10 fang-tastic Halloween events for grown-ups in and around Sacramento
Too old to trick-or-treat? Too young to stay in? We’ve rounded up nine Halloween adventures—from spooktacular haunted houses and ghost tours to a vampire ball with fire dancers.
Ultimate Terror Scream Park
Through Nov. 4 Monstrous, corpse-like creatures lurk around every corner of this park, which fans voted the “scariest in California." Its three twisted haunted scenes, conceived in collaboration with Hollywood set designers, include the “Begrudge” haunted house, in which you stumble through an abandoned industrial building overrun by ominous string-haired demons. Try to evade a murderer thirsting for revenge at “Superstition Killer,” then attempt to escape the “Lobotomy Psycho Show,” where you and your group of friends will be given just one flashlight to evade the deranged Dr. Slit in a pitch-black hospital. $25-$30. Hours vary by day. 4909 Auburn Blvd. 530-794-8511. screamparkcalifornia.com
Día de Los Muertos Fiesta
Oct. 13 The California Museum will open its yearly exhibit honoring the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead with a colorful kickoff party, featuring a ceremonial blessing by members of Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers, and a performance by Mexico City-raised musician Dinorah, as well as Day of the Dead-themed face painting, a costume contest, and a sugar skull decorating workshop, After grabbing a taco or other Michoacan fare from Mayahuel, revelers can wander the new exhibit, Arte y Almas: Día de Los Muertos 2017 (through Dec. 30), in which artists and art groups—like Los Angeles-based artist Oscar Magallanes and and the Oaxacan street art collective Lapiztola—will showcase traditional altars built to honor deceased cultural icons like Mexican-American civil rights activist Josefina Fierro de Bright and leader of the Chicano art movement Gilbert Lujan. $10 ($20 day of). 6-10 p.m. California Museum. 1020 O St. 653-7524. californiamuseum.org
Enchambered: The Legend of the Skull Witch
Starting Oct. 13 This Halloween season, Sacramento’s largest escape room venue, Enchambered—ranked by USA Today readers as the second best escape room in the nation—is unveiling its new haunted game, “The Legend of the Skull Witch.” Participants have one hour to solve a series of puzzles to escape a sinister witch who, as the legend goes, abducts unassuming revelers every year during Mardi Gras. One flame from a set of candles will go out every five minutes to count down the time, as spooked guests scheme to get out of a space filled with New Orleans blues, flashing lights and the ominous sounds of the witch humming and singing in the background. $35. Times vary. 2230 Arden Way. 674-2008. enchambered.com
Old Sacramento Ghost Tours
Oct. 13-28 Walk a mile in a ghost’s shoes during these weekend nighttime tours, which begin at the Sacramento History Museum and weave through the historic district and its spooky underground passageways. A costumed guide will lead you to landmarks like the Eagle Theatre and Firehouse Alley, where haunted figures will tell scintillating stories of Old Sacramento during the Gold Rush era and the spirits who remain still, like a civilian named W. Halsey, who was tried for murder after stabbing and fatally wounding local politician Thomas Rooney inside a bar in 1863. $15. Fri. & Sat. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sacramento History Museum. 101 I St. 808-7059. sachistorymuseum.org
Pumpkin Nights
Oct. 13-29 Something wickedly cool this way comes when Auburn hosts the region’s inaugural Pumpkin Nights this fall, during which the Gold Country Fairgrounds will be festooned with over 3,000 hand-carved LED-lit foam jack-o’-lanterns, or “fumpkins.” Wander through half a mile of carefully crafted “lands,” such as the Asian-inspired Forbidden Pumpkin City, with Chinese lanterns decorating a version of the Imperial Palace; or Rum River Pirates, featuring skeletal swashbucklers brandishing cutlasses beneath palm trees made from pumpkins. Meanwhile, Muggles and wizards will want to head straight to the Pumpkin Passage. Inspired by the Great Hall at Hogwarts, the set boasts 200 pumpkins hanging above atmospheric clouds of pumpkin-spice-scented fog. $20. Sun.-Thurs. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat. 6:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Gold Country Fairgrounds. 1273 High St. Auburn. pumpkinnights.com
Sips and Spirits: The Train Ride
