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• Halloween Party, Mon., Oct 31, 8 p.m. Woodlands Inn & Resort (1073 Route 315, Plains Twp.), $10 cover.
• 97.9X Lingerie Ball, Sat., Oct. 26, 9 p.m., Scranton Hardware Bar (519 Linden St., Scranton).
• Gravestone Manor, open through Sun., Oct. 30 at 1095 Route 315, Plains Twp., Fri.-Sat., 7-11 p.m., Sun., 7-9:30 p.m. $10 admission.
• S.P.R.I. Ghost Tours, Mon.-Tues., Oct. 24-25, 6 p.m. at Scranton Cultural Center (420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.).
• “Mystery at the Masonic,” Sun., Oct. 30, 7 p.m., SCC, $40.
There’s a chill in the air, the moon is high in the sky as you prepare to embark on a horrifying journey. The ghouls are around every corner, bloodcurdling screams surround you, and no matter where you turn, you can’t escape. No, you haven’t walked onto the set of the latest Rob Zombie flick: You’ve simply stumbled upon Halloween in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve as it was once known, has become much more than the one night of the year the spirits of the dead can return. Many overlook this magical, mayhem-filled holiday because they think it’s “kids only.” You may be too old for trick-or-treating, but no one is too old for a few tricks and some even sweeter treats, especially as NEPA is filled with events and activities to jump start your Halloween.
Costumes, candy and cocktails
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a major costume bash. Bars and nightclubs across the area are throwing huge parties and want to see you there in your festive attire. Whether you’re in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre, you can certainly find one that will get you in the spirit while drinking some spirits.
For more than 40 years, the Woodlands Inn & Resort in Plains Twp. has thrown a Halloween party with more than 1,000 of its closest friends. Sponsored by Coors Light and 98.5 KRZ, this year’s party will feature costume contests with cash prizes, a Halloween parade and yes, getting low on Evolution’s dance floor.
“It’s a tradition,” said Food and Beverage Director Mitch Kornfeld. “Ours always happens on Halloween night where some bars will vary to make sure their party is on the weekend.”
Lindsay Lohan said it perfectly in “Mean Girls:” “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut, and no other girls can say anything about it.” The 97.9X Lingerie Ball at the Scranton Hardware Bar on Saturday, Oct. 29 ran with this concept by telling women to dress down, not up.
“It’s the twist we put on it,” said Program Director Jim McKay. “Halloween is a big freaking deal in this area … now it’s an excuse for girls to wear something scantily clad.”
Get your scream on
There’s nothing like getting a good scare for Halloween, which is why a trip to your local haunted house or hayride is a must. If you’re looking for something a little more interactive, something that really pulls you into the story, look no further than Gravestone Manor in Plains Twp., which is called a “theatrical haunted house” by its volunteers.
“Most are a self-guided tour or maze,” said Cory Brin, the assistant project coordinator for this United Way of Wyoming Valley fundraising attraction. “This is a guided tour, and each room has something different, its own theme. We can scare you without the chainsaws.”
The thing about haunted attractions is that even though ghastly creatures are jumping out of every corner, deep down you know they aren’t real. But what if there was a place where ghosts might exist? Enter the Scranton Cultural Center. Tales of the SCC’s hauntings have circulated for years, and the paranormal experts are coming for proof. The Society of Paranormal Research and Investigation (S.P.R.I) are providing tours on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 24-25, allowing participants to use ghost-hunting equipment and learn investigative techniques.
“S.P.R.I. has unbelievable equipment, one piece more impressive than the next,” said Stefanie Bush, patron and educational outreach manager at the SCC. “What’s great about the group is that they are experts on architecture, building structure … so they use a scientific approach and know when a piece of evidence is tainted.”
Why watch “Ghost Hunters” when you can live it? Paranormal groups have become frequent visitors of the SCC, but has authentic spiritual activity been discovered?
“There are some amazing finds and one … is quite scary,” Bush said. “That’s all I can say for now …”
The center will also be home to “Mystery at the Masonic,” an old-fashioned murder mystery on Sunday, Oct. 30, which will be a night of anarchy as guests travel room to room questioning the suspects to figure out who’s the murderer.
“What makes this event so unique is it’s extremely interactive,” explained Marketing Coordinator Amy Dickerson. “The guests are part of the evening in a ‘Clue’-like guessing game. The night begins with appetizers and drinks, and when guests least expect it, a murder happens!”
Play dress up
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a kick-ass costume. It’s the one night of the year where living in a fantasy is not only accepted, but embraced. With 40 percent of adults dressing in costumes, it is essential to go all out with an outlandish and memorable costume that’s the talk of the party. Halloween is a specialty of national retail chain Party City, which unveiled the top trends this year.
A popular theme — not just for costumes but also decor — is zombies. The zombie craze has spread since AMC’s “The Walking Dead” became a hit, and therefore has brought about a multitude of zombie couture. Rock the gore as a “putrid prom queen” or a “comatose doctor.”
For women, short, tight and revealing certainly come into play. Designing your own costume by mixing tight corsets with short petticoats and masks is huge this season, transforming women into zebras, peacocks, kittens and more.
For men, it’s all about superheroes. Expect to see characters from this year’s comic-book blockbusters like “Captain America” and “The Green Lantern” at your Halloween soiree.
Even though Halloween falls on a Monday, don’t let it stop you from dressing up, cutting loose and having a blast. So, NEPA, what’s it going to be: A trick or a treat?
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