This weekend’s best Halloween parties and scares
It’s Halloween party weekend, with a very special guest list that includes Hannibal Lecter, Alice Cooper and Donnie Iris.
HANNIBAL’S CAGE
As an especially creepy Halloween treat, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Oakland has teamed with Hundred Acres Manor to reconstruct the cage scene from the Oscar-winning film “The Silence of the Lambs.” If you know the scene, you know the horror that happens in that cage, which will be in the room where the Oscar-winning film was shot, complete with actors doing the parts. Actor, professor and author W. Stephen Coleman, the original Sgt. Pembry in the film, will be on site to talk to guests. Cocktails, tarot readings, scary stories and more. Oct., 26, 6-8 p.m. $10 /$15 at door. 21 and over; soldiersandsailorshall.org.
FRANKENSTEIN RADIO
It’s Midnight Radio as we’ve never seen it before: on a world-premiere double bill. Bricolage Production Company presents perhaps the greatest monster story ever told, “Larger Than Life: Frankenstein,” alongside Hanut31 Theater & Gallery of Israel’s “Radio Play: The Adventures of Karate Man, Patrick Kim,” as part of the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts. Both radio plays are told in Bricolage’s signature old-timey style for a live audience.
Hanut31 brings to life fictional secret agent Patrick Kim, a character inspired by James Bond and Bruce Lee films, who has been featured in more than 300 books from the1960s-’80s. Bricolage, meanwhile, reanimates Mary Shelley’s masterpiece with the help of Foley sound effects, vintage commercial spoofs and vocal acrobatics. “Frankenstein” is directed by Jeffrey Carpenter, adapted by Tami Dixon and performed by Jamie Agnello, Parag S. Gohel, Brett Goodnack, Cotter Smith and Maura Underwood, with musical guest Cello Fury.
The limited-run double bill is 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at Bricolage’s Downtown home, 937 Liberty Ave. Tickets are $35 at
trustarts.org or 412-456-6666. “Larger Than Life: Frankenstein” then continues Nov. 1-10. Tickets are $35, or $25 for students with a valid ID, www.bricolagepgh.org.
UNHINGED 2
Cup-A-Jo Productions partners with Pittsburgh Fringe for an immersive Halloween theatre experience that takes viewers “on a journey thru haunts and horrors, dead ends and dead beats ... prepare yourself for anything to go terribly wrong.” It’s at the Afterschock Theater, 115 57th St., Lawrenceville, at 8 p.m. Friday; 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Wednesday and Nov. 3; 8 p.m. Nov. 1-2.
ZOMBIE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
Haunted Museum After Dark: Year of the Zombie is party at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Oakland, that invites guests to come dressed in costume and be ready to discover the real-life zombies of the natural world and trick-or-treat their way around the museum. “Night of the Living Dead,” celebrating its 50th anniversary, will be shown on the big screen, there will be local experts from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and Penn Forest Natural Burial Park and dancing with DJ Bill Jakub. It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $15; $13.50 for members; www.carnegiemnh.org.
CREEPY PLANTS
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Oakland welcomes ghosts and goblins of all ages to come in costume for a day of activities, including face painting, magic shows, special Halloween games, pumpkin carving and creepy plant potting. There will also be healthy snacks, the Witches Brew Station with live creepy creatures and the Fall Flower Show: 125 Years of Wonder, which includes a spooky tribute to Phipps’ Halloween shows of the past and Night of the Living Dead filmmaker George A. Romero. Free with regular admission. 4-8 p.m. Friday. $17.95; $16.95 seniors (62+) and students; $11.95 kids 2-18; phipps.conservatory.org.
OFF THE DOCK
WAMO gets on board the Gateway Clipper for the Thriller Halloween Moonlight Cruise with DJ ROC spinning the best in hip-hop, old school and R&B, plus a Tex Mex buffet and costume contests. 21 and over. Boards at 10:30 p.m. and sails from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday. Tickets are $27 advance; $30 at the door. Over-21.
