Get Your Spook On: The Most Petrifying Halloween Events in BJ
Scared much? We are, but mainly by the sheer number of spooky season-themed events starting to take over Beijing eateries, bars, and hotels. No one shall be spared when your local coffee shops and familiar pubs turn into mental hospitals and haunted houses. So, hide your dogs, hide your kids, and come out to play at some of the best Halloween-themed events going on in the capital. For a full, unadulterated list, you can also check here: thebeijinger.com/events/halloween.
Dining
Homeplate
has two more days of spine-chilling fun to this most ghoulish of
holidays, with a
whole hog buffet for RMB 136 on Saturday, and a Rocky Horror
Picture Show screening on Halloween itself, next Wednesday. Feel free to
dress up for each of the events but on Saturday you stand the chance of
winning a keg of beer should it be decided that you have the best
costume.
Various times. Free. Home Plate
Cross my heart and
hope to die, stuff your face with a massive pumpkin pie? Brunch is a
perfect way to celebrate, literally, anything and EAST know how to do it
right, not only offering a spooky and filling buffet but also a Haunted
Hospital downstairs in their Xian Bar suitable for the whole family.
11.30pm. RMB 398, RMB 199 (kids, free under 6 years old). EAST Hotel
Purely Boozing
Winner of the
"what on earth is that poster about" competition, Beersmith dares you to
peer into the dark corners of your soul and summon all the creepy
fantasies you might have hidden away. Head over for happy hour drinks
till 9pm, DJ Mad Nurse on the decks, and blood-curdling costumes. We're
not sure what the "special alcoholic potions" available throughout the
night may entail, but it's probably best to have your hangover kit ready
come Sunday.
Free. Beersmith
Can't choose a
spot to go out on Halloween? Then do the grown-up version of trick or
treating: a massive pub crawl! Starting at Salud, attendees will wind
their way through various hutong bars, ending up at Side Street. Special
drink deals will be available at every spot as well as prizes for the
best costume.
6.30pm. Free. Starts at Salud
Parties
Step up your eerie
partying skills with Marriott Hotel's mysterious futuristic voyage take
on Halloween. Starting with a three-hour Halloween-themed buffet, the
party will move to a free-flow drinking with host Keely from Hey
Pengyou. There'll also be dance performances and DJs guiding you through
the night as well as a lucky draw for a chance to win some haunting
prizes.
6pm. RMB 259-369. Marriott Hotel
The fabulous
Halloween extravaganza at Red Dog is on! For the occasion, the Sanlitun
Soho bar has prepared a full evening of entertainment with dances,
performances, drinks, and plenty of music. If you're ready to test your
dressing-up skills, check out their particular categories as well as the
guidelines.
Free. 7.30pm. Red Dog
The aliens have
arrived. Beijing's up and coming Four Seasons bar faces an invasion from
outer space. Pick out your most outlandish outfits and celebrate
Halloween in style, or if you want to really make an entrance, opt-in
for a UFO Didi service, which will deliver you to the door in a mystery
vehicle.
RMB 150 (RMB 300 with UFO Didi service). 10pm. Equis
What screams
Halloween more than metal? Let out your inner metalhead and dive into
the mosh pit next Wednesday with a soundtrack from Chinese black metal
band Be Persecuted, thrash metal group Ancestor, speed metal from
Tumourboy, and punk rocker Miss Mix.
RMB 120, RMB 100 (advance). 8pm. Yue Space
If you have yet to
see a blockbuster called The Nun, it might be a perfect time because
One Third is hosting a nun-inspired party for two days straight. The
club will be turned into a haunted monastery with DJ Borgeous, so come
dressed up, and suitably make it unholy.
RMB 100-160. One Third
We love a good
mystery, and the Cider Sessions looks to deliver just that. For the
event, the British Cider AKA Mike, is setting out on a Halloween
adventure, gathering together techno DJs, plenty of drinks, spooky
house, and nibbles for what promises to be a great party getaway.
Afterward, buses will be ready to take partiers down to Lantern to keep
the party going till late.
8pm. RMB 100, RMB 250 for open bar. Zuiku International Cultural and Creative Park
Kid-Friendly
Slow Boat takes
brunch and ups the ante with Halloween games, fall-themed crafts, and
prizes for the best costume (adults will receive beer for their efforts
whereas children will, well, not). Otherwise, there'll be RMB 25 bottles
of Zombie Pale Ale throughout the day.
RMB 218, free (children until 10 years old). Midnight-2pm. Slow Boat
A monster party
with pumpkin carving, candy hunting, and other festivities is on at the
Kerry Center this Saturday. Grab a child (or a few) and head to Kerry
Center for a day of cute spooks and entertainment. While the little ones
will be occupied with the play zone and crafts, moms and dads can relax
and catch up at the café.
RMB 200 (family tickets, members), RMB 550 (non-members). 9am-10pm. Kerry Adventure Zone
Others
Mystery goes
hand-in-hand with freak shows, circus, and carnivals and the sprawling
American speakeasy-style bar Inception is hoping to bring it all
together for a night of burlesque this Halloween, with a gypsy fortune
teller, a raven woman, a bearded lady, siamese twins, and others.
Free. 9pm. Inception
Fancy winning a
free beer? How about 30? Great Leap, in cooperation with the Beijing LGBT Center, hosts their annual Halloween costume
competition this Saturday at their #45 location. The winner stands to
win a RMB 1,288 gift voucher for their freaky efforts.
Free. 7pm. Great Leap Brewing
Want more? Scan/Extract the QR code below for a list of (practically) every Halloween event in Beijing:
Images: bbc.com.mevn.net, courtesy of the venues
Want to know what awesome events are happening in town? Scan/Extract the QR code above to get the list of our Editors' Picks.
Got something to sell? Looking for a job? Or probably your soulmate? Then scan/extract the QR code above to visit our Classified Ads.
Do you have what it takes to be a True Runner?
Scan/Extract the QR code above to check out our current job openings.
Always something fresh
Scan/Extract the QR code above to follow us!
Tap on the cover to access the latest print issue