We have nothing but love for the winter holidays ahead (that have already found their way into displays and sales at big-box retailers). But here’s a life trick: Don’t skimp on Halloween.
Spooky season is full of treats for any craving, and not just Reese’s vs. Gummy Bears, as worthy of a food fight as that is. October brings out chances to embark on an adult trick-or-treating adventure and channel your inner ghostbuster on a tour of local haunts (the Hamptons is home to several).
Faint of heart? Pet parades, movie screenings, kid-friendly events and costume parties with local imbibers are also worthy ways to get your Halloween fix sans goosebumps. From beer releases to concerts, these Halloween events in the Hamptons provide all kinds of tricked-out treats.
Hocus Pocus at The Suffolk, 118 E Main St., Riverhead
You’ve seen it a zillion times on ABC Family. On Sunday, October 22, at 7 p.m., give the Sanderson sisters the big-screen treatment at The Suffolk, the crown jewel of Riverhead’s Main Street. Tickets are $15.
The Clubhouse Hamptons Friday the 13th — er, 27th — Halloween Bash, East Hampton
What’s in a day? Well, yes, there was a Friday the 13th this month, but it’s the spirit of spooky that counts. The Clubhouse is ready to give you all the scary feels with a Friday night bash to kick off Halloween weekend. DJs will spinning from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., with a special surprise performance planned (no tricks, we swear!). The $15 entry fee gets you in for their best costume contest — bring it! For table reservations, contact [email protected].
Stephen Talkhouse Halloween Party with Hello Brooklyn, 161 Main St, Amagansett
Local legends like Nancy Atlas and surprise guests like Paul McCartney have taken the stage at Stephen Talkhouse throughout the years. Might Frankenstein or Casper be next? Head to the Talkhouse for their Halloween bash featuring cover band Hello Brooklyn — no stranger to Stephen Talkhouse or the area’s live-music circuit in general. Expect lots of Halloween jamming on Saturday, October 28, at 10 p.m.. The $30 entry fee gets you in for all their musical treats.
Calissa’s Halloween Soiree, 1020 Montauk Highway, Water Mill
Greek go-to Calissa promises to conjure up an evening of spine-tingling mischief on Saturday, October 28 — or, at the very least, a breathless night of dancing, drinks and non-scary noshes. Earlier in the evening, its treats all around with the debut of Calissa’s new fall menu. Then, at 9 p.m., DJ Hugo kicks off the boogie set to get your Thriller dance moves on. Bonus: There’s an open-bar package available for $50. Make your reservations here.
Little Lucy’s Annual Halloween Pet Parade, Agawam Park, Southampton
Everyone loves a good parade. But a pet parade? Now that’s just a howling good time. Little Lucy’s Annual Halloween Parade has been a Halloweekend staple since 2001. On Saturday, October 28, at 1 p.m., dress your fur baby up and stroll down Jobs Lane and Main Street in Southampton before heading back to Agawam Park for live music and other festivities. The biggest treat? It’s a benefit for Southampton Animal Shelter, a local no-kill spot where dogs, cats, reptiles, rabbits and more await their forever families. (Some adoptable pets will be on hand if you’ve got the time and space for a friend who is way sweeter than any candy.)
LVIS Halloween Party 2023, 95 Main Street, East Hampton
The Ladies’ Village Improvement Society of East Hampton is gearing up to open its doors on Saturday, October 28, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to the kiddos as it does each October. The organization’s house and dollhouse will be decked out in festive décor like sunflowers and the obligatory seasonal pumpkins. There will be treats, age-appropriate Halloween stories, crafts, music, a rousing game of BINGO and a chance for youngsters to guess how many candy corns are in a container — basically, all the kid-centric Halloween fixings for a good time.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at Canoe Place Inn, 239 E. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays
Mariah Carey can hold on a sec. Halloween has its own formidable soundtrack, and you can hear the greatest hits on Friday, October 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. during Canoe Place Inn’s candlelit concert in Hampton Bays. The tentative program for the hour-long show includes Thriller and the theme songs from Stranger Things and Beetlejuice. Tickets start at $50. The show is suitable for ages 8 and up.
Southampton Publick House — the 2023 Halloween Party, Part One, 62 Jobs Lane, Southampton
Time to get creative, South Forkers! Southampton Publick House’s costume contest comes with serious competition. Bring your best to this annual scary Saturday event on October 28, where cash prizes are the big treat for top winners. A $10 cover gets you in for frightful fun and drink specials starting at 9 p.m.. Costume winners are announced at midnight — after that, the spirited fun continues with music by DJ JetSet and a super fun mobile photo booth from Dar Valor to capture your alter ego.
MONSTER SMASH: A Costumed Dance Party! at The Church, 48 Madison St., Sag Harbor
One of the East End’s biggest fans once crooned that he loves you “just the way you are.” But, for one night only, another Hamptons fixture is inviting people to just “as they aren’t.” On Saturday, October 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., head to The Church’s dance party, where Mister Lama will resurrect ‘70s and ‘80s hits. Need costume inspo? This year’s theme is “sporting life.” Think about brushing off your old varsity jacket or the Aaron Rodgers Jets jersey that’s already collecting dust (too soon?).
The Corpse Bride and The Exorcist at Sag Harbor Cinema
Sag Harbor Cinema has a spooky something for both the kids and grown-ups. On October 28 and 29, the theater will screen matinee shows of the animated Tim Burton take on a 19th century Russian folktale, The Corpse Bride. Then — on Halloween proper! — get ready for a sleepless night after watching William Friedkin’s The Exorcist from 1973. Dare to enter and watch the film that’s credited with legitimizing that horror film genre and has gone on to become a cultural icon.
WHB Brewing Co. Halloween Bash!, 220 Roger’s Way Suite i, Westhampton Beach
Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year (boo), so WHB is sweetly keeping the spooky holiday going with a bash right after the holiday. On Friday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m., don your best costume for the first time — or get more mileage on your get-up by rocking it once more — and strut your masked stuff to win the evening’s contest. Whether you take first prize or don’t place, every guest will win because the brewery is releasing its Spooky Cask Beer that very night.
