Last chance for Halloween fun: 7 things to do this weekend
Halloween is on a Friday this year, meaning kids who go to school and grownups who go to work will be able to squeeze in a few more hours of frightful fun.
Though many of Wichita’s marquee Halloween events happened last weekend, the calendar still offers plenty of last-minute choices for those who prefer to celebrate on Oct. 31. For more events, see Click & Go.
1. Carrie Nation & The Speak Easy at The Crown: The only thing spooky about Carrie Nation & The Speak Easy is how popular the local band is around Wichita. Still, promoter Naymlis is promising a “haunting performance” on Halloween night, when the band will perform at The Crown Uptown, 3207 E. Douglas. The show begins at 8 p.m. Columbia, Mo., band the Hooten Hallers will open the show. Tickets are $15 in advance at http://naymlis.ticketleap.com or $20 at the door.
2. Final Friday does Halloween: This year, Halloween lands on Final Friday, and the crawl must go on. Several art galleries will observe the spookiness of the coincidence, including the Go Away Garage Gallery at 508 S. Commerce. The gallery’s show is actually in honor of Day of the Dead, which is on Nov. 1, but many of the almost 100 pieces have a skeletal elements. Some artists have even created shrines to loved ones who have passed away. The gallery will be open from 7 to 11 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
3. Halloween at the bars: Too old to trick-or-treat but desperately want to wear a costume? Gather some liquid courage and compete at one of the costume contests being put on at local bars. Oeno Wine Bar at 330 N. Mead is hosting Hallow Oeno, a party that starts at 9 p.m. and will include a costume contest, drink specials and a disc jockey. Admission is $5. O’Briens at 5205 E. Kellogg also is putting on a bash that includes a costume contest, drink specials, karaoke and half-price pizzas. It starts at 10 p.m. Emerson Biggins west at 2330 N. Maize Road also is having a costume contest starting at 8 p.m., with a first-place prize of $75. Call your favorite bar to find out what it’s planning.
4. Wichita Ghost Tour: True fans of Halloween don’t wait for the ghosts to come to them. They go out and find them. Ghost Tours of Kansas, which offers tours of haunted places all around the state, will be in Wichita on Friday. The tour, which costs $20 per person, will cover the tales of Rowdy Jo and Redbeard, a notorious shootout in Delano, haunted theaters, cemeteries and more. It takes place on a bus and has two stops. It starts at Caffe Moderne, 300 N. Mead, at 8 p.m. and lasts about an hour and 45 minutes. Tickets are available at http://ghosttoursofkansas.com.
5. Halloween on stage: In the right venue, even a psycho killer like Jason can be funny. Mosley Street Melodrama closes its comedic Halloween show, “Halloween 13 or Jason is Really Hacked” followed by the “Halloween Spooktacular” musical comedy revue, on Saturday. Shows will be offered both Friday and Saturday with a barbecue dinner at 6 p.m. and the show at 7:50 p.m. Tickets with dinner included are $28 for adults and $24 for seniors. Show-only tickets are $18. Reservations are taken by phone only at 316-263-0222.
6. Trick-or-treat events for kids: If door-to-door trick or treating doesn’t result in enough loot, kids can get more candy at several local Halloween night events. Towne East’s annual Mall-O-Ween Halloween event for families will include trick or treating at participating stores and Halloween activities. It lasts from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday. Admission is free. For more information, call 316-686-3341. Pumpkins in the Park at Tanganyika Wildlife Park at 1000 S. Hawkins Lane in Goddard will continue its family-friendly Halloween event on Friday and Saturday. It includes a lighted pumpkin trail, trick-or-treating, inflatables, a mystery show and more. It lasts from 6 to 9 p.m. and costs $12 for children and adults. A maximum of three children can enter with each adult. Residents of Goddard will be admitted free with proof of address. And The Arc of Sedgwick County at 2919 W. Second St. is putting on its annual Spookville from 5:30 to 8 p.m. It invites families with children under 12 to visit a friendly spook house and collect candy, play games and visit craft booths. Admission is free. For more information, call 316-943-1191.
7. Get Air Wichita’s Teen Night Halloween Costume Party: Not many kids or teens want to spend Halloween night on trampolines, owners of Wichita’s local trampoline park Get Air Wichita have discovered. But they’re hoping they’ll want to get one last wearing of the costume in the day after. The venue at 130 N. New York will be closed on Friday, but on Saturday, it’s putting on a Halloween costume party designed for teens but open to anyone. Attendees are invited to wear jump-safe costumes (i.e. nothing pointy or sharp that will puncture the trampolines) and will get $5 off the regular admission price. It will be $20 to jump from 9 p.m. to midnight.
This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Last chance for Halloween fun: 7 things to do this weekend."