2016 was the year of the Demogorgon, Ghostbusters and Harley Quinn, which means one thing: great options for Halloween costumes. Halloween 2016 falls on a Monday this year, which means most parties will be taking place on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October. Here’s our best selection of the parties going down on Halloween weekend. GET YOUR FREAK ON.
Portal Halloween, Birmingham
What: The Portal, a techno and house club night based in Birmingham brings you their first ever Halloween party, which promises to be a “surreal” affair. The event will combine “surreal party rooms” with “Lucid chill-out areas”.
Where: The Rainbow Venues (TBA), Birmingham
When: October 29th, 9pm – 6am
Who’s playing: Luciano, Eats Everything, Solardo
Price: £16 early bird
More info and tickets
FF16, Rotherham
What: Fear Fest is a Halloween dance music festival taking place in Rotherham, Yorkshire. Running from 7pm on Saturday right through to 5am on Sunday, on four separate stages, this really is not one for the faint hearted. You can also purchase return coach tickets to locations all around Yorkshire, so no need to fret about taking the bus in an embarrassing costume.
Where: Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham
When: 29th October, 7pm – 5am
Who’s playing: Lethal Bizzle, Chase & Status, Big Narstie
Price: £31 standard release ticket
More info and tickets
IllumiNaughty: The Day Of The Dead, Manchester
What: Taking place at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester, electro/trance party IllumiNaughty will take place in one large venue separated into six different areas. Interactive features and circus acts are all part of the entertainment at IllumiNaughty, and they’ve already started work on their 2016 installations. This year’s event will be inspired by the Mexican festival ‘Dia de Muertos’ (Day of the Dead) so expect sugar skulls, and plenty of them.
Where: Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester
When: 29th October, 8pm – 5am
Who’s playing: Headliners TBA
Price: £25
Cherry Manchester: Stranger Things Halloween Edition, Manchester
What: Cherry is the town’s weekly ’90s and ’00s pop club night at Manchester’s Sound Control. This year’s Halloween party theme is ‘Stranger Things’, “So basically just dress up as the most twisted, evil, sickening costume you can imagine”, Demogorgons, Eleven, or the burger guy. The DJs promise to spin tracks from Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon’s wicked soundtrack. Attendees should also expect “cheap ass, funny looking Halloween shit from Tescos.”
Where: Sound Control, Manchester
When: 28th October, 11pm – 4am
Who’s playing: Dan Deighan and someone called John.
Price: £4.50 (second release)
Deadbolt Halloween Special, Manchester
What: Deadbolt is a Victorian, ripper inspired horror night playing your favourite indie, pop-punk and metalcore tracks. There will be a silent “sin-ema” in one of the rooms playing horror classics, along with a rumoured appearance by Jack the Ripper himself. Prizes for the best dressed!
Where: Ruby Lounge, Manchester
When: 31st October, 10pm – 4am
Who’s playing: TBA.
Price: £5 (advance discount)
Rave of Thrones Edinburgh: Halloween Special, Edinburgh
What: Listen to a DJ set by Hordor himself at this ‘Game of Thrones’ inspired Halloween party at Edinburgh’s liquid rooms. And of course, everyone has to dress up. Themed décor and live performances will make this party legendary.
Where: The Liquid Room, Edinburgh
When: 31st October, 10pm – 3am
Who’s playing: Kristian Nairn AKA Hordor
Price: £11.25 (early bird ticket)
Girls Rock: Witchfest 2016, Glasgow
What: This rocking feminist Halloween party takes rad to a whole new level. Local bands, face painting, dress up and zines make this a multi-channel party to remember. The party is hosted and raising money for by the ‘Rock’n’Roll Summer School For Girls’ in Glasgow, which aims to promote young women’s engagement in music and showcase local talent.
When: October 30th, 1-5pm
Where: Mono Cafe Bar
Who’s playing: Bratakus, Joyce Delaney
Price: Whatever you put in the donation bucket
Vevo Halloween, Liverpool
What: A night of ‘phobias’ set to the soundtrack of live performances from indie big hitters. It’s all a bit 1984: the website promises “Spiders. Clowns. Blood. Snakes. Rats… No matter what you are afraid of it’s time to face your phobias.”
Where: Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool
When: 29th October, 6pm -12.30pm
Who’s playing: AURORA, Blossoms, Izzy Bizu, Jack Garratt
Price: £5
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Bronze Is Back, London
What: It’s a ‘90s pop culture party with a blood sucking twist. There are live performances, wicked DJ sets, karaoke and talent show open mic. Oh, and screenings of Cruel Intentions and I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Where: Upstairs at the Ritzy, Brixton
When: 29th October, 8pm
Who’s playing: Dark Willow, Subterranean Popular, Gabby Colledge, Massive Arms DJs
Price: £8
Guilty Pleasures Halloween Ball, London
What: A little bit kitsch, a little bit glitzy, very fabulous. Expect cabaret dancers and superhero costumes at this celebration of all the cheesy things you secretly love. Power ballads and the backstreet boys in the heart of Camden? Life doesn’t get much sweeter.
Where: KOKO, Camden
When: 29th October, 10pm-4am
Who’s playing: N/A
Price: £22.50
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