With Halloween fast approaching, downtown is filled with spine-chilling festivities. From haunted houses to a spooky showing of the Bride of Frankenstein, there is plenty of eerie activities waiting.
Tuesday, Oct. 18: Ghost N Goblin 5k, RiverScape MetroPark, 111 East Monument Ave.
Get ghoulish for a good cause with this 3.1-mile run around downtown that benefits The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costumes. The race will start at 6:30 p.m. For registration information and costs, click here.
Buildings decorate for the Hauntfest activities.
Thursday, Oct. 20: Halloween Pub Crawl 2011 starts at Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.
The Dayton Ballet Barre hosts this pub crawl that includes numerous bars in the Oregon Arts District. Each $10 ticket covers drink and food discounts. Locations include:
- 6 p.m. Oregon Express
- 7 p.m. Tumbleweed Connection
- 8 p.m. Lucky’s Taproom
- 9 p.m. Trolley Stop
- 10 p.m. Dublin Pub
Thursday, Oct. 20- Sunday, Oct. 23, Haunted Series, Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St.
The Dayton Ballet presents the haunting world premiere of Sleepy Hollow. The series also features the return of Hyding Inside, a depiction of man’s struggle between good and evil loosely based upon Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. For ticket information, call 449-5060.
Saturday, Oct. 29: Hauntfest on Fifth, Oregon Arts District on East Fifth Street
Dayton’s largest and longest-standing Halloween bash returns for another spooktacular night. It will feature a roundup of entertainment, including live music by such bands as Back Stabbath, a Black Sabbath cover band, and roving performers. The event also will include a chance to win cash prizes in a costume contest, food and drinks, and more.
Another Hauntfest highlight is the Third Annual Boo & Bruise pro wrestling contest. Rockstar pros will compete for the chance to become the first ever Cicero Cup winner. The contest will be held on Fifth and Jackson streets, next to the Cicero Law Office.
Costumed customers sit down for a drink at Hauntfest.
Join emcee Jim Bucher and the Bud Girls for the costume contest, which will be held on the main stage at 10 p.m. A crew of Bud Girls will roam Hauntfest and select partygoers with the best costumes in three categories and give them passes to participate in the contest, when a panel of celebrity judges will pick the winner in each category. First, second and third prizes will be given in the following categories: (1) best group costume, (2) best individual costume and (3) best witch costume.
In addition, many of the bars and taverns in the Oregon Arts District will host live bands and other entertainment the night of Hauntfest. Many will not charge a cover the night of the event. Tickets will be $5 in advance, available at most Oregon Arts District taverns and clubs, and $5 at the gate from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets purchased at the gate after 10 p.m. will be $10.
Hauntfest on Fifth is sponsored by Budweiser, Bud Light, Budweiser Select, Buckeye Vodka, 104.7 WTUE, 103.9 The X, 99.9 The Channel, Mix 107.7, WDTN Channel 2, Dayton City Paper and the Oregon District Business Association.
Saturday, Oct. 29: 1st Annual Tailgate of Terror, Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.
Get the Hauntfest party started with this Halloween fundraiser. Each $20 ticket guarantees a parking spot for Hauntfest and live music by The Fair Shakes at 5 p.m., The White Soots at 7 p.m. and C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks at 9 p.m. DJ Jay Madewell of Fab Gear also will spin tunes throughout the evening. The parking lot will be open from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Act fast — there are a limited number of tickets for parking spots. Walk-in tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets will be available at the following Oregon Arts District businesses: Feather’s Vintage Clothing (440 E. Fifth St.), ReCreate Music Store (438 E. Fifth St.) and Omega Music (318 E. Fifth St.). Tickets are also available through the Dayton Circus Creative Collective via email at [email protected] or by phone at 490-9268.
A smiling skeleton walks down Fith Street during Hauntfest.
Saturday, Oct. 29: Sidebar Spooktacular, 410 E. Fifth St.
Take a rest bit from Hauntfest and stop inside this Oregon Arts District bar for a drink. The costume party kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and will continue until 2:00 a.m. Each ticket is good for food all night, music provided by a DJ and one glass of Sidebar’s sangria. For ticket information, contact Tess Vella at 723-9415.
Saturday, Oct. 29: The Monster Hop at Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St.
Check out live music featuring rock Robthebank. The show will start at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $5.
Saturday, Oct. 29: PhilharMonster Halloween Concert, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St.
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Neal Gittleman leads this special performance of Peter and the Wolf. The performance will include scenes from Bride of Frankenstein. The concert is at 3 p.m., but come early at 2 p.m. for some pre-concert fun. A costume contest will award prizes to the most creative ensembles in three different categories. For ticket information and cost, click here.
Saturday, Oct. 29: “Bride of Frankenstein” with Orchestra, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second Street
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will provide live music alongside this Halloween classic in a performance that will send chills down your spine. The show will begin at 8 p.m. For tickets, click here.
Dayton’s Haunted Butcher House on Wayne Ave., 508 Wayne Ave.
Downtown Dayton’s newest and wildest haunted house attraction promises to make each scare “memorable and original by igniting all of the senses.” The haunted house will be open Thursday to Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight now through Nov. 1.
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