Oct. 27 Don your best costume and hop aboard this new hour-long Halloween-themed train ride along the Sacramento River, hosted by California State Railroad Museum. The evening trip in the three-car train will feature performances by zany lab-coated minions and their mad scientist overlord. Sip a Vampire cocktail—a concoction made with vodka, raspberry purée and orange juice—or a glass of hard cider, and nibble on appetizers courtesy of Fat’s Catering, like potstickers, chow mein and Mongolian beef. As the train rolls along, expect dance numbers to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Bobby Pickett’s 1962 hit “Monster Mash.” $60. Departs at 7 p.m. Central Pacific Freight Depot. Front St. between J and K streets. Old Sacramento. 445-5995. californiarailroad.museum
The Haunted Fort
Oct. 27 & 28 Historic Sutter’s Fort in midtown will open its gates to curious visitors for two eerie evenings. Take a self-guided tour through the dimly lit buildings of the historic site, where you'll run into docents in period costume telling yarns of the intriguing disasters and murders that befell some of Sacramento’s earliest settlers. New this year, actors from B Street Theatre will perform a short play in the fort’s distillery room, reenacting mysterious moments from Sutter’s Fort history. Before you leave, head to the photo booth where you can take pictures with “dead” family members (aka costumed volunteers)—a common tradition among pioneers in the 1800s. $10. 6:30-9 p.m. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park. 2701 L St. 653-6995. suttersfort.org
Crawl of Screams
Oct. 28 This first-time Halloween event, which is heading to five cities across the nation this year, including midtown Sacramento, bills itself as a “bar-crawl-meets-haunted-house” and promises to bring on the screams as sidewalk-roaming ghouls and goblins spook guests traveling from bar to bar. (Fear not: those who would rather skip the scares can choose fright-free zones.) Start the night by registering at Mango’s, where you’ll get a complimentary “welcome beer,” a color-changing souvenir cup for drink specials, and for old times' sake, a stash of Halloween candy. Costumes are optional at this crawl, and drinks will also be flowing at midtown bars like University of Beer, Republic Bar & Grill, and Old Tavern Bar & Grill. $15-$40. 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Registration at Mango’s Sacramento. 1930 K St. facebook.com
Halloween Gatsby Gala
Oct 28 Revival, the rooftop bar and lounge at downtown’s new Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, which opened its doors Oct. 10, is throwing a 1920s-themed Halloween party inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Flappers and bowtied gents will be on hand to serve themed cocktails from the Prohibition era, as well as playful eats like lobster corn dogs and cotton candied bacon. Guests are encouraged to arrive in their finest feathered headbands, flapper dresses and fedoras and shimmy the night away to electro swing beats from San Luis Obispo-based DJ Mano Gil inside the new 5,000-square-foot venue, replete with a white marble-topped bar and dim atmospheric lighting. After kicking up your heels, wander out to the pool deck to soak in Sacramento’s skyline and the glow of neighboring Golden 1 Center. Free before 9 p.m. ($10 after 9 p.m.). 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Revival at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. 500 J St. 525-7111. revivalsacramento.com
Shannon McCabe’s Vampire Ball
Oct. 28 During this ninth annual fête, the California Automobile museum will transform into the French Quarter, replete with flowing champagne, fire dancers and performers dressed as the bloodsucking characters from the supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff The Originals. Local artisans will be hawking wares like amulets and witch hats, and guests are encouraged to don their most opulent attire for the occasion while feasting on Southern fare from the Culinerdy Cruzer food truck, visiting a psychic or taking a whirl on the dance floor while listening to gothic DJ Bryan Hawk spin at the Bourbon Street stage. $25-$40 ($65 for VIP). 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. California Automobile Museum. 2200 Front St. shannonmccabe.com
You Might Also Like
Global Winter Wonderland will set Cal Expo aglow once again this fall
Deschutes Brewery brings "World's Largest Pop-Up Pub" back to midtown
Glowing gourds will light up Auburn at the region’s inaugural Pumpkin Nights
