THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
FILM: Union Market’s Angelika Pop Up Theater is getting into the Halloween spirit with a showing of the Alfred Hitchcock classic Psycho. Be sure to shower before you go, for, um, reasons. $7, 7:30 PM.
FITNESS: Let’s be real: You’re going to spend the weekend eating as much Halloween candy as humanly possible. With that in mind, you might as well substitute your typical Thirsty Thursday with Yala Fitness’s Trick-or-Fit Fitness Party. Treat yourself to yoga and pilates sessions, along with some complimentary Kind bars, before the real treats begin. Free, 6 PM.
MUSEUMS: Take one last look at the National Museum of African Art’s “The Divine Comedy” exhibition. #DivineAtNight lets you check out the show during after hours while music plays and drinks with names Dante would approve of are flowing–think “In Limbo” and “the Darkness.” The exhibition features artists from 18 African nations who used various mediums to delve into the themes featured in Dante’s epic poem. Free, 5 PM.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
MUSEUMS: The National Museum of Women in the Arts opens its new exhibit, “Pathfinders,” with the kind of party Don Draper would enjoy. During NMWA Late Nights: Mod Women (and Men), take a tour of the museum while enjoying retro cocktails and dancing–period dress is encouraged. $55, 8 PM.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: Halloween weekend seems like the perfect time to watch a midnight showing of the participatory cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. Head over to Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garden with your best Dr. Frank-N-Furter smirk for a glass of beer and a chance to do the Time Warp. Free, midnight.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
FILM: The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood DC Public Library celebrates an old school version of Halloween with a showing of Nosferatu, the silent vampire film from the 1920s that gives Twilight kids something to really sparkle about. The screening will be accompanied by live music, just like in the old days. Free, 3 PM.
CIRCUS: The folks behind Church Night are bringing the Halloween Circus to the Black Cat with music by Jonny Grave & the Tombstones, Sara Curtin, and Footwork, plus burlesque by Gigi Holliday and Cherie Sweetbottom. That’s pretty much all the entertainment you could possibly need on Halloween night. $10, 9 PM.
COSTUME PARTY: Maybe you haven’t read Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit, but you’ve heard the phrase “Hell is other people,” which originated from his existentialist play. Head over to the Pinch for Nu Sass’s Hell is Halloween Party dressed as your personal version of hell–there will be a costume contest, so get creative. A $15 dollar donation to Nu Sass gets you drink discounts all night. 7 PM.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
DAY OF THE DEAD: This weekend also marks the beginning of Dia de los Muertos, a three-day Mexican holiday honoring friends and family who have passed away. Learn more about the culture, food, and history surrounding the holiday at the National Museum of the American Indian. Free, 10 AM.
MUSIC: While not necessarily spooky, Youth Lagoon’s blend of psychedelic electro-pop and one-of-a-kind falsetto is definitely otherworldly. 9:30 Club. $25, 7 PM.
