October 12th-31st Screemers @ Scream Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place, 200 Princes’ Blvd. Screemers is a haunted scream park, complete with 6 haunts and the Midway of Mayhem. Their haunts will terrify you in every way imaginable, whether your afraid of darkness, tightness, startle, or gore they will get you! Runs 7 pm to midnight. $23.50-28.50 tickets available online.

October 18th-26th Toronto After Dark Film Festival @ various locations. 9 nights of horror, sci-fi, action, and cult movies!

October 26th-28th Halloween Haunt @ Canada’s Wonderland, 9580 Jane Street, Vaughan. Every weekend night, evil takes over the park. Zombies, psychotic clowns and other twistedness that will haunt you and your friends’ dreams. Runs 7 pm to midnight. $29.99-32.99 tickets available online.

WEDNESDAY

7 pm 360 Screenings @ Berkeley Church, 315 Queen St. E. 360 Screenings is a hybrid between live theatre and cinema. The audience is encouraged to explore, uncover, and interact with the actors and set design all while trying to guess what movie will be screened later in the evening. The location will not berevealed until 24 hours prior to the actual event and the movie will be kept secret until the actual screening. $60 regular admission and $40 student/culture seeker tickets available online.

7 pm “Girls Without Hats” Benefit for Girls Rock Camp Toronto @ The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Small Print Toronto invites you to “Girls Without Hats,” an all-ages benefit show for Girls Rock Camp Toronto featuring a spectacular mix of sights, sounds and silent auctioneering. Featuring the Toronto launch of “This Is Not My Hat,” award-winning author-artist Jon Klassen’s follow-up to “I Want My Hat Back,” the picture book that was a runaway hit with adult comic fans and kids alike, hosted by novelist Vikki Vansickle + sets by camp graduates City Sailors, Pins & Needles, Questionable Methods, and Unfinished Business. The silent auction will feature everything from handcrafted guitars to bestselling new books by guitar heroes. PWYC. Tickets at The Door.

8 pm Liquid Karaoke @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Colin Bergh, James McDonough, Nadia Belerique, and Jeff Hayward are your hosts.

9 pm Slayer Party: Halloween Edition @ Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas St. W. Presented by The Good Kids, Jagermeister, and Blacktooth Entertainment. Featuring gogo dancers and DJs Diemonds and Shotgun Cure + CD release show for Axxion (traditional heavy metal). Tons of giveaways for best costume and sluttiest nurse. $10.

10 pm Revive in Bellwoods @ The Ossington, 61 Ossington Ave. Celebrate the launch of the newly redesigned Live in Bellwoods with a night of vinyl tunes and a screening of Live in Bellwoods #50 featuring Maylee Todd.

10 pm I’m With the Band @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. Every Wednesday, musicians from Toronto’s Fuzzy Logic Recordings DJ in the front room. This Wednesday, it’s Alex Low (Hellaluya/Teen Tits Wild Wives) and Cam Whiteshells (Teen Tits Wild Wives).  

THURSDAY

10 pm Switched On @ Camp 4, 1173 Dundas St. W. Indie rock and college radio jams with DJs Pammm and Dan Z. 

10 pm The Quiet Storm @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. Resident DJ Andy Capp plays music with a strong emphasis on understated, mellow dynamics, and relaxed tempos and rhythm. 

10 pm Heatstroke @ Czehoski, 678 Queen St. W. Adventures in underground boogie, disco, and house music with resident DJ Cyclist and guest DJ Boots Boogie. 

10 pm Stereo Limbo @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. DJs Frank Waxman and Craig Dunsmuir play vinyl songs and loops. 

10:30 pm Weakend’s Prelude @ Bambi’s, 1265 Dundas St. W. Dance partee with DJs Travis and Sarah Small Fry. $4 Jameson before midnight! 

FRIDAY

8 pm Do Right! 10yrs with Gilles Peterson @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. Founded in 2002, Do Right’s mission is to share the best new jazz, soul, funk and hip hop sounds with like-minded souls. Over the last decade, Do Right has earned a worldwide reputation as one of Canada’s most visionary and eclectic record labels. With special guest Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6/Brownswood Recordings, London UK) + Movement Collective (DJs A Man Called Warwick, Aki, Jason Palma, Nav, John Kong), Maylee Todd, The Slakadeliqs, and DJ Catalist. $25 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, Cosmos Records, and online. More at the door.

