ, a custom cocktail menu and a complimentary Lillet spritz upon arrival.
This Dupont Circle club has three parties ready to treat the public in honor of Halloween. First, on Oct. 25, Freaky Friday at HEIST encourages guests to don a Lindsay Lohan-inspired outfit that fits well with a Y2K theme. On Oct. 26, the space will transform into a Beetlejuice-themed costume party. Finally, on Halloween evening, starting at 10 p.m. on Oct. 31, HEIST Horror Night invites guests to come dressed in outfits inspired by classic horror films. All events are for those ages 21 and up.
Sixty Vines in Foggy Bottom is making spooky season even sweeter with several pop-ups over the course of October where rotating wine flights are paired with Halloween candies. Find out which treats pair best with rosé from Oct. 14-20 and cabernet sauvignon from Oct. 21-31.
For those witchy/wizardly folks looking for a Harry Potter-inspired retreat, head to Tap99. The Wizard’s Pour pop-up at this bar includes butterbeer and enchanted house cocktails. At this bar, guests can pour as much or as little as they want without the need to flag down a bartender.
The Dupont Circle location of Hank’s Oyster Bar is serving up special cocktails for the Halloween season as part of its Nightmare on Q Street pop-up. This location is also hosting a special Halloween drag brunch Oct. 20.
In Alexandria, Virginia, the Del Ray neighborhood’s premium pop-up bar has turned its seasonal space into a Halloween wonderland. Expect tons of ghoulish cocktails and treats, including monster sliders. The pop-up runs through Nov. 4.
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Little University: Masquerade Dance Party. Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 N. Irving St. 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult.
Comedy and theater
Preacher Lawson. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $35-$45.
Cameron Esposito. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. $30-$45.
Arts, culture, and media
Living Rooms. Union Hall, 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144. Noon-6 p.m. Free.
*Pumpkin Festival. Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $10-$18. Advanced registration is required.
13th Floor Haunted House. 13th Floor Denver, 3400 E. 52nd Ave. 7-9:45 p.m. Starting at $34.99. Advanced registration is required for timed entry.
*Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns. The Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton. 7-10:45 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays), 7-9:45 p.m. (Sunday). Starting at $22.99 (kids ages 3-12) and $27.99 (adults).
Kids and family
*Corn Maze. Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$18. Advanced registration is required. All ages.
Discovering Teen Rex. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members), $20.95 (ages 3-18), $22.95 (seniors 65 and older), $25.95 (adults). All ages.
Spiders Around the World. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closing at 3 p.m. on Saturday). Free (members and children under 2), $10.95 (children 2-12), $13.95 (seniors 65 and older), $15.95 (adults). All ages.
Art, culture, and media
Special Deliveries. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children and members), $5 (children), $15 (adults).
Movements Toward Freedom. MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany St. 7:30-10 p.m. (Friday), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday). Free-$14.
Eat and drink
Big Fest Energy – Final Week. Call to Arms Brewing Co., 4526 Tennyson St. 2-8 p.m. (Friday), noon-9 p.m. (Saturday) and noon-8 p.m. (Sunday). No cover.
Worth the Drive
Saturday
Poudre Pour Art & Culture Fest. Windsor History Museum, 100 N. 5th St., Windsor. 1-5 p.m. Free (general admission), $23.18 (unlimited craft beverage tasting).
Her plans for a scoop shop changed after a pastry chef friend made machines that make ice cream bars available for sale. Salls Cree found herself attracted to this “new uncharted creative territory.” She turned her attention toward specializing in handmade ice cream bars, ice pops, and other creative cold treats
“I went in thinking I would open a scoop shop that brought the recipes in my book to life and instead I found the door to Pretty Cool,” says Salls Cree.
Halloween presents a unique opportunity for Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Restaurants have embraced Halloween costumes in recent years. Le Bouchon, the beloved Bucktown French restaurant, dressed up as the Olive Garden last year. In 2015, Wieners Circle in Lincoln Park dressed up as McDowell’s, a fictional McDonald’s rip-off featured in the movie Coming to America.
For the holiday, Salls Cree will dress her two pop shops up as scoop shops inspired by her book. On Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27, Salls Cree will fulfill her dream when Pretty Cool’s two locations offer eight flavors of ice cream chosen from recipes in her book. To get into the Halloween spirit, the Pretty Cool employees will be dressing up in Hello My Name Is Ice Cream shirts. Pops will still be available for those two days.
“Every Halloween we rename ourselves something spooky and offer holiday treats, but I always thought it would be cool if the shop itself dressed up in costume,” Salls Cree says. “Well, what does an ice cream shop dress up as? A different ice cream shop.”
While a long time in the making, this isn’t the first time Salls Cree has offered her ice cream for sale. Back when she worked for One Off, she would make a limited series of Hello My Name Is Ice Cream pints and sell them at Publican Quality Meats. The Fulton Market cafe and butcher shop was where a lot of the recipes for her book were developed.
It was also around that time that Salls Cree discovered she had celiac disease, a diagnosis that put her pastry-making career in jeopardy. While she admits she probably always had the disease, it was when she started sharing kitchen space with the company’s bread-making production that her symptoms became intense. “It was the first time I was in the flour cloud that a bread bakery generates and that pushed me over the edge,” she says. There was a silver lining. “It also pushed me into ice cream.”
All the Halloween ice creams are gluten-free as are the cones. Salls Cree and her team sat down with her book to talk about what flavors they wanted to make, focusing on composed scoops — “the real showstoppers,” she says, rather than the single flavor recipes. Once the eight flavors were chosen — mint chocolate chip cookie dough; chocolate peanut butter brownie crunch; gooey butter bake; pumpkin butterscotch pecan; rainbow sherbet; kids play (goat cheese); lemony lemon crème fraiche; and cookies, cookies, and cream — the ingredients were ordered and the team got busy.
The ice cream will be $6 a scoop, and $7 for a split scoop. Anything left over from the 5,000-scoop production will be available for sale in pints at the shops. Salls Cree’s award-winning book will also be available for sale.
“As much I love everything that we make, I miss making scooped ice cream so much,” says Salls Cree. “There’s this whole world of flavors and textures that I developed and have worked with that we don’t get to dabble in because we don’t do scooped ice cream. This is our chance to bring some of that into our repertoire even if it’s just for a short period of time.”
And should there be enough public demand, well, Salls Cree isn’t opposed to the idea of a scoop shop that’s open throughout the year, not just on Halloween.
Pretty Cool Ice Cream Halloween scoop shop pop-up, Saturday, October 26; and Sunday, October 27 at 2353 N. California Avenue in Logan Square and 709 W. Belden Avenue in Lincoln Park.
This Halloween add this towering 40-foot Halloween Pumpkin to your front lawn. This Halloween decoration is so large it cannot be missed and will get you and your kids into the spirit of the season. It’s made from high-quality, waterproof polyester and comes complete with built-in blower for easy inflation.
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