Halloween is no longer a one-day event.
The event, which traces its roots to pagan harvest festivals hundreds of years ago, is now second only to Christmas in annual spending.
The party starts Wednesday (Oct. 26) at Gabriola’s Silva Bay Marina with Radio After Dark presenting two Halloween dramas – The Monkey’s Paw and Arsenic and Old Lace.
Two vintage radio dramas will be performed, complete with sound effects and bloopers. Nanaimo audiences will see the show Saturday (Oct. 29), 7:30 p.m., at Diners Rendezvous. Tickets $15.
Mad Hatters and other characters from Alice in Wonderland won’t be late for the important date Friday (Oct. 28), 3-5:30 p.m., for a fundraiser for Crimson Coast Dance Society at Mon Petit Choux.
While the hatters snack on sandwiches, cakes, tea and a snifter or two, guests can also bid on a silent auction, listen to music and win door prizes. Tickets $25; $15/children. Please call 250-716-3230.
Schmooze Productions, a theatre company, offers a screening of last year’s sold-out musical Rocky Horror Picture Show at Nanaimo Centre Stage Thursday and Friday (Oct. 27-28) at 7 p.m. Costumes are encouraged for the sing-a-long event. Tickets $12. Please visit www.schmoozeproductions.com.
Artists unleashed their creativity for the inaugural masquerade ball from the Nanaimo Art Gallery Saturday (Oct. 29), 7:30 p.m., at Diners Rendezvous.
Gourmet food, dancing to the music of Wunderbread and The Paramounts and prizes for the most creative costumes.
Organizers hope Harbour City Masquerade becomes an annual tradition at Halloween.
Tickets $75. Please call 250-740-6350.
Naughty and Spice Burlesque is basing their third-annual Halloween-themed show on the early Grindhouse horror genre that emerged in defunct burlesque houses in the 1970s.
“The show is sort of like a loosely tied together B-movie with no plot, lots of blood and boobs,” said performer Roxee Lee.
Haunting of the Horror Vixens is set for Saturday (Oct. 29), 8 p.m., at Nanaimo Centre Stage. Tickets $20. Please visit www.naughtyandspiceburlesque.com.
Nanaimo’s bars and nightclubs host a variety of bands and costume contests Saturday night.
The Palace Hotel hosts Loot, a tribute band to metal group Tool. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets $10.
DJ Mew spins music at the Lighthouse Bistro’s Halloween party, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets $10.
The Queen’s will have Iris playing during the first of the bar’s Halloween parties. Music starts at 9:30 p.m.
On Monday (Oct. 31), after the little ones head home from trick or treating in downtown Nanaimo, Culture Craze invades the Cambie for its Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed party, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Pink Spit DJs the night, with contests, prizes and performances of gore-lesque (it’s burlesque, but fake bloodier) from Lalani Electrica, Lee and Infra Red.
Tickets $12/advance from Culture Craze and the bar; $15/door.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com