Haunt the PHX in Style

Apollo's 5749 North Seventh Street The "Best Least Dressed" costume contest for prizes is the highlight of the night, plus "Gay Scaryoke," drink specials and prize giveaways all night long. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call 602-277-9373.

Aunt Chilada's Pointe Hilton at Squaw Peak 7330 North Dreamy Draw Chill out at Aunt Chilada's costume party with entertainment by Wild Angels from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., prizes and drink specials. 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free. Call 602-331-1700.

Baja Tilly's Cantina 1123 West Broadway Road, Tempe Whoop it up with costume contest for cash prizes, and a live remote by Mega 104.3. DJ Jerry spins his tunes, and Straight Up starts playing at 9 p.m., as well as $3 Bloody Marys and macabre $3 Bloody Brain Shots. $8 cover after 7 p.m, ladies get in free until 9 p.m. Call 480-968-4437.

The Big Bang 501 South Mill Avenue, Tempe Rock 'N Roll sing along with the dueling pianos, Halloween costume contest, and drink specials all night. Friday, October 29, and Saturday, October 30, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday, October 31, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. $6 ($3 with costume). Call 480-557-5595

Bobby McGee's 8501 North 27th Avenue Spooktacular Halloween Monster Mash Bash, costume contest at midnight with $50 cash prize. Cheap drinks (like Bloddy Redrum Jello shots) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Show up early to avoid "scary" line -- dress in costume to get in the fastest. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 602-995-5982.

Cash Inn Country 2140 East McDowell Sisterzz Twisted don their drag king costumes for a special show. Drink specials all night long. 8 p.m. Call 602-244-9943.

Encounters 3037 West Clarendon Avenue Halloween party with the opening round of the cash prize costume contest and a DJ spinning the latest tunes. 8 p.m. Club memberships are $35 for single men, $30 for couples, and free for single ladies. Call 602-230-9680.

Flicka's Baja Cantina 2003 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Halloween party, costume contest with cash prizes, and live music with the Disco Pimps. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-945-3618.

HGM's Sports Grill 7103 E. McDowell Road, in Papago Plaza, Scottsdale Costume contest and prizes for first, second, and third place winners (with the top prize worth $400), karaoke, dancing, and live entertainment by Big Brothers Entertainment. Starts at 9 p.m. No cover. Call 480-945-3890.

Hollywood Alley 2610 West Baseline Road, Mesa "Dress Up You Freaks" live show with Dixie Witch, Blanche Davidian, Amplified Heat, and The Sons of Serro. 21-and-over show. 8:30 p.m. $6. Call 480-820-7117.

Johnny Gee's 7200 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler Superhero Theme Party, with DJ music and drink specials. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. 480-961-3080.

Lagerfields 12601 North Paradise Village Parkway West Kick off the All Hallow's Eve Costumed Up Party Weekend by dressing up and singing karaoke, with great giveaways and prizes. 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. 602-765-0059.

M3 Bar & Lounge 2623 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Black Vodka promotions, giveaways, live DJ music, and $2 U-Call-Its if you're in costume. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-423-7087.

Mason Jar 2303 East Indian School Road Halloween show with Motive, Terror In The Aisles, And The Hero Fails, Rising Pain and more. All ages, bar with ID. Costumes encouraged. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $8. Call 602-954-0455.

Mill Avenue Cue Club 607 South Mill, Tempe Dress up costume party, drink and shot specials all night featuring Sam Adams and Red Bull. 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-966-0068.

Pookie's Cafe & Bar 4540 North Seventh Street Alternative Halloween Madness continues as Victoria London crowns the best in amateur drag competition, with cash and bar prizes. 9:30 p.m. Free. Call 602-277-2121.

The Sets 93 East Southern, Tempe www.thesets.com Trash City Presents Halloween Havoc, with live music from The Strand, Radiance, Smee, and The Cover Up. Halo network gaming, tarot card readers, dream interpreters, piercing, belly dancers, prizes for best costume, and more. 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. $10. Call 602-953-2728.

Slap Shots 7941 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale Halloween weekend party, Scariest Costume Contest for cash and prizes, live music with Ten Years Gone, Miller Lite promotion from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., and shot specials. Party runs until 2 a.m. Call 623-939-6261.

Tinseltown Tavern 2017 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Midnight costume contest for $100 cash prize and scary karaoke from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Drink specials include $5 martini madness and $7.50 bucket of beer from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-945-MARX (6279).

Wet Willy's Baja Cantina 16041 N. Arrowhead Fountain Center Drive, Peoria Halloween costume contest at 10 p.m. for $1,000 in cash and prizes. Drink specials include $3 Mummy Margaritas, $3 bottled beer from tub, and other drink and shot specials throughout the evening. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 623-486-9500.

Events and Happenings Saturday, October 30:

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.

Apollo's 5749 North Seventh Street The Halloween fun continues with a costume contest for cash prizes, plus "Gay Scaryoke" and drink specials all night long. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call 602-277-9373.

Arizona Joe's 417 South Winchester Road, Apache Junction Halloween party, costume contest with cash prizes for first, second, and third place winners (judging at midnight). Live music from Western Electric Band featuring Brant Hopkins, and drink specials like $2 Cuervo shots and $2 Kamikazes. No cover. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-983-6115.

At Painted Mountain 6210 East McKellips, Mesa Halloween party, costume contest with cash prizes, karaoke and drink specials until close. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Call 480-832-0158.

Baja Red's Cantina 5122 East McDowell Halloween Costume Party with movie stars as its theme, goblin stew, witchy-poo brew, karaoke, and prizes. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 602-286-9251.

