Haunt the PHX in Style

Alwun House 1204 East Roosevelt, Phoenix The Monster's Ball costume party and brings down the house, with the "outraged political satire" of Artists' Theatre Project, SPELLS dancers exorcising evil spirits, scathing performance art of Jeff Falk, videos by Steve Gomph and Bob Judd, a dramatic reading of Edgar Allan Poe by Robert X. Planet and Roxanne DeWinter, and DJ Black Sugar spins an Underground Polyrhythm Mix for groovy ghoulies eager to dance the night away. 7 p.m. $10. And while you're in the mood for macabre, check out the ongoing Monster's Menagerie art exhibition, featuring works that merge politics and evil by artists including Robert Anderson, Deon Allen, Johnny Braden, Baron Dixon, Bill Graham, Laurel Johnson, Ron Laird, Annie Lopez, Larry Lopresti, Tony Richey, Charles Sanderson, Randy Slack, and Steven Yazzie. Runs through Friday, November 5 (just after Election Day). Free. Call Call 602-253-7887.

Cone Gallery 1324 Grand Avenue Halloween Costume Party featuring the art of Dame Darcy, creator of the comic book Meat Cake, in the Cone Main Gallery, with performances by Darcy's dark wave band Death by Dolls and a CD release party for The Master Musicians of Hop-Frog. 8 p.m. $8. Call 602-258-3455.

Desert Botanical Garden 1201 North Galvin Parkway This Dia De Los Muertos Celebration proves that Halloween isn't the only ghoulish game in town. Learn more about the traditions of the holiday honoring the spirits of the dead with sugar-skull cooking and flower-making demonstrations. Mariachis and folklorico dancers will perform and Chicano artists will hawk their handmade wares. Saturday, October 30, and Sunday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $9 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students, and $4 for kids 12 and under. Call 480-941-1225.

Dodge Theatre 400 West Washington KUPD's Halloween Double Feature continues with a performance by Megadeth (featuring the Valley's own Dave Mustaine). 8 p.m. $27-$32. Call 602-379-2800 or 480-784-4444.

Fort McDowell Casino Highway 87 & Fort McDowell, Fountain Hills Haunted Halloween Costume Party featuring a costume contest with $5,000 in cash and prizes; food and drink specials with $1 shrimp cocktails, $1 Bud Light drafts, and $2 margaritas all night long; and live music by L.A. dance band The Bootie Shakers. Registration at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 8 p.m. Free. Call 480-837-1424.

Ghosts of Phoenix Tours 202 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix This one-hour walking tour gives Valley residents a chance to scare up some thrills and chills as they visit some of downtown Phoenix's more famous haunts, some of which aren't open to the general public. This trip to the spiritual plane begins at the Hotel San Carlos, site of the untimely demise of actress Leone Jensen in 1928, followed by a jaunt to the Westward Ho building, with many stops (and ghost stories) in between. Every Friday and Saturday through May 2005. Special Halloween tour times are at 7 p.m., 8:15 p.m., and 9:20 p.m. $10 for adults, and kids 12 and under are $5. Reservations are recommended. Call 602-574-9304.

Holga's 821 North Third Street Holgaween costume party featuring a spooky art show -- complete with black lights, cobwebs, and maybe a zombie or two -- in the gallery, and live music in the parking lot with The Vinegar Sting, Oblio, The Bodhi Tree, and Treasure Mammal. 9 p.m. Free. Call 480-540-2917.

La Posada Resort 4949 East Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley The Calculated Couples Halloween Bash will be a "no pressure" dating event for singles to mix and mingle in costume (encouraged, but not mandatory). Attendees start the night out by filling out questionnaires and are matched up with other partygoers. Browse a wall covered with "personal ads" of your fellow attendees to discover their interests for potential conversation material, before hitting the dancing floor for live music. 8 p.m. $10 (or $9 with a canned pet food donation). Call 602-765-0200.

Modified Arts 407 East Roosevelt Street Theatre in My Basement presents Teatro Caliente, a "festival of alternative performing arts" with everything from butoh dancing to performance art to live music. Entertainers such as Patricia Clarke, Ricky Araiza, Amira de la Garza, Mizu Desierto, Djalma Primordial Science, and Kristyn Benedyk will conduct a variety show of sorts, covering myriad subjects, including Dia De Los Muertos, Halloween and ancestry. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 31. $10. Call 602-462-5516.

Mountain Temple Center 1533 East Lupine Avenue Samhain ritual gathering followed by a Halloween costume party. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 602-678-0644.

The Paper Heart 750 Grand Avenue Third annual Noche De Los Muertos and Halloween Bash includes spoken word and poetry performances, comedy from the Galapagos Improv troupe, a costume contest for prizes, screenings of videos and old-school PSA's on Halloween costume safety, and music by Fatigo and Autopsy Report. Costumes are required. 7 p.m. $5. Call 602-262-2020.

Phoenix Zoo 455 North Galvin Parkway Boo At The Zoo enters its 15th year with plenty of events for the young'ns, like a pony parade, straw bale maze, arts and crafts activities, "Boovies" (Halloween-oriented short films), and two mascot masquerade parades (featuring local icons like the Fiesta Bowl Spirit and the Phoenix Fire Department Fire Pal). Even the animals get in on the action and both kids and adults can feed them pumpkins and other Halloween treats. Costumes are encouraged. Also runs Sunday, October 31. 9 a.m. Free with regular zoo admission. Call 602-273-1341.

Bars and Clubs Saturday, October 30:

Axis/Radius 7340 East Indian Plaza, Scottsdale The decadence of the Ghost Ball Block Party, presented in conjunction with Suede, descends on downtown Scottsdale with live entertainment by '80s cover group Fast Times, metal cover band Metal Ikon, and four DJs. Costume contest where Best Overall Costume will win $2,000, and both Best Group and the Sexiest Costume will nab $500 each. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-970-1112 for prices.

All Starz Sports Bar & Grill 4929 West Chandler Boulevard, Suite 12, Chandler Halloween party and costume contest with prizes ($100 for first place, and gift certificates for runners-up) with music by DJ Robert starting at 9 p.m. Drink specials include $2 well drinks, $2 tootsie rolls, $2 voodoo cocktails, and $3 Oktoberfest beer. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-785-7827.

Anderson's Fifth Estate 6820 East Fifth Avenue, Scottsdale Retro Halloween, costume contest with cash prizes and 2-for-1 drinks until 10 p.m. Live remote by MIX 96.9 DJs Greg and Little John. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-994-4168.