This year, Halloween falls on a Monday, which means you've got an entire weekend of partying to do. Whether you've got a different costume for each day or one you're going to do battle in all weekend long, here's our guide to getting the parties started.
SF MOMA's Now Playing: Ann Magnuson Plays David Bowie and Jobriath, or The Rock Star as Witch Doctor, Myth Maker, and Ritual Sacrifice, October 27
Ann Magnuson, legendary NYC performance artist and actress and singer of Bongwater, performs a glam tribute cabaret of David Bowie's early 1970s work. The show will also touch on dreams, Jung, human sacrifice, Aztec shamanism, and "all things dark, bloody, and beautiful". Also, Blue Bottle Coffee and SFMOMA continue their BANQUET series on the Rooftop Garden, and there will be free food, Humphry Slocombe ice cream and a costume contest!
Studio 54 Halloween Party at Clift Hotel, October 27
Bust out your bell-bottoms, sequins and Afro wigs for the Clift Hotel's raging Studio 54 party. They'll be blasting disco beats starting at 8 pm, but don't expect to get in without a head-to-toe glam look. Click here to RSVP.
Nobunny & Ty Segall at Brick & Mortar Music Hall, October 28
Two of the Bay Area's best garage upstarts collide in this show under the freeway at rising venue Brick & Mortar. Nobunny's got the spare, Ramones' goofball punk thing down pat, which Ty Segall's frantic, scuzzy garage pop turns crowds into sweat, beer-soaked messes on the regular. Commence thrashing. Uzi Rash and Apache open.
Dirty Vegas DJ Set at Harlot, October 28
The SoMA nightclub is throwing a "Cowboys & Aliens"-themed party, which probably means there will me a lot of sexy aliens and sexy cowgirls everywhere you turn. The crown jewel of the night is the DJ set by dancefloor master Dirty Vegas, which you won't want to miss. This event will sell out! For tickets, click here.
Trannyshack Presents Halloween: A Party at DNA Lounge, October 29
Titans of drag Heklina and Peaches Christ join forces on stage for their annual extravaganza, sporting a drag show full of dark divas, the most insane costumes you'll see all weekend and wild dancing. This year, a super secret, special guest and costume contest judge will be in attendance; they've only given this hint: "a heavy metal drummer once married to a bona-fide 'faux queen.'" If you're thinking of going, you better bring your A-game to compete with these queens!
Lights Down Low's Halloween Bash at SOM, October 29
Throw on a costume that gives you room to cut a rug and head to SOM to shake it to some of the biggest names in dance music: Pearson Sound, Christian Martin of Dirtybird and french turntablist Manare. "Spooky ass beats" will be flowing from the speakers, grab discounted tickets here.
Ghostship on Treasure Island, October 29
Think of this as a Halloween shindig for the Burning Man set, spanning a warehouse-sized space with multiple sound areas, over 30 of the Bay Area’s finest DJs, performance artists, art cars, local food trucks and a head-spinning collection of large-scale artwork to further trip you out. The crowning jewel? For the first time off-playa, glimpse Peter Hudson’s acclaimed interactive stroboscopic zoetrope piece Charon. Click the link above to get tickets–they're almost sold out.
deadmau5 at Bill Graham Civic Center, October 29
The current king of progressive house music takes the stage in his signature mouse mask for an entire night of non-stop dancing...but it's already sold out. Craigslist is worth a scouring session or two, because FatBoy Slim, A-Trak, Tommy Lee and DJ Aero will also be there laying down beats.
SF SPCA's Howl-o-Ween at Argonaut Hotel, October 30
Don't leave your dog friends out of the fun! Dress them up in their scariest and bring them along to this "yappy hour" and costume contest. Prizes will be given for most original, funniest, even the best dynamic duo (joint dog and human costume). Best of all? It all benefits the SF SPCA. RSVP here.
Live 105's Subsonic Halloween Ball at Regency Ballroom, October 31
If what you want to do this Halloween is drink and dance, Live 105's got you covered. DJs and artists repping both the Bay Area and beyond team up for a rager that'll likely last until the wee hours of the morning. 2MANYDJS, Fake Blood, Tenderlions, Miles the DJ, Eli Glad and Sleazemore are just the tip of the iceberg of performances.
Soft Moon at the Independent, October 31
San Francisco's most ghoulish band reigns over the Independent on All Hallow's Eve itself for a night of eerie light shows and creeptastic goth, garage and punk music. Haunted chanteuse Chelsea Wolfe and Led Er Est open.
Halloween Spooktacular at the Roxie Theater, October 28 through November 2
If you love gory movies, this spookfest at the Roxie will be your version of Christmas. Grab a ticket, dig into some spiked punch and get ready to be mortified by flicks like The Hunger (starring David Bowie!), NADJA, screenings of Twin Peaks, Zombie and many more blood-splattered classics.
What will you guys get up to this epic Halloween weekend?