Baja Tilly's Cantina 1123 West Broadway Road, Tempe Halloween party with live music by Straight Up and DJ Luv1, as well as $3 Jack Daniels and $3 Cuervo Gold shots. Call for hours and cover. Call 480-968-4437.

The Bar 1212 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe Blues Women & Friends Festival benefit for Every Nation's Child/UNICEF with live music by Uvon, Carey Slade, Mary Godfrey, Gypsy & One Class Act, Blue Zone, Kari M. with the Garage Band All-Stars and more. Costume contest (with cash for first place, and a bar credit for second place), karaoke, raffles and giveaways of items from the UNICEF shop and gift certificates from local restaurants, $3 Black Vodkas, and $5 large pitchers. Live music runs from 2:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. and karaoke goes from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-446-7468.

Barcelona (Scottsdale) 15440 Greenway-Hayden Loop, Scottsdale Veuve Clicquot Champagne Party with a costume competition at 9 p.m. with $3,000 in cash and prizes, Live music and dancing until 2 a.m., half-price champagne all day, and everyone in costume gets a free glass of Veuve Clicquot. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover for women, but men pay $10 after 9 p.m. Call 480-603-0370.

Bar Nun 4142 East Chandler Boulevard Revelers and merrymakers that come dressed in costume get a discount, but everyone can take advantage of specials on crazy Halloween drinks like the Haunted Martini (made from Black Vodka and dry ice). Even the wait staff will be dressing up. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover. Call 480-706-5564.

Bikini Lounge 1502 Grand Avenue Celebrate at this downtown Phoenix landmark with costume and apple-bobbing contests for prizes, Westinis, and drink specials all night long. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 602-252-0472.

Blooze 12014 North 32nd Street Costume competition (with first prize, second and third prizes) and live music by Angry Jon. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 602-788-4574.

The Boathouse 5394 South Lakeshore Drive, Tempe Costume party and contest with prizes and drink specials. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-820-0660.

Bobby McGee's 8501 North 27th Avenue Spooktacular Halloween Monster Mash Bash, costume contest at midnight with $100 cash prize. Cheap drinks (like Bloddy Redrum Jello shots) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Show up early to avoid "scary" line -- dress in costume to get in the fastest. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 602-995-5982.

BS West 7125 Fifth Avenue, Scottsdale Fabulous Halloween party with drag show contest where the winner gets to represent the bar for a year. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $20. Call 480-945-9028.

Cabana's 6810 East Fifth Avenue, Scottsdale South of the Border Halloween with penny drinks all night, bobbing for beers, and costume contest for a trip anywhere in the 50 states. Music by DJ Stylez. $20 for men and $10 for the ladies. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-421-9055.

Cactus Club 650 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction Costume contest with prizes, free food, and drink specials ($1.75 bottled domestic beers and well drinks, and 75-cent domestic tap beers). 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-982-1148.

Cactus Jack's Bar & Grill 4747 East Elliot Road, Ahwatukee Try your luck in the single-elimination "broomstick" pool tournament, pumpkin bobbing, or costume contest (all for prizes) or sample $2 Coronas and $1 Jello shots. Call 480-893-6630 for cover and hours.

Casey Moore's Oyster House 850 South Ash, Tempe Haunted House Party with The Edge 103.9. Ghost hunt, drink specials, costume contest with prizes. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Free. Call 480-968-9935.

Cave Creek Coffee Company & Wine Bar 6033 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek Special Halloween music show with folk artist Eliza Gilkyson. 8 p.m. $18. Call 480-488-0603.

Champions 330 South Gilbert Road, Mesa Dart tournament at 2 p.m., karaoke, and a costume contest at 9 p.m. for prizes. Closes at 2 a.m. Call 480-649-1650.

Char's Has the Blues 4631 North Seventh Avenue Halloween party with the ladies of Sistah Blue. 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Call for cover. Call 602-230-0205.

Club Central 3110 North Central Cruise down Phoenix's main drag for a costume contest for cash prizes, live music downstairs, and a DJ spinning upstairs. Drink specials all night long. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 602-200-8121.

The Clubhouse 1320 East Broadway Road, Tempe Halloween Freakness Ball with live music from Arvin's Gardens, Fred Green, Bullet Up, Bailey's Window, Forgotten Lifestyles, Jason Society, Miso, Bullet Train To Moscow, Dimonet, Ember Coast, and more. Live body suspensions and cheek piercings by Body Art Tattoo. Huge costume contest for prizes with categories including best overall, most creative, freakiest, and sexiest. Toni & Guy Hair Salon will present a freaky hair runway show, and there will be prize giveaways from the Horse & Hound and The Clubhouse, plus J ger and Bud specials all day. First 100 people in the door get entered into door prize raffle. All ages, bar with ID. 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. $8 21-and-over, $10 under 21. Call 480-968-3238.

Club Rio 430 North Scottsdale Road, Tempe Halloween Monster Bash with giant costume contest for $1,000 in cash prizes, and KISS 104.7 in the house. 21-and-over only. Call 480-894-0533.

Cocomo Joe's 28244 North Tatum, Cave Creek Costume contest for prizes and live music by One Way Ticket. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. No cover. Call 480-538-8008.

Coyote Hill Bar & Grill 12417 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale Howl at the moon with a costume contest with cash prizes ($100 for first place, $50 for second place, $25 for third) and $2 Coronas from midnight until 2 a.m. No cover. Call 623-536-7711.