The South End is always a lively place, and even more so this Halloween when local businesses and resident associations all across the neighborhood will entertain us with a wealth of haunted hijinks and spooky spectacles for all ages and tastes. Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, the day is packed with activities throughout the day and evening, but the fun begins on October 28 with the Beehive's Halloween show described below.
Starting with the family-friendly fun, the Little Lovage Club at 778 Tremont Street is hosting Monster Jams on Friday, October 30 from 3:30-5:00 PM with music by Jeff Jams and a candy buffet. Costumes are encouraged and it is open to all ages. Tickets are $12 per child. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 857/201-0282 or visit http://littlelovageclub.com/schedule/monster-mash-with-jeff-jam/.
The Ellis South End Neighborhood Association and the Tadpole toy store at 58 Clarendon Street present the Tadpole Halloween Party for kids on Friday, October 30 from 4:30-6:30 PM at the corner of Clarendon and Chandler Street. The festivities will include live music, munchies, face painting, a bouncy house and prizes. The party, co-sponsored by Flour Bakery, Blackbird Donuts and Appleton Bakery and Café, is free and open to the public.
Washington Gateway Main Street reprises its popular Halloween Festival in Blackstone Square on Saturday, October 31 from 12:00 noon until 4:00 PM. The festivities include Halloween story-telling courtesy of the South End Library, face painting; pumpkin decorating; a Haunted Cemetery tour at the South End Burying Ground with eerie stories taken from South End history; complimentary candy at the information table and a doggie costume contest and refreshments available for purchase from a variety of food trucks and a beer garden adjacent to Stella. All activities are free, but food and drinks must be purchased.
Also on Halloween day from 12:00 noon-4:00 PM, the Boston Center for the Arts will offer Halloween good cheer at its Community Halloween Table in front of the Cyclorama at 539 Tremont Street. Staff in costume will distribute treats and other giveaway items to people of all ages.
The Friends of Ringgold Park will provide pre-trick or treat fun and fortification for scary monsters, superheroes and princesses-for-a-day at its annual Halloween Party on Saturday, October 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Ringgold Park between Hanson and Waltham Streets off of Shawmut Avenue. There will be pizza from Picco and Upper Crust, b. good burgers, veggies and cider from Foodie's and hot chocolate from Starbucks to fuel kids for the trick or treat trek. Admission and refreshments are free, but donations to the Friends of Ringgold Park are welcome. Anyone interested in volunteering on this event may contact ringgoldpark@gmail.com. Set up begins at 2:00 PM on October 31.
United South End Settlements (USES) offers Halloween night frights at its Haunted House, located in the Children's Art Center "graveyard", 48 Rutland Street, on Saturday, October 31 from 5:00-9:00 PM. Brave souls who venture there will encounter Haunted House chills and thrills and a refreshment menu including macaroni and cheese, spicy blood punch and hot chocolate. All ages are welcome, but parents should use their discretion. Admission is $2 per child and $3 per adult, and food is for sale. Proceeds from the Haunted House will benefit Camp Hale at USES. Please contact Jerrell Cox, Director of Camp Hale at jcox@uses.org or 617-375-8171.or visit http://www.uses.org/events/event/haunted-house-in-the-cac-graveyard/ for additional information.
Adults love Halloween, too! Strictly for the grownups, The Beehive at 541 Tremont Street celebrates "Halloween at the Boohive" on October 28 with Dead Sexy Burlesque, a revue by New York-based burlesque stars including Jonny Pork Pie and Nina La Voix. The celebration runs from 5:00 PM-12:00 midnight, with the performance starting at 8:00. Dinner reservation required. Please call the Beehive at 617/423-0069 or visit www.beehiveboston.com for further information.
The Gallows at 1395 Washington Street is planning a bash for grown-up ghouls on Halloween night. The popular watering hole's sixth annual Galloween party from 10:00 PM until 1:00 AM includes complimentary snacks and a playlist of high-energy tunes. This year's theme is "Witch better have my money", a playful take on Rihanna's hit song and video of a similar name. Manager Patrick Brenner said, "We are trying to have fun with it, trying to get a little pop culture in there." Brenner reports that the staff will be in full costume and guests are encouraged to follow suit. "We are decorating to the nines with thousands of rubber bats on the ceiling and decorations playing on the Rihanna video and the witch theme," Brenner continued. For the evening's refreshments, "Our chef is working on a few ideas right now," Brenner said. Galloween is a 21-plus event with no cover. For further details, contact The Gallows at 617/425-0200.
While enjoying all of the holiday haunts, please stay safe with common sense and caution. Happy Halloween!
NOTE: The author is the guide of the Haunted Cemetery Tour at the Halloween Festival in Blackstone Square.