Love it or loathe it, Halloween has landed in New England, and this weekend there are costume parties, skate nights, and spooky cookies from Uralla to Moree for anyone game enough to dress up.
If you still think it’s an American import with no business here, fair enough. Turn off the porch light, close the curtains, and pretend you’re not home. For everyone else, here’s what’s on.
Armidale and Uralla
The littlest ghouls are well looked after in Uralla tomorrow, Saturday, 31 October. Kid’s Halloween at The Alternate Root runs from 3pm to 5pm and costs $11.53. Kids can decorate spooky cookies, make Halloween crafts, tuck into loaded Halloween shakes, and go trick-or-treating. Costumes are encouraged, and cookie decorating tickets are essential.
In Armidale, the New England Roller Derby League is hosting a Spooky Halloween Skate from 6pm to 8.30pm. Entry is $10, and there will be music, games, costume competitions, and prizes. Skate hire is $4, or you can bring your own wheels.
If you’d rather dance than skate, Oh What a Night! takes over Armidale Town Hall from 6pm to 10pm. At $99 a head, it includes music from the 60s to the 90s, trivia, singalongs, dancing, a welcome drink, and supper. Guests are asked to dress as their favourite decade, which is good news for anyone who owns more flares than fangs.
Dusky Buzz at Boobooks is also joining in from 6.30pm on Saturday, with live music and punters encouraged to dress up for Halloween.
And if your idea of a scary costume is a bald cap and a deep love of Mr Worldwide, tonight is your night. The Pitbull Appreciation Halloween Eve Party runs in Armidale from 9pm to 11pm tonight, Friday, 30 October. It’s free, with a DJ playing Pitbull and friends and a bald-cap decoration station. Nobody asked for it, but here we are.
Moree
Moree is getting a head start. The Moree Services Club holds its Halloween Party tonight from 7.30pm, with live music, costumes, food, and prizes.
On Saturday from 6pm, The Social Co House hosts Social Sound Check – Halloween Special, a live music night featuring Dean (Denacus) Mibus. Expect creative costumes, a best-dressed competition, prizes, and a spooky atmosphere. For details, call 0403 244 615.
Narrabri
DJ Djayshaw takes over the Tourist Hotel in Narrabri from 9pm to midnight on Saturday, with prizes for best dressed. Time to dig that costume out of the cupboard.
Kelvin, near Gunnedah
For those with more stamina, the Halloween House Party at The Church, 1970 Kelvin Road, Kelvin, starts from 3pm on Saturday. There will be seven DJs, live sets, full sound and lighting production, and plenty of room to camp overnight. Best dressed wins a double pass to a future event.
This one is for grown-ups, not trick-or-treaters, and the gathering is limited to 30 tickets.
Tenterfield region
In Deepwater, tonight’s Halloween fancy dress night is about more than costumes. The 1865 Heritage Longhorn Bar and Grill at 102 Tenterfield Street is hosting a fundraiser from 6pm on Friday, 30 October, for Torrington couple Keith and Dianne Blessing, who were victims of a home invasion in Torrington on 4 June.
The night will boost the GoFundMe appeal Help Keith & Dianne Feel Safe at Home, started by their neighbour Enzo Di Prinzio, who runs Enzo’s Concreting Service. It had raised $1300 at the time of writing, and every dollar goes towards security fencing for the couple’s property. Mr Di Prinzio is doing the labour for free, and DnG Earthworks has also volunteered.
Fancy dress is encouraged. The pub is catering for about 40 guests with a special menu, and about 20 tickets are left. Bookings can be made on 0408 023 568 or at hello@longhornbardeepwater.com.
In Tenterfield itself, the Tenterfield Tavern has decided one night of Halloween simply isn’t enough.
“One night of Halloween? Yeah, nah… we’re going the double!” the tavern wrote.
DJ Zeven is on the decks on Friday and Saturday from 8pm, with special cocktails all weekend. Friday’s fun supports Camp Quality with raffles and a schooner draw. Saturday is TheTav Fright Night party, with special prizes for best costume, so dress to impress, or distress.
For the Halloween-averse
If plastic skeletons bring you out in hives, the New England Garden Festival in Armidale runs on Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 4.30pm. It is not Halloween-themed in any way, which may be exactly the point. It’s also family-friendly, so the kids can come too, costumes optional.
What about the rest of the region?
Just because your town isn’t on our list doesn’t mean the ghosts are staying home. Plenty of school parties, street trick-or-treats, and pub costume nights never make it past a local Facebook post.
If something spooky is happening in your town, let us know and we’ll help spread the word. Whether you’re handing out lollies or hiding behind the curtains, happy Halloween.
Something going on in your part of the New England people should know about? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@netimes.com.au