Theme + costume parties
Ground Zero's Halloween Masquerade Ball: It's the signature event of Minneapolis' premier goth club, and for good reason. Expect attendees dressed in full BDSM gear, a stage show at midnight and the potential for light spankings. (10 p.m. Sat. 18-plus. Cover TBA. Ground Zero)
Tonight We Abide: The 3rd Annual Big Lebowski Party: The party combines the coolest bowling movie ever with a costume contest and, of course, bowling. With karaoke, DJ Christian Fritz spinning songs from the Coen brothers catalog, and screenings of the film throughout the night. (9 p.m. Sat. Free to attend, $2 to bowl with costume. All ages. Bryant-Lake Bowl.)
BOOs Crawl: At the third annual Halloween pub crawl in St. Paul's Lowertown, a pass gets you a drink at each location, including the Bulldog, Señor Wong, Black Dog Café, Rumours & Innuendo, Barrio, Trattoria da Vinci, Station 4 and Hat Trick Lounge. With $2,000 in cash prizes. (5 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. $15-$20, www.lowertowned.com.)
First Avenue Halloween Party and Costume Contest: First Avenue hosts one of the biggest Halloween parties in town. Hosted by Ian Rans, the party offers more than $1,000 in cash prizes for best costumes, plus DJs Sovietpanda, Jonathan Ackerman, DJ Smitty and Roy Freedom. (8 p.m. Sun. $5-$15. 18-plus.)
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- Zombie Dance of the Undead: Costume party, drink specials, DJs. (10 p.m. Fri. $6. 18-plus. Ground Zero)
- '70S Halloween Bash: Costume contest, cash prizes, DJs. (10 p.m. Fri. $10. Soundbar)
- Hollywood Halloween Party: Dress as a celeb or movie character; DJ Chris Castle, prizes. (9 p.m. Fri. Free. 18-plus. Barfly)
- The Devil Wears Nada: Sexy costume theme, DJs Dudley D and Strangelove, themed rooms, drink specials, cash prizes. (10 p.m. Sat. $8. Envy)
- Addams Family Halloween Party: Decor by Brant Kingman; cash prizes. (10 p.m. Sat. $10. The Lounge)
- For the Love of House Halloween Spectacular: DJs Inno & Stash, Tyler Hampton, Cities of Gold and Chrystal Mann, plus performances by Wildflower fire dancers. (9 p.m. Sat. $5. SoundBar)
- VState and Atmosfere Present Uptown Halloween Costume Ball: DJ Bryan Gerrard, cash prizes. (9 p.m. Sat. $15-$20. Suburban World Theatre)
- Hip-hop Halloween Bash: Hosted by Mr. Peter Parker; drink specials, costume contest. (8 p.m. Sat. Free. Casa Vieja)
- Vita.mn Presents 7th Annual Fantasy Fetish Ball: Kill Tha DJ, costume contests. (10 p.m. Sat. $6. 18-plus. Spin Nightclub)
- Nightmare on Lake Street: Three-level event, DJs, costume contest, cash prizes. (10 p.m. Sat. Free. Stella's Fish Café)
Rock shows
Many local music acts are suiting up and performing special cover sets.
20 Years of Brit's: Brit's Pub's 20th anniversary doubles as a Halloween party Saturday. Solid Gold will dress and perform as Oasis, while E.L.nO. will, as usual, cover E.L.O. (8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat., free. Brit's Pub, 1110 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.) Both bands will play the same Halloween sets the night before at Lee's Liquor Lounge.
Hot Roxx Halloween Hextravaganza: The '70s-loving record night Hot Roxx returns to the Hexagon with bands performing covers and originals, including Vampire Hands, the Huckleberrys, Teddy and the Turks, the Ventures Cover Band and Hot Roxx DJs Jen Hughes and Nick Ryan spinning '70s gems. (9 p.m. Sun., free, Hexagon Bar.)
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- Turf Club's Halloween Cover Night: members of Double Bird and France Has the Bomb cover garage-punk legends the Mummies, Thunderbolt Pagoda covers prog rockers Goblin, and Rad Brains (members of Food Pyramid and Kitten Forever) cover hardcore punks Bad Brains. (9 p.m. Sat., $7, Turf Club)
- Pink Mink Halloween Party: Sets from Pink Mink, Chibalo, So Cow and a "surprise guest." (9 p.m. Sat., free, Stanley's Northeast Bar Room.)
- Triple Rock's 7th Annual Tribute NIght: If You Want Blood (an AC/DC tribute by 20 Dollar Love), Queensnorter (a Queen tribute by Ripsnorter), Double Wide (a Supersuckers tribute), Crudo Soy (a Los Crudos tribute by the Prize Fighter), Hank Williams Sr. (a Hank Williams tribute by the Fattenin' Frogs). (8 p.m. Sun. $5-$8, 18-plus, Triple Rock.)
- Halloween Party with Lusurfer, Hastings 3000 and G-Biz: Satanic surf-rock from Lusurfer. 9:30 p.m. Sun., $5, Cause Spirits & Soundbar.)
- 501'S Halloween Cover Show: '90s favorites get the cover treatment, with Dragons Power Up! covering the Smashing Pumpkins and Lazer Forever doing Green Day. (9 p.m. Sun., $5, 501 Club.)
Dance parties
First Avenue, "Too Much Blood": Too Much Love transforms into its darker twin, Too Much Blood; expect the same dance tracks from DJ Sovietpanda with a twist, plus a costume contest with cash prizes. (10 p.m. Sat., $3., 18-plus.)
