ASHEVILLE - The 2023 Halloween event calendar is oozing with terrifying thrills and entertaining chills for all who dare to enter Asheville.
Little monsters may get their fill of candy and fun at family-friendly costume contests and festivals.
Meanwhile, adult local haunts host parties, plays and mayhem for mature audiences only.
Find tricks and treats at these and other Halloween-themed events across Asheville:
Costume carnival, contest and classes
Asheville Community Theatre’s members have been possessed with the spirit of Halloween and will present a new program of all ages-themed events during “Halloweekend.”
“Community is our middle name and that’s our total mission right now — to reach out and embrace our community and this is one of the ways we’re doing that,” said ACT Marketing Director Eli Cunningham. "We’re always looking for new ways to get involved with our community and get the community involved and the one thing that we say is, ‘This is your community theater.’”
On Oct. 28, revel in ACT’s Community Costume Carnival from 12-4 p.m., which will include carnival games, truck-or-treat booths, photo ops and live performances, plus a chance to purchase items from the theater company’s costume shop as last-minute Halloween attire.
The costume contest will begin at 3 p.m. at the theater, 35 E. Walnut St. in Asheville.
The four categories to be judged are Best Group, Adult, Teen and Elementary School with the first-place winner of each group to receive a prize basket and runners-up to receive candy. The prize baskets will include tickets to ACT shows and other “fun Halloween goodies.”
Admission is free for those wearing a costume. Tickets must be purchased to play carnival games.
Cunningham, dressed as Beetlejuice, will co-host the contest with Costume Shop Manager Fable Wilde Day, who will become Poison Ivy.
Nicki LaRue, ACT’s assistant production manager and a Tom Savini’s Special Make-up Effects Program graduate, will facilitate two days of makeup master classes for ages 13 and up.
In “Character Creation,” students will be taught the foundations of character makeup and 2D contouring ideal for creating zombies, skeletons, aliens, vampires, monsters and other ghastly beings. The classes are 1-3 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29.
In “Oozin’ Wounds,” students will learn how to create realistic 3D bruises, cuts, burns and bloody effects using makeup. The classes are 4-6 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29.
Master classes provide makeup kits that participants may take home. The cost is $100 per person and session. To register, visit ashevilletheatre.org.
The weekend will come to a dramatic end with ACT’s production, “Terror on Tanglewood Street,” slated for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29.
The hourlong, all-ages live show will be the premiere performance of ACT’s high school troupe, Tanglewood Teens. The show will feature Halloween songs, musical numbers and literature written by Edgar Allan Poe.
Tickets are $10 and available online.
'Alice’s Adventures in Murderland'
Meanwhile, another local theater guild is taking audiences on a spellbinding quest in an original, topsy-turvy tale inspired by a classic story.
Montford Park Players’ “Wonderland Legacies: Alice’s Adventures in Murderland,” running 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday through Oct. 28, isn’t for children or the faint of heart.
In the story, the heroine tumbles back into a rabbit hole to find that Wonderland has taken a lethal turn to become a land of life-threatening mayhem.
"Alice’s Adventures in Murderland," written by Will Storrs and directed by Deanna Braine Smith, is recommended for ages 18 and up due to language and depictions of violence.
Bundle up in warm clothing and join the Montford Park Players at their outdoor amphitheater at 92 Gay St.
Admission is free but donations and online registration are encouraged at montfordparkplayers.org.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board
On Oct. 28, something magical will be brewing on the French Broad River.
Wild Women Witches and Warlocks Float will make its event debut at 7:30 p.m., launching from Hominy Creek River Park.
Becca Ploener, a professional kayak guide and life coach, will lead the coven of registrants perched on their kayaks and paddle boards along a 3- to 4-mile stretch down the French Broad River.
Participants will be donning witch and warlock apparel and glow sticks, and illuminated by the full moon.
Registration has closed but onlookers may get a view of the two-hour spectacle from the greenway. The route is expected to flow past Carrier Park, French Broad River Park and New Belgium Brewing.
For more, visit wildwomanbecca.com.
More Halloween events
Halloween Party at The Tavern. The costume party with food, drinks, live music and a costume contest begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 27 at Hickory Tavern, 30 Town Square Blvd. thehickorytavern.com.
Halloween Funk Off Dance Party. A '60s/'70s-era theme party from 8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 27 hosted at The Tiki Easy Bar, inside Hi-Wire Brewing at 197 Hilliard Ave. Dance to funk and soul music and enter the dance contest to win a prize. tikieasybar.com.
90s Y2K Punk Party at Pillar. Live music by TrancEnd Band and themed co*cktails. For ages 21+. Hosted at Pillar Rooftop Bar from 9 p.m.-midnight Oct. 27 at 309 College St. pillaravl.com.
Big Lebowski Halloween Party. A movie-themed party with a Wii bowling tournament, raffles, prizes, White Russian co*cktails and mocktails and more beginning at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at Devil’s Foot Beverage’s warehouse bar, The Mule, at 131 Sweeten Creek Road. devilsfootbrew.com.
Pup-O-Ween. A dog costume party and contest from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Hi-Wire Brewing’s RAD Beer Garden, 284 Lyman St. The entry fee is $10, to benefit the Asheville Humane Society. Purchase tickets at simpletix.com. hiwirebrewing.com.
Family Pumpkin Carving and S'mores. An all-ages pumpkin carving with a dinner special is offered for $35 per family that includes a pork or chicken family feast package, a pumpkin, four s'mores, stencils and carving supplies. The event is at Black Bear BBQ, 800 Fairview Road, suite C8, from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 28. blackbearbbqavl.com.
Halloween Karaoke and Costume Contest. The Burger Bar will host an evening of "ghoulish tunes" and a midnight costume contest in the categories of funniest, scariest and most original costume with each winner receiving a $50 cash prize. Karaoke singers who belt out a Halloween-themed song will get a handful of treats and tricks. The party begins at 9 p.m. at 1 Craven St. Ages 21+. facebook.com/burgerbar.asheville.
Halloween Mimosa Yoga. Mandy of Funky Flow Yoga, in partnership with Asheville Wellness Tours, will host a Halloween-themed yoga class for guests from beginners to experienced levels for $10. Following the session, guests may purchase mimosas or wines, listen to spooky music, eat candy and enter the costume contest. The annual event will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 29 at plēb urban winery, 289 Lyman St. Purchase tickets at Eventbrite.
Monster Market. Highland Brewing Co. will host an artists' market from 1-6 p.m. Oct. 29 at 12 Old Charlotte Highway. highlandbrewing.com/events/.
UCW x Hi-Wire presents: Freaks Come Out at Night II. Urban Combat Wrestling returns to Hi-Wire's Biltmore Village taproom for an evening of wrestling matches, live rap performances, costumes and more from 7-9 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Oct. 29 at 2a Huntsman Place. No pets allowed. The event may not be suitable for children. Admission is $10 in advance, online, at Simpletix, and $15 on the day of the event. facebook.com/hiwirebrewing.
Vermont Avenue Halloween Block Party. Oct. 31 in West Asheville. Details to be announced. facebook.com/vermontavehalloween.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with asubscription to the Citizen Times.
