It’s that time of year again. Fall time is Weekend Warrior time, and what better way to kick it off than with one of the biggest weekends for parties and activities, Halloween? The name of the game for Saturday night’s costuming is to win cash. Lots of cash. Make money and have fun. We’ve got all the events (and costume contests) lined up – can you hit them all?
To see a full list of events this weekend and on any other day of the year, visit our Local Events Calendar.
FRIDAY, 30th
5:00 p.m. – Alright, work’s over. Head home, dress up and get your ass to the Zombee Ball at The Sleepy Hollow Books & Gifts. It’s free and fun. This is also your first chance to flaunt your costume. There’s a contest, but no word on prizes yet. If you can’t get off work early then you’re lame, but the party goes until 9 p.m.
7:00 p.m. – If you’re feeling good at Zombee Ball and looking to drop some cash, or free isn’t your thing and you want something a bit more swanky, then your spot is probably Jane Ryder presents: The Mad Hatter’s Ball at artspace ($25 ticket). It’s a fundraiser, so bring some cash for bidding on local artists’ work. Costumes optional? Nah, always wear a costume because there might be cash.
9:00 p.m. – Your next stop, after hitting two parties, is something a little more classic. Olive Street Oddities’ Haunted House is a family-friendly event, and can be a great stop to see friends and share your Highland love before things get crazy up in hurr.
10:30 p.m. – Alright, so here’s the thing. It’s not really Halloween yet, so a lot of the parties are tomorrow, but that’s not really a reason to stop now. And now, since you want the best macaroni and cheese bites you’ll ever taste, it’s time to make that sexy Ewok costume into an even sexier Ewok with spandex and get your lurdo self over to the 80’s Hair Band Halloween Party at Hangar 21 ($5 cover). Rock to the sounds of Jacky Black and Fare Warning and flaunt your costume for what we assume will be a cash prize. Or beer. Or maybe just street cred. Anyway, consider this a test run for tomorrow. Get it right.
SATURDAY, 31st
First things first: IT’S GON RAIN. Really. Really. Rain. Wind. The whole smash. But don’t let that deter you. Get a DD or a taxi and hit it all. It’ll be worth it, especially if you stash clothes or a poncho in the trunk. it’s going to be fine, just don’t stay in for cripes’ sake.
9:00 a.m. – I’m not usually this cruel, but after last night’s third round of mac and cheese bites, and in preparation for tonight, you need to do this. Trust me. Hop over to the Shreveport Farmers’ Market, get those items you’ll hate yourself for not getting on Monday and grab a Well+Fed juice. Alternatively, you can go all-in and hit up a Triple Threat from those awesome guys in the food pavilion. Your Cowspiracy-induced veganism can wait until next week.
12:30 p.m. – Nap. Nap hard. As a note, there’s no LSU game, so no need to worry about that.
2:30 p.m. – Now you have a choice. Not a choice to get up – that’s not a choice. You must declare – Bossier or Shreveport. Flying Heart or Great Raft. Yes, I’m pitting them against each other because you’ve already decided which one you’re going to, deep inside. For the undecided, your options are 1) The Flying Heart Halloween Party (3:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.), complete with beer and some form of Halloweenieness 2) Halloween at Great Raft (been going since 12 p.m. and keeps on to 10 p.m.), complete with “Costume Cornhole Contest” (phrasing) which will win you some sort of PRIZE – hopefully some sort of GRB-branded Yeti Cooler (or beer/cash). Hear music by Louisiana Appleseed later in the evening, and food options like Callie’s Concessions at lunch and Ki Mexico for dinner. In reality, there’s enough time to hit both, but I’m a maniacal person, so… HAVE FUN, losers!
4:00 p.m. – It’s okay for you to be a tad late, but you might need a ride at this point, depending on how much you love gave 6 of Hearts or bearded adoration of Walker Melon Texas Ranger (a whopping 7.5% ACV from GRB), to the Shreveport Zombie Walk in the Red River District. CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN, TIME FOR MORE DRINKING!
6:30 p.m. – Ok. We’re sufficiently but responsibly buzzed right now, and we probably ate more than one poblano or biste taco from Ki, but we’re good. We’re good? Right? RIGHT?! Ok. So now we head to get the bejeezus scared out of us at NecroManor Haunted House in Bossier City ($15-30 ticket) to experience the twisted and gut-wrenching story of the Shady Grove Sanitarium. Seriously, this will be a welcome break from all that costume cornholing.
8:00 p.m. – If getting scared in a haunted house isn’t your thing, then perhaps you want to get scared in a more seated position by watching The Blair Witch Project at Rhino Coffee. It was Josh, by the way. The movie’s 16 years old, guys. Time for the truth to come out.
9:30 p.m. – Blair Witch is over, you’ve (kind of) watched Josh kill a bunch of people (or does he?), and you’re ready for something more upbeat. Time to get back in the zone. So we’re headed to the Hydrogen Child/Seratones show at Strange Brew ($10 cover). It started at 9 p.m., but maybe they’ll delay just a little bit to fill in the room with people talking about how Josh did it. If HC/Seratones isn’t your jam, then get over to the ghoulish HWY Lions show at Tiki instead.
Somewhere in here, J.O.S.H. Lounge is having a CASH PRIZE costume contest for best celebrity impersonator for their Hollywood Halloween Party. J.O.S.H. is always a great place to go, so if you prefer something more upscale and glitzy, this will be your choice stop.
11:00 p.m. – Live like you’re gonna die young at the Halloween Party at Phoenix Underground. Yes, you’ll get overcharged for drinks, but if you’re already out and drinking downtown, there’s no place better to go-then-regret-tomorrow than Phoenix. And if you have the best costume, you’ll win $1500 CASH PRIZE. That’s the real reason to go, but there’s no word on when it will start. If there are a lot of people there, then you’ll have a blast dancing. Just dance guys. I know a lot of you are opposed to dancing like some sick Shreveport version of Footloose, but get out there and do it anyway. (Cover probably)
1:00 a.m. – Ok, so I love drag shows, but I love cash more. Central Station is giving away $500 CASH PRIZE (plus bar tabs and other prizes for runners up) to the best costume at their Central Station Circus Halloween Party. The The Ladies of Central Station will have a special production for everyone’s enjoyement starting at midnight followed by the Drag Show; ending between 1am and 1:15am. ($10 cover)
3:00 a.m. – Ok, you’ve surfed on the ecstasy of one or a few smooth voices, you’ve danced hard, and you don’t really want a hot dog or a burrito, though they are amazing and awesome. What you want now is more music and to find a place you can sit and eat your food. Don’t stop the train folks – remember we just hit Daylight Saving Time and gained an extra hour before the bars have to close. Power through and you’ll thank yourself. Head to the Castle Jackson Halloween 2015 at Hangar 21. FREE 10 bands: Camille Schmoutz, Ryker Hall, The Devil Anse, CloudBreather, The Hollow Decks, Suicide Party, IDLE of the Peach, Night of the Lepus, Jimi Nesta, DJ Linsane, and Action are playing all night. They’ve been going since 7 p.m., but you’re here just in time to catch something awesome, we’re sure. Did you win a costume contest earlier? Maybe you didn’t? Well here’s another chance – don’t be shy. This contest has PRIZES for categories like Most Original, Scariest, etc. Plus, mac and cheese bites. Guys… choose ketchup instead of ranch and you’ll thank yourself.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
8:00 p.m. – Fine, you’re a glutton for punishment and your body’s not done yet. Go see Marilyn Manson at the Municipal.
Will you take the challenge? Will you be a Weekend Warrior? Take pics at these events at tag @HeliopolisSBC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.