BOB-FM sails the three rivers on a threehour Boo ‘N Brew cruise with party band Random Play, on-air personalities, tarot card and psychic readings, costume contest, cocktails and snack menu. Boards at 7 p.m. and sails at 8 p.m. Saturday. $27 advance; $30 door. Over21.
There will also be Halloween Fun cruises for kids sailing at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday. $26; $13 kids; $5 infants. Gatewayclipper.com.
WALKING DEAD MEETS LIVING DEAD
Smithsonian curator Eric Jentsch will be at the Senator John Heinz History Center to discuss zombies in pop culture, including the National Museum of American History’s recent work with AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” On hand will be associates of George Romero. Guests can enjoy a complimentary zombie-themed cocktail courtesy of Wigle Whiskey, make a zombie movie poster and see the “Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission” exhibition and “Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation,” which features the work of George Romero. Costume contest included. 6-9 p.m. Friday. $14; heinzhistorycenter.org.
DONNIE OF THE DEAD
The official Mr. Smalls Theatre Halloween Party is the first-ever appearance at the Millvale club by Pittsburgh legends Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. There will be a costume contest to win a $100 Mr. Smalls gift card and Donnie merch. 8 p.m. Saturday. $40 - $75. ticketmaster.com.
WELCOME TO HIS NIGHTMARE
WDVE swung for the fences and scored with Alice Cooper doing an underplay at Stage AE indoors for the DVE Halloween Party. It’s dubbed A Paranormal Evening, named for last year’s “Paranormal,” which had Alice joined by the “classic” line-up of the Alice Cooper Band along with Larry Mullen Jr. (U2), Roger Glover (Deep Purple), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and more. The focus will be on classic material, from “Billion Dollar Babies” to “I’m Eighteen.” 7 p.m. doors. Sold out
OUR FAVORITE HAUNTED PLACES
THE SCAREHOUSE New this year is Pittsburgh Zombies: Re-Animated, a nod to the 50th anniversary of George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead.” Nocturnia 3D transports guests back in time to a haunted carnival in the early 1900s with an atmosphere reminiscent of “Carnival of Souls.” Infernal Darkness is an abandoned museum that was once home to some of the most demonic artifacts known to man. ScareHouse is at 118 Locust St., Etna. Free parking at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. A free shuttle runs continuously beginning 30 minutes before ScareHouse opens until ScareHouse closes for the evening. Tickets are $17.99; $40 for front-of-the-line access. Tickets to The Basement (open only to those 18 and older and who sign a waiver) are separately priced and start at $31; www.scarehouse.com.
PHANTOM FRIGHT NIGHTS Features haunted mazes, scare zones filled with more than 200 costumed actors and thrill rides in the dark. Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays, Saturdays and select Sundays through Oct. 28. Tickets are $33.99; discounts available through www.kennywood.com/pfn and by picking up coupons at local Spirit Halloween locations. College students and select Kennywood Season Passholders get in for half-price Oct. 26-28. Not recommended for children younger than 13. www.kennywood.com/pfn or 412-4610500.
HUNDRED ACRES MANOR HAUNTED HOUSE Six attractions, including Dead Lift, Torture Tank, The Host and, new this year, Curse (journey through the once famous cabin within the woods) and Breach (”Enter ‘Project Argos’ the space-bound research facility, once pushing the limits of genetic testing, that has gotten out of hand.”) Hundred Acres Drive, off Corrigan Drive, South Park. Through Oct. 31, plus Nov. 1-3. 7-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursdays; until 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $20. 412851-4286; www.hundredacresmanor.org.
CASTLE BLOOD In a historic 100-year-old funeral home, guests may be guided by “an elegant vampire, a beautiful spirit, wacky witch or mad scientist … menacing monster, a vengeful vampire, undead bride, wayward werewolf or hungry ghoul.” 100 Schoonmaker Ave., Monessen. 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7-9 p.m. Sundays. Through October. No-Scare family matinees 1-4 p.m. the last two Sundays of October. $20; $25 VIP; $30 Nightmare Pass; www.castleblood.com.