8 pm Dark & Dirty @ 3030, 3030 Dundas St. W. A Halloween spooktacular featuring the best in Toronto Burlesque and Vaudeville. Featuring hosts Wolfman and Parker & Seville; magic by Baldini; music by The Hipshakers and Johnny B. Goode; and bloody Burlesque by Tanya Cheex, Aviva the Mirage, Esther De Ville, Trixi Jones, James & the Giant Pasty, St. Stella, and Belle Jumelles. $12 in costume, $15 otherwise.

9 pm Goin’ Steady: 8th Annual Monster Mash @ Lee’s Palace, Bloor St. W. The Goin’ Steady DJs’ grimy 50’s and 60’s RnB dance party. All your favourite choones plus unknown treasures from the uptempo doo wop, RnB, pre-soul bangers, surf, twang, country boogie, girl groups, rockabilly, primitive rock n’ roll, Italo-rock, Cambodian swing, latin shakers, Joe Meek, and Bollywood genres. This year’s Monster Mash edition will be bigger, better, and scarier than ever! This is a costume party known for high quality get-ups far beyond budget witches and one-sheet ghosts as Lee’s being transformed into a frightening array of spooky projections and multimedia mayhem. $10.

10 pm Shindig! Halloween: Death at the Drive-In @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. The vintage 50’s and 60’s party returns with a spooky twist! Expect to hear some deadly rhythm n’ blues, psychobilly, haunting instrumentals, bewitching soul, blood curdling garage, and murderous mod played by resident 45 selectors General Eclectic, Splattermonkey, and Parkdale Funk. Get in free before midnight with a costume! $5 otherwise.

10 pm Dudebox is Fucking Dead @ 25 Cecil St. The 3rd annual Dudebox is Fucking Dead – this year will be bigger than ever before cause they’re ambitious like that. There will be no “Best Costume” awards. There will be no “decorations.” There will only be a slew of people pushing their way toward one of several bars in an atmosphere of pure, hip-hop chaos/ecstasy provided by DJ James “Eatcha Brains” Redi. Sponsored exclusively by TAG Vodka. $5 before midnight, $10 after, with 80% of proceeds going to Manifesto and 20% to Dudebox.

10 pm A Free Bricks Halloween Party @ Play, 1032 Queen St. W. Featuring the live Toronto debut of Mykki Blanco (NYC). You can also expect exotic dancers. Plus, DJs Auntie Dionne, ItsMattLangille, and Patrick McGuire keep the night moving along with all rap, R&B, and dance hall bangers. $12 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, and Play De Record.

10 pm Bitch Craft Halloween Party @ The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. Get in the Halloween spirit with Parts & Labour’s longest-running hip hop party! DJs Blonde & Redhead play LOUD RAP MUSIC. $5 in costume, $10 otherwise.

10 pm Halloween Jamz! @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. An anything goes, no bullshit, non-genre, dance ’til you drop, all your friends in one room, party hard, make the floor wet with sweat, shit show! With DJs Slater and Ty. Wear a friggin’ costume! $5.

10 pm Halloween Video Dance Party @ The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W. All videos all night long + tricks, treats, and costume prizes. With DJs Scott Cudmore, Shit La Merde, and Finkelstein. $10.

10 pm I Love Music: Halloween Edition @ Crawford, 718 College St. Old school on the main floor with DJs Ase and Publicity, new school downstairs with Planet Otnorot DJs. $5 before 11:30 pm, more after. 

10 pm Hos & Bros: Nekro-Feelya @ The Henhouse, 1532 Dundas St. W. Come and get nekromantique! DJ Nancy Bocock reigns over your eternal torment. 

10:30 pm Fuck U Fridays @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. FUF performers will be creepier and scarier than usual for this Toronto Chainsaw Mascara extravaganza! Dress up, dress down, or don’t get dressed at all. Featuring spooktacular performances by Jenna Syde, Fay Slift, Judy Virago, IGBY Lizzard, and Xtacy Love Dior. Resident DJ Triple-X does an early set of deadly tunes while guest DJ Katie Richie opens her crypt of joy after midnight. $5 in costume, $8 otherwise. 

