From the scary to the fun, this Halloween season in the region offers just about everything for anybody.
Restaurants have redecorated with black and orange, there are frights in prisons, hospitals and just about everywhere.
Craftsman Row Saloon
Annually, Craftsman Row Saloon, at 112 S. Eighth Street in Philadelphia, transforms into a Halloween spectacular based on the movie “Nightmare before Christmas.” This year, they are going a step further by bringing in other movie favorites.
Building off the popularity of the first year and inspired by the movie, characters such as Jack Skellington, Sally and the Boogie Man are joined by friends from Beetlejuice and the series “Wednesday.”
“We are huge fans of Halloween and Tim Burton, and with the release of ‘Beetlejuice’ we really went all out adding some friends to our normal ‘Nightmare Before Christmas theme,’ ” said owner George Tsiouris. “We love the movies and wanted to celebrate our favorite elements through decorations, food and drink, all the elements for a truly unique and whimsical experience.”
The restaurant is emblazoned with 2,000 more Halloween lights, hundreds more skull and bones, 500 more feet of cobwebs, 50 more floating ghouls plus nods to your favorite characters.
Booths are even adorned in Beetlejuice fashion and several skeleton walls and spooky candles frame the space.
With the Halloween takeover in the dining room comes with two new themed milkshakes that are over-the-top and feature elaborate decorations, giant cookies and more.
On the Halloween menu of food additions look for Pumpkin Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Witches Fingers, Jack-O’-Lantern Guacamole and Chips, Jack’s Baked Mac and Cheese, Sally’s Quesadillas, Mummy Stromboli, Vampire Burger and more.
From the bar, look for a special menu of potions and cocktails including a Blood Bag, Charman Marg, Pumpkin King Marg, Pinata Full of Spiders Mojito, Skellington Sangria and a special drink paying nod to Beetlejuice himself.
Craftsman Row will be celebrating Halloween through Oct. 31. Go to craftsmanrowsaloon.com for more information.
“We are nationally known for over-the-top floor-to-ceiling décor and delicious and creative offerings of burgers, drinks and milkshakes for the Christmas season, and now we wanted to present something for every Halloween enthusiast,” Tsiouris said.
Eastern State Penitentiary
Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, is a Halloween festival. It contains five haunted houses, as well as historic tours, themed bars, live entertainment and occupies all 10 acres of the abandoned cellblocks and yards.
The setting for Halloween Nights is unparalleled. Eastern State was once the most famous prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers.
This gothic structure, with soaring 30-foot fortress walls, is intimidating enough during the day. At night, the cellblocks fall into darkness and the penitentiary takes on a different energy.
Halloween Nights runs select evenings through Nov. 9. Ticket prices start at $39 and vary by night. Check Halloweenights.org for ticketing and more information.
“We’re thrilled to bring visitors another year of festive Halloween fun,” said Erin Davis, director of Halloween Nights. “It takes months of thoughtful planning to ensure that every season of Halloween Nights is bigger and better than the last. In addition to revamping attractions, we are always making improvements to the visitor experience. This year, we’re excited to add more scares and photo opportunities, enhance our characters and sets, and implement a storyline that allows guests to engage more deeply in this one-of-a-kind world we’ve created.”
Visitors who want to dig deeper into Halloween Nights lore can engage in Beyond the Veil, a new way to experience the festival for 2024.
They uncover an overarching storyline that unites the attractions and delves into the backstories of a cast of all-new signature characters. This immersive theater-style experience combines narrative and puzzle, engaging visitors in a non-linear quest that spans all ten acres of the penitentiary complex.
Key characters engage with guests, putting them on paths to make decisions unravel additional storylines and challenges as they go through the festival.
Spin Philly
Halloween might not be for everybody.
Spin Philadelphia, 211 S 15th St., which is the original ping-pong social club located in Center City, will be hosting an Oktoberfest Oct. 5.
The Oktoberfest celebration will feature unlimited access to German food delicacies, exclusive Oktoberfest-inspired drinks, a beer tasting from local breweries, ping-pong play and other lawn games.
There are two sessions: 2-4 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. Each ticket is $100 per session and can be purchased at eventbrite.com.
1812 Productions
The upcoming election is enough to put a scare in many, so why not pick up a few laughs.
1812 Productions is back with the 2024 edition of “This Is The Week That Is,” but with a special focus on the November election at the Plays and Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.
This theatrical event offers a comedic survival guide on the chaos of this very long presidential election cycle.
Running from Oct. 3-Nov. 3, this beloved Philadelphia tradition returns with biting satire, musical parodies, and improvised comedy that keeps pace with the latest election headlines.
“This year’s election has already proven to be one for the books,” said Jennifer Childs, producing artistic director of 1812 Productions, “Our team is ready to navigate the ups and downs with the humor and insight that ‘This Is The Week That Is’ has become known for. It’s the ultimate survival guide for anyone looking to laugh their way through the election season … if they can.”
Celebrating its 19th year as a staple of the Philadelphia theater season, this year’s unique take on “This Is The Week That Is” promises an unforgettable experience, blending the best elements of “Saturday Night Live,” “The Daily Show,” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”
Audiences can expect a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud evening that takes a satirical swing at the state of the nation. Whether you’re a political junkie or just trying to make it through to November, this show is the perfect remedy for election fatigue.
Check 1812productions.org for tickets and other information.
