Halloween is many things to many people, but its heart is wrapped up in seasonal changes, mystical forces and, of course, full-sized candy bars (if you’re lucky). But some years, we want to celebrate differently. Here are four off-kilter, on-brand ways to do that — courtesy of Denver Post staffers.
Bargain fun
Halloween combines my favorite holiday with my favorite hobby: thrifting. I start hunting for vintage Halloween decorations at thrift stores and flea markets in late August and extend the spooky search throughout the fall. The thrill of finding an old blow-mold pumpkin or a tin serving tray is a true dopamine hit for me. I spend hours sorting through the costume racks, looking for funky clothes to build a costume around or even wear year-round. The hunt is almost as fun as the eventual party I host on the last weekend of the month. — Noelle Phillips
Broadway Halloween Parade
I am a proud participant in the Broadway Halloween Parade, representing Bella Diva World Dance of Glendale. Dozens of dancers perform one or two numbers along the nearly mile-long parade route, with the Sanderson sisters of “Hocus Pocus” leading the way. We dance to songs like “I Put a Spell on You,” and “Jump in Line (Shake, Shake Señora)” with Beetlejuice and Lydia in our crew.
Selecting a costume takes much consideration. For my first parade, I sported a fluffy white jacket and a black jumpsuit from Prince’s “Sign ‘O’ the Times” era; last year, I donned a “Purple Rain”-type outfit with a purple coat and lace pants. This year’s parade is Saturday, Oct. 25, starting at 6 p.m. Come on out and join the fun. More info at thebroadwayhalloweenparade.com. — Tamara Dunn
Beer Tasting Party
If you hate pumpkin beers, then you can move on to the next suggestion. But if you love them like I do, then read on. For many years, I hosted pumpkin beer tasting parties in the days leading up to Halloween. These beers are a seasonal specialty, only available in the fall. Yes, there were costumes, black-cat-shaped Jell-O shots and bowls full of candy. But the centerpiece was the beer. I’d typically buy six-packs, Crowlers or bomber bottles from two dozen or more breweries, mostly local, and tons of tiny cups. Guests could bring even more. There were varieties from 4 Noses Brewing, Odyssey Beerwerks, Upslope, New Belgium, Strange Craft, Avery Brewing (remember Rumpkin?), Eddyline, Dry Dock Brewing, Great Divide, Denver Beer Co., Epic Brewing, Dogfish Head, Southern Tier, Elysian, Jolly Pumpkin, Rogue and many more. By the end of the night, someone usually came up to me to let me know that they’d finally found a pumpkin beer they liked. That’s October magic. — Jonathan Shikes
Halloween movie marathon
Every spooky season, I watch at least 10 horror or Halloween-themed movies. There are five that are a must-watch and make the season feel empty if I don’t view them. Here are my top five Halloween-type movies:
“Night of the Living Dead” (1968): It’s my all-time favorite zombie movie. The George A. Romero film stars Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea as young people seeking shelter in a Pennsylvania house as the undead rise. Despite being a low-budget film, “Night of the Living Dead” has an ingenious plot and more suspense than most modern horror flicks.
“Donnie Darko” (2001): This is a Halloween movie as it takes place in October, but my spooky season would not be complete without it. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore, the sci-fi drama follows a teen who, after an airplane engine falls through his bedroom, is linked to a being in a large bunny costume that no one else can see. It’s a head scratcher, but it has gained cult status since its initial release.
“Homicidal” (1961): A movie so scary, it requires a “Fright Break.” Are you brave enough to watch? This William Castle film was released a year after Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and shares similar themes with the horror classic: sibling rivalry, stabbings and murder. While Castle has crafted other spooky flicks like “House on Haunted Hill” and “13 Ghosts,” “Homicidal” may be less known but is better in character development and craziness.
“Young Frankenstein” (1974): The Mel Brooks comedy was one of my late mother’s favorite films, and I would watch it on her birthday in October. Starring Gene Wilder, Teri Garr and Madeline Kahn, “Young Frankenstein” is a laugh-out-loud riot that makes for good watching at a Halloween party. Peter Boyle dazzles as the singing, destructive and outgoing Monster. And remember, it’s pronounced “Fronkensteen.”
“The Strangers” film series (2008-2026): Back in 2016, Vox published an article about how popular your first name is in movies. This was based on the number of characters that share it. For Tamara, it appeared 13 times, mostly in horror movies. The slasher/home invasion flick “The Strangers” has it as part of its trailers and has become its tagline over the years. It also creeps me out whenever it comes up, and I yell at the screen, “I’m right here!”
Honorable mention: “The Others” (2001), “Pearl” (2022), “Carnival of Souls” (1962), “Suspiria” (1977), “Practical Magic” (1998), “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) — Tamara Dunn