ALLEN’S HAUNTED HAYRIDES AND TAVERN OF TERROR Tavern of Terror walkthrough complete with classic scares such as Frankenstein and Dracula, and hayrides. 2430 Pittsburgh Road, Smock. Oct. 25-27. Dusk to 9 p.m. Thursdays, till 10 p.m. Fridays and 10:30 p.m. Saturdays. $15. www.allenshayrides.com.
FRIGHT FARM Fest-Evil Midway, Hayride Of No Return, Frightmare Mansion, Hallow Grounds, Paranoia. Rich Farms, 2043 Springhill Furnace Road, Smithfield. Oct. 24-28, 31. $25$50; www.frightfarm.com.
CHEESEMAN FRIGHT FARM Hayride, corn maze and haunted attractions with more than 100 actors. Children under 12 must be accompanied by adult. Cheeseman Road, off Route 19, Portersville, Butler County. 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays
through Oct. 28. $20. Pumpkin festival with hay rides, petting zoo and more 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through October. $4. www.cheesemanfrightfarm.com.
LINCOLN CAVERNS’ GHOSTS AND GOBLINS
Haunted cave, trail and hayride. U.S. Route 22, 7703 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon. 69:30 p.m. ($24.98) Fridays-Saturdays, Through Oct. 27. Family tour 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays ($22.98; $18.98 child combo). 1-814-6430268. www.lincolncaverns.com.
DEMON HOUSE Haunted attraction, campfires, outdoor movie theater. 417 Coyle Curtain Road, Monongahela. 7 p.m.-midnight FridaysSaturdays; 7-10 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 3. $20. www.demonhouse.com.
HUSTON’S HAUNTED HOLLOW Features The Walls of the Haunted Boarding House, HollowWood Hayride, Twisted Circus, Toxic Swamp Walk and Dead End Cornfield. Exit 110 on Route 281 south, 8 miles from Somerset exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Rockwood. 6:3010 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 27. www.hauntedhollow.net.
ZOMBIES OF THE CORN Zombie Shoot, Zombie Compound, wagon ride, ghost stories, campfire. 282 Rochester Road, Freedom. 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 28. $35; $25 children under 10. 724-7756232; www.zombiesofthecorn.com.
HAUNTED HILLS ESTATE Attractions include Moonlight Massacre Challenge Trail, J.H. Finkelstein Funeral Home, Magic Chamber of Horrors. 7-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Nov. 3; 7-10 p.m. Sundays. $15 for one adventure, $20 for two, or $25 for three. 236 Rolling Hills Estate Road, Uniontown; hauntedhillsestate.com.
FAMILY HAUNTS
KENNYWOOD HAPPY HAUNTINGS A fall family festival with hay rides, pumpkin decorating, treats, Kiddieland and family rides, a bitesized maze. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October. $17.99; $14.99 online; $2.50 off coupon at Spirit stores; www.kennywood.com/happyhauntings.
ZOOBOO Features Casper’s Craft Corner, children’s hay maze, Halloween parade, costume contest, trick-or-treat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27-28. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Highland Park. Free with zoo admission; 412665-3640; www.pittsburghzoo.org. DEPRECIATION LANDS MUSEUM LANTERN TOURS Enjoy a family-friendly guided tour of the museum and cemetery by lantern light with tall tales, superstitions and customs from the past. South Pioneer Road, Hampton. 6-9 p.m. Oct. 27. $5; $3 children. www.DepreciationLandsMuseum.org.
PUMPKIN PATCH TROLLEY Trolley rides, pumpkin patch, games, treats. Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, across the street from the Washington County Fairgrounds. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 27-28. $12; $10 seniors (62+); $8 kids 1-15. 724-228-9256; www.pa-trolley.org.
HAUNTED MINI GOLF With ghosts and ghouls, glow-in-the-dark balls. 2142 Broadhead Road, Hopewell. 3-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. $10; $8 kids under 12. www.hopewellwindmill.com.
KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER Halloween Mayhem with zombies, a costume parade, puppets, games. Noon-3 p.m. Oct. 27. Pay what makes you happy. KST, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty; kelly-strayhorn.org.