No tricks, all treat: 6 ways to celebrate Halloween in Halifax

If you’re looking for something to do besides binge-watch horror movies on Netflix this Halloween, The Signal has got you covered.

From late-night parties to haunted houses, here’s a city-wide roundup of the six best ways to celebrate the ghoulish holiday:

1. Neon Dreams Halloween Party (ages 19+) 

Neon Dreams is hosting its first Halloween party on Saturday at the Cunard Centre. The band will share the stage with Wet Paint, CRaymak, and Mixre.

“This show means a lot to us,” says DJ Corey LeRue. “We truly feel this show will solidify our place within the city and we can’t wait.”

The hosts of the night will be DJJO and RS Smooth.

“We also have this really cool production designer who has some amazing ideas that’ll really put the Halloween factor into the whole experience,” says drummer Adrian Morris.

The group encourages everyone to dress up – there will be a $1,000 prize for best costume. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. and the show starts at 10.

Tickets can be purchased at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office or at participating Atlantic Superstore locations.

2. Monster Mash in support of IWK 

The Chickenburger restaurant in Bedford will host a Monster Mash fundraising event for kids in support of the IWK Foundation on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

Tickets will be sold at the Chickenburger for games and stations including a bouncy castle and pumpkin painting. Money raised will be matched by the Palooka’s Charitable Foundation and donated to the IWK.

“We believe it will be a great event,” says restaurant owner Colin MacDonald. “It will be a lot of fun and a good way to get in the spirit for Halloween on Monday all while raising money for the IWK.”

“We want to provide a fun place for parents to bring their kids out for some Halloween fun,” says MacDonald.

Kids are encouraged to come in costume.

3. MSVU’s 11th Annual Haunted House 

The students at Mount Saint Vincent University are partnering with Virgin Radio Halifax to transform the university’s Rosaria Student Centre into a state-of-the-art haunted house on Saturday evening, in support of Shelter Nova Scotia.

“Our actors inside the house understand the fun and excitement of what makes a great haunted house,” says the student’s union general manager, Kenney Fitzpatrick. “People can expect some good jumps and thrills.”

“We know that homelessness is a real issue everywhere. So (we’re using) our ‘home’ to help those who otherwise may not have one of their own,” says Fitzpatrick.

Admission at the door is $7, or $5 with a donation for Shelter Nova Scotia. Donations can include personal care items, like toothbrushes or shampoo, canned food, bedding or towels and gift cards or bus tickets.

There will be a less-scary version of the haunted house for small children during the first hour of the event, starting at 6 p.m. The scarier version is open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

4. Halloween at the Seahorse Tavern and the Marquee (ages 19+) 

On Saturday night, the Marquee and the Seahorse Tavern are opening their connected floors for the ultimate party experience.

Downstairs, at the Seahorse, the ’90s night Halloween party will feature throwback hits that will bring on a wave of nostalgia.

The Marquee, upstairs, will feature Rich Aucoin, “one of the country’s preeminent party specialists,” says ’90s night party DJ Trevor Murphy.

“We’re running two simultaneous dance parties and putting all our emphasis on making sure the crowd has a good time,” says Murphy.

5. Wilder’s Nightmare on Hallow’s Eve (ages 19+) 

Wilder’s is hosting a nightmare-filled Halloween party at the Argyle Bar and Grill in Halifax on Halloween night. The event’s Facebook page describes it as “the realm of where nightmares are spawned,” and the club will be “overrun by all kinds of haunting horrors.”

The basement of the Argyle will be transformed into what Wilder’s calls a “Blacklight Illuminated Dungeon of Terror.”

DJs for the night will include Joel Freck, Intersect, Skenny and Famba.

The event begins at 10 p.m. and will run until 2 a.m. Tickets are $9 at the door.

6. Dalhousie’s Trick or Eat 

How about a charitable twist to the classic door-to-door routine? Dal After Dark is hosting its third annual Trick or Eat event on Oct. 31.

At 5 p.m. participants meet at Dal’s Student Union Building to register and receive a map of the route. Using shopping carts supplied by the Barrington Street Superstore, they will go door-to-door to ask for non-perishable food items for Feed Nova Scotia.

“I think that people should be excited about helping those who are less fortunate,” says Dal’s student life program coordinator, Joe Graham. “It’s a very selfless thing that (people) can do to give back to a great community like Halifax.”

This year, Dal After Dark is hoping for a group of about 150 people. Last year, 100 took part.

Mount Saint Vincent University will also be running a Trick or Eat on Oct. 31 in the Rosaria Student Centre from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.