10:30 pm Itzsoweezee Presents POV: Halloween @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. A feel-good (haunted) house party atmosphere! Resident DJs Tom Wrecks and DeMiggs + guest Jr-flo play music to make you dance, smile, and holler. For guest list, email linebypassemailguestlist@itzsoweezee.com (closes at midnight). $10. 

SATURDAY

4 pm Night of Dread @ Dufferin Grove Park, 875 Dufferin St. The 13th Annual Night of Dread will parade your private and collective fears through the darkened streets of Toronto. Join the city’s finest musicians, puppeteers, dancers, and stilt walkers as you laugh at your fears, waltz with death, eat the bread of the dead, and remember those who have gone from our midst. 4 pm: parade begins assembling in Dufferin Grove Park. 6 pm: parade begins. 7:30 pm: parade returns to the park. Dress code: black and white and dreadful. PWYC ($10 suggested).

7 pm All Hallow’s Eve @ Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway (near the intersection of Steeles Ave. and Jane St.). What spirits lurk in the dark corners of the Village? Discover the true horrors if the Victorian age – murderers, body snatchers, post-mortem photographers, and the treat of being buried alive. Do you dare to enter their historic homes and risk a ghostly encounter?

7 pm Rookie Masquerade @ Magic Pony, 680 Queen St. W. Tavi Gevinson is coming to Magic Pony for the launch of Rookie Yearbook One and is having a costume party to celebrate! There will be a book signing, art show, photo booth, and a Halloween dance party afterwards. Toronto-based Rookie photographer Petra Collins will be curating and creating an art exhibit with work by Rookie contributors. Music by Prince Innocence (Tavi + Josh) and guest Rookie DJs. Book signing at 7 pm, Halloween dance party from 8-10 pm. $5 with costume, $20 without costume (ticket price can be redeemed against the purchase of a Rookie Yearbook).

9 pm Haunted Mansion @ The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. Party ghouls and goblins, get ready for THE Halloween event of the year as the historical Great Hall is transformed into the Haunted Mansion for the night! Dark debauchery and creepy chaos are the themes of this haunted night as you dance, party, and rage the night away. Featuring three different rooms with three different sounds. $30 advance tickets available online.

9 pm Panic @ Velvet Underground, 510 Queen St. W. The ultimate retro party with DJ Lazarus spinning the kind of retro that changed your life. 80’s, 90’s, new wave, classic alternatives, ska, Brit-pop, dance, shoegaze, post-punk, and more. Free retro candy, prizes for best retro (80’s and 90’s) costumes, spooky decor and more! $10 before 11 pm, $15 after.

9 pm Smithfits Halloween @ Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W. DJs Mark Pesci, Scott Wade, Scott Waring, and Katy Goodman play punk, new wave, and Brit-pop. Featuring a photobooth and costume contest. $10.

9 pm Crush Party: Halloween @ The Central, 603 Markham St. An event for people who want to make sex-positive like-minded friends. An invitation for any and all: hetero, homo, queer, trans, kinky, lesbian, gay, vanilla, bi, flexible, poly, and open minded young people (or young at heart)! DJ Johnny B Goode spins all night long + a burlesque performance by Sevvy Skellington and Belle Jumelles accompanied by the vocal styling of Johnny B Goode. $10.

9 pm Burroughes Haunted Mansion @ The Burroughes Building, 639 Queen St. W. The Burroughes is transformed into a one-of-a-kind haunted mansion! With DJ Rouge & Conor Cutz, Whiteout, and Kinnesh. $40 tickets available online.

10 pm Shake, Rattle & Roll’s Halloween Spooktacular @ Clinton’s, 693 Bloor St. W. If you think you’ve seen the freaks come out at night, you ain’t seen nothin’ till you’ve mashed with the monsters and the ladies of Bangs & Blush! Dance the night away to all your favorite 50’s and 60’s Motown, soul, and rock n’ roll tunes. And yes, there will be a costume contest with prizes to be won. $5.

10 pm Hallowavvy @ The Red Light, 1185 Dundas St. W. DJs Smells Gucci and Coolin Cregg play all the trill and savage monster heaters.

10 pm F’unreal Presents: Hallowscream V @ The Boat, 158 Augusta Ave. Dress to kill! With ghosts: Fell Dead, Dieler Goneston, Candy Slayer, Soul Lostinme, and Spooky Witch. $5.

