Top 10 special events in the city for Halloween

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Editor
October 11, 2006

It might seem a little bit early to be thinking about Halloween, but the leaves are changing colors and it is officially fall. Besides, there is no harm in getting a head start on festive events. After all, there are less than three months left until Christmas.

Here is Philly File’s guide to the top 10 Halloween tricks and treats in the city:

1. Halloween Pirate Adventure— The Betsy Ross House will hold a pirate party Oct. 20 and 27. Attendees should wear their best pirate garb to meet an 18th-century privateer and watch a play about unusual pirates. The event includes a costume contest as well.

2. Halloween Costume Workshop— I’ve had my costume ready since I cleaned old clothes out of my closet this past August, but if you’re among the many who are still struggling for ideas, the Rosenbach Museum and Library can help. Its workshop Oct. 21 is held with assistance from the Spiral Q Puppet Theater and all present will get instructions and materials to create their own Dracula costumes.

3. Dining with the Dead—This might be the ultimate in creepy, but the Laurel Hill Cemetery is offering a dinner and tour package on Oct. 27. Guests will quite literally dine with the dead when they are treated to a meal in the Cemetery Gatehouse. An evening tour follows the dinner.

4. Goblin Market—The Renaissance Artist Puppet Theater is performing this show as the first in a series of “mature audience” shows. Performances run Oct. 13-15 in Norristown, Pa., and feature images from a character’s drug-induced nightmares. The show is based on a poem by Christina Rosetti and is told with shadow, fabric and mask imagery. Clearly, these aren’t your typical puppets.

5. Dracula, the Musical?—Rick Abbott’s spoof of the popular story of Dracula will appear at the Shannondell Performing Arts Center in King of Prussia, Pa., just in time for Halloween. The parody alters the performance from a gothic horror story to a cabaret complete with music and dancing.

6. Dracula the Ballet—Because Dracula, the Musical? just wasn’t enough, the New Horizons Dance Alliance has created this show, which runs Oct. 13-21. The story combines dance and drama to appeal to a larger audience than many ballets. Even better, tickets cost a mere $12.

7. Fright Factory—It’s been described as the scariest haunted house in the Philadelphia area, but it might be second to legendary one I heard about from my friend’s sister’s cousin, which has 20 different floors even though no one ever makes it to the top. Regardless, this haunted house is located in a warehouse in South Philly and features three different attractions, the Village of the Damned, Horror High and the Forgotten Insane Asylum. Tickets are pricey at $20 and open nights are limited.

8. Haunted Trolley Tour—The Lower Merion Conservancy piles guests onto a trolley to visit the ghosts of Lower Merion. They’ll take you to see the seven ghosts that haunt Bryn Mawr College and the ice skating ghost at Haverford College. There’s a bit of distance between some of the sites, so Halloween treats and activities are included in the ticket price.

9. The Halloween Magic Spooktacular—Fred’s Magic World is a four-person improv troupe that promises to escape from a straitjacket and talk to the dead. This family-friendly performance features festive magic tricks and comedy acts, along with musical numbers and knife tricks. If that’s not enough, there is candy for everyone in the audience and prizes for those who come in costume.

10. The Haunted Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt—Potential participants must RSVP to find out the details about where and when to meet, but on Oct. 27 and 28 teams of six will search for answers to questions about the freaky locations throughout Old City. The prize is lame on purpose, a Wilson Adventures T-shirt for each winning participant, to discourage teams from cheating.

angeluccil1@lasalle.edu