Death 2 T.O. VII: The End
Lee’s Palace and the Cave (529 Bloor West), October 27, doors 8 pm. $20-$22. ticketfly.com.
The city’s rock and punk scenes converge at this annual two-stage bands-covering-other-bands blowout. The costumes are as cool in the crowd as onstage, but this is where you can see members of Beliefs and ROLEMODEL play Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, or the Seams and the Highest Order covering the Byrds. After seven years, promoter Dan Burke is pulling the plug, which means you can expect even more oomph in these one-off sets.
Rave Till The Grave
Secret location, October 27, doors 10 pm. $10-$20. eventbrite.ca.
DJ Chippy Nonstop teams up with New York City-based promoters Discwoman for a Halloween rave. The headliner is DJ stud1nt, a member of queer artist collective KUNQ with a fondness for underground east-coast club sounds. DJs Sexton, Karim Olen Ash, Vaughan and Babygirl round out the bill.
Prozzäk’s Forever 99 Halloween Freakout
401 Mini Indy (37 Stoffel), October 28 at 9 pm. $40 & up. halloweenfreakout.com.
The reunited cartoon duo are taking their nostalgia trip to a new level with DJ heavyweights like Green Velvet, Culture Shock, Christopher Lawrence and more. This party has everything: go-karts, a haunted house, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, the ICQ uh-oh sound, your long-buried adolescent joy, a fire-breathing dragon stage, fruit punch. It’s Burning Man meets your 12th birthday party, which, when you get down to it, isn’t so different.
Hotnuts Halloqueen
The Garrison (1197 Dundas West), October 28, doors 10:30 pm. $10 at the door.
The drag-and-house-music dance party skipped Pride this year so naturally DJs Produzentin and Das Hussy and host Mary Messhausens made the Halloween party Pride-themed. So, dust off those Pride wings. Suggested costumes – from the Facebook event page – include Squirrel Fiend, The Corpse Pride and Sissy That Walk Spacek. Underground queer club stars Macy Rodman and Mister Wallace are performing.
Dudebox Is Fucking Dead VIII
241 Augusta, October 28 at 8 pm. $15-$25 at the door.
The roving party’s eighth Halloween throwdown is happening in the empty Zimmerman’s grocery store that was recently taken over by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s swanky pop-up Cobalt Social. The people lined up will likely look less formal than Ramsay fans, but more random given there’s no costume theme. Dudebox residents James Redi and Jon Chetty are spinning alongside DJs Nino Brown and YesYes Jill of Yes Yes Y’All.
Chronologic Halloween
Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), October 28, doors 9 pm, $10 at the door.
What’s spoooookier than the slow march of time? For 13 years Goin’ Steady DJs have been putting on their Monster Mash, taking costumed partiers through their 1890-to-present playlist. This year they’ve teamed with Gram Schmalz to turn Lee’s into “a frightening array of spooky mayhem.” But really what’s scarier than our own never-ending creep towards death in song form?
Subspace: Bloodlust Ball
Opera House (735 Queen East), October 28, doors 10 pm. $20-$30 at the door, $20 advance, VIP $100. ticketfly.com.
Jeans and t-shirts might elicit side-eye at other Halloween parties but not this one – because they are banned. The annual fetish ball has a mandatory kink/costume dress code (partial nudity is permitted) and this year’s theme is vampires – or if you want to get granular, it’s odaxelagnia, a mild form of sadism involving biting but not always blood. Circus metal band Mineta is performing and DJs Saucy Miso and Warmuffin are on the decks.
Catl’s Halloween Bash
Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington), October 29 at 9 pm. $10. ticketfly.com.
The local blistering blues duo get costumed up, get on their feet and get the floor moving. This year will be a set heavy on new material from an album due in 2018 and they’re giving away two prize packs for best costume. You’ve got to do better than your usual urban cowboy costume, though.
Stranded Fest Presents: Punk Goes Diva
Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor West), doors October 30 at 8:30 pm. $10. eventbrite.ca.
Have you ever wanted to see a punk band cover Carly Rae Jepsen? Come on, over course you have. You really, really, really have. Catch bands like A Dog Named Bob, First Ghost and the Skadoos take on pop singers like Taylor Swift, Madonna and Pink.
Halloween On Church Street
Between Wood and Gloucester. October 31 from 6:30 pm. Free. churchwellesleyvillage.ca.
If going to a club is not your thing, the Gay Village is shutting down a six-block stretch for a massive street party. Shops, cafes and bars will be open and radio station CIUT 89.5 fm will be hosting guest DJs north of Wellesley.
TKBA Cosplay Ball
Tranzac (292 Brunswick), October 31, doors 10 pm. $5 before 10:30 pm, more after.
After the Church Street block party, voguers spanning several Toronto houses are gathering for a cosplay-themed ball and party with DJ Blackcat and commentators Twysted Siriano and Sevyn Pink Lady. A $500 grand prize is up for grabs and character costumes with custom cosplay effects are expected – and will be judged. Details on categories, rules and judges via the party’s Facebook page.
#FNLROM: Wicked
Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen’s Park), October 27 at 7 pm. $15.50-$17. rom.on.ca.
Party in the bat cave with Scarlett LaFlamme Burlesque, DJ ESP, DJ Craig Dominic and others. Eat fancy canapés, browse some dinosaur bones and get ready for a costumed good time. But civilized good. Like, no props or masks so as not to damage the collection. That kind of good time.
A Night To Dismember: Spooky Prom
Bangarang (552 College), October 28 at 9 pm. $15. nighttodismemberbangarang.eventbrite.ca.
Brand-new games bar Bangarang (from the Track & Field team) is set to douse their dance floor in a whole lot of fake blood at a spooky prom to rival Carrie’s. Expect nostalgic tunes (courtesy of DJ George Thoms), Jell-o shots and other trashtastic drink specials, a prom court coronation, creepy decor galore and free games of Cornhole (not necessarily on-theme, but still a good time after a few drinks).
OTHER EVENTS
Fall Movie Wardrobe Sale
Not sure what to wear on Halloween? Want to dress like an extra from that Jackie Kennedy miniseries starring Katie Holmes that was shot in Toronto? Maybe you can if you stop by the costume design union’s sale. October 21. See listing.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq The World Halloween edition
After selling out the Danforth Music Hall in May, the drag queen reality series’s touring show returns to work the runway for Halloween. October 25. See listing.
Live movie soundtracks
Halloween is a popular time for soundtrack composers to hit the road. Goblin, S U R V I V E and John Carpenter are all playing in the weeks before and after Halloween. Why? We have a theory. Various dates and venues.
Horror-Rama
If you’re a horror fan that likes poring over B-movie supporting cast credits, this convention is for you. Guests include Mink Stole (Pink Flamingos) and Ashley C. Williams (The Human Centipede). 918 Bathurst. November 4 & 5. See listing.
Toronto Pagan Pride Day 2017
Halloween is about candy and costumes, but Pagan Pride is all about Egyptian guided meditation, Reiki and magic. Artscape Wychwood Barns. October 29. See listing.
Monster Dash
Is one of your fitness goals to run five kilometres while dressed as Big Bird? Then come out to this family-friendly fitness event and fundraiser. Ontario Science Centre. October 29. See listing.
Bunzoween!
Currency is the scariest thing at this Bunz event, centred around trading things for other things. Three rooms, featuring a flea market (yes, some stuff is for free), and live music from Turbo Street Funk & Dre Ngozi. And, hey, free tarot readings. Gladstone Hotel. October 31. See listing.
Compiled by Richard Trapunski, Kevin Ritchie and Natalia Manzocco