10 pm Born To Run DMC Presents: The Halloween House Party @ The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. DJ Paul G (Born To Run DMC) plays house party music!

10 pm Retro Road Show’s Halloween Party @ The Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. Three floors of Halloween-y fun + your favourite 80’s and 90’s videos to keep you howlin’ (and dancing) all night! With DJ Thomas Hall. Prize for best costume. Cash-only bar. $10.

10 pm Pressure Drop @ The Embassy, 223 Augusta Ave. Join resident selectors Morningside 116, Guv’nor General, and Chuck Boom + guest Iron Will as they crank up the bass and chase the devil into outta space to find another race.

10 pm Death Disco @ Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. With DJs Juan Maclean (DFA Records NYC), Shit Robot (DFA Records NYC), and Wheel Wells. $15 advance tickets available at Rotate This and Soundscapes. For guestlist requests, email guestlist@wrongbar.com.

10 pm The Haunted Hoxton Halloween @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St. The Hoxton’s annual Halloween bash featuring Hook N Sling with Feddy Haze. $15 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Play De Record, and online. For guestlist/bottle service, contact Jonathan C – 416.520.4753, Zale Turner – 416.897.7187, Josh Seaton – 647.982.2700, or email steven@thehoxton.ca.

10 pm Halloween House Party @ The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen St. W. DJs Dougie Boom and Famous Players man the decks as the Underground gets spooky for the annual Halloween House Party! Compete for the $500 cash prize for best costume. $10.

10 pm Ice Cold Dranks Presents: The Halloween Hangover @ Crawford, 718 College St. Calling all creatures of the night! DJs FBomb and Ry-Fi play the bangers you know and love. And yes, Thriller and The Monster Mash will be played! Wear a costume and bring your neckbraces. Awesome prizes for best costumes + FREE swag giveaways. Sponsored by The Kraken Black Spiced Rum. Free before 11 pm, $10 after.

10 pm Fast Times Presents: Fright Night @ The Piston, 937 Bloor St. W. An spooky 80’s vinyl dance party with DJs Brendan Canning and Tweed!

10 pm Pop Machine: Halloween Bash @ WAYLA, 996 Queen St. E. Grab your glitter, black eyeshadow, and fake blood ’cause Pop Machine is throwing its first-ever Halloween Bash! Join DJs Alessandro and Shane Percy for a night of all your dance floor favourites. Prizes awarded to the best costumes. $5 before 11 pm, $10 after.

10 pm Supernatural @ Tequila Bookworm, 512 Queen St. W. “The supernatural can be defined as manifestations or events considered to be of supernatural origin.” Costumes are optional. Dancing is mandatory. Music by DJs Kid Tronic and Royale. Expect the unexpected. $5.

11 pm Shriek A Tail Presents The Graveyard Stomp @ Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. Shake A Tail’s 7th Annual Halloween Bash! Same great shakes, just much scarier than normal. Wear a costume and win some goodies. $5.

11 pm Essence Brown Presents: Seance Black Halloween Jam @ Holy Oak, 1241 Bloor St. W. Sexy, smooth, seductive hip-hop, R&B, and dancehall with your hosts Turfmayne as Irfan AAAAGGGGHHHH!-li, Mansquay as TJ Gargoylecia, and Hoiking as The Spirit. Dress to kill.

SUNDAY

9 am Zombie Brunch @ The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W. Say BOO! as you enjoy Brains + Eggs (fried pork brain, poached eggs w/ grilled miche + green salad, $13.13) with the Zombie Punch (bourbon, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, pear nectar, cinnamon syrup + vanilla bitters, candied pear + a Halloween dry ice garnish, $13) or Shaun of the Dead (Jamaican rum, muddled mint, sugar, house clarified lime juice + soda water garnished with a skewered candy eye ball, $13) cocktails. Caesar aficionado? You’ll want to order the Smokin Bloody Caesar (vodka, Clamato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce + horseradise + a Halloween dry ice garnish, $11 [2oz]). Check out the other killer options on the Drake’s website. Until 4 pm.

~ Caitlyn Holroyd

(For event submissions, email caitlyn_holroyd@hotmail.com)