As we count down the final days until Halloween, Bloomington is in full swing with scary screenings, trick-or-treating, and family-friendly events to set the spooky mood.
Here’s a breakdown of events from now until Halloween night.
Friday, Oct. 24
Downtown Bloomington’s Trick or Treat, 5 to 8 p.m. across downtown: Trick or treat early in the downtown Bloomington square with this event hosted by Gather and Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Details about participating storefronts and a map are forthcoming: visit the Facebook page at tinyurl.com/4949sd4d for updates.
Festival of Ghost Stories, 7 p.m. at Bryan Park: As the sun goes down in Bryan Park, the Bloomington Storytellers Guild will tell bone-chilling ghost stories from across five decades. Best for older kids through adults, the event is free and requires no registration. Bring a blanket, chair and whatever else you need to settle in before being unsettled.
“Donnie Darko,” 10 p.m. at IU Cinema: In this sci-fi horror cult classic, a troubled teen (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles to fight off disturbing visions of his six-foot rabbit friend, Frank, who tells him that the world is soon going to end. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the box office, or online at cinema.indiana.edu/upcoming-films. Rated R.
Saturday, Oct. 25
Bloomington Pumpkin Launch, 12 p.m. at Monroe County Fairgrounds: Turns out Smashing Pumpkins isn’t just an indie band; it’s a lifestyle. Mechanical engineers and jerryriggers alike will compete to build a device that launches pumpkins the farthest across a field. Innovation is limitless, aside from a strict no cannons rule. Spectators can watch the action for $10. Interested in building a pumpkin launching device? Check requirements and register before Oct. 15 at bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/pumpkin-launch.
Cider Fest, 1 to 4 p.m. at Bloomington Community Orchard: Don’t miss the Community Orchard’s inaugural Cider Fest. This free, family-friendly event will feature everything from cider tastings and live pressings to an orchard tour and poetry readings. With baked goods and other snacks on sale, it’s the perfect event to herald in cooler weather and “cozy season.”
Safe Night Trick or Treat, 5 to 8 p.m. at Monroe County Fairgrounds: This event hosted by the 4H Club not only offers families from any neighborhood a chance to trick or treat, as well as enjoy tasty food from local food trucks and embark on a free haunted hayride. The event is free, but donations are accepted. Check out visitbloomington.com/event/safe-night-trick-or-treat/56847/ for more details.
“House” / “Hausu” (1977), 8 p.m. at Upland Wood Shop: Cicada Cinema is presenting this cult-classic Japanese comedy-horror, in which a group of schoolgirls who find themselves fighting to survive in an enticing haunted house. With gorgeous, pastel-washed cinematography and a somewhat indescribable blend of genres, “House” is the kind of movie you need to see to understand. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online at cicadacinema.com/collections/all. Not rated.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” 7 and 11 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater: This cult classic (the long-est-running theatrical release in history) is known for its rich culture of audience participation and encapsulation of glam rock and counterculture ethos. Starring a fishnet-clad Tim Curry and a young Susan Sarandon, among others, “Rocky” is packed with meaning and absolutely no meaning all at the same time. Presented in a classic format of a film screening accompanied by live, on-stage performances, this presentation by the Buskirk-Chumley and Constellation Stage and Screen is perfect for newcomers – affectionately known as “Rocky virgins” – and longtime fans alike. Tickets are $21 and can be purchased at the box office or online at buskirkchumley.org/events/. Rated R.
Sunday, Oct. 26
Hallo-Queen Drag Brunch, 11 a.m. at the Graduate Hotel: Local and regional drag queens like Starletta and Mocha Debeaute will dance, dip and drop as you dig into some delicious breakfast food at this Halloween-themed drag brunch. Tickets start at $28 and can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/2r2w6pbk.
Teal Pumpkin Trick or Treat Trail, 1 to 3 p.m. at First United Church: Hosted by First United Church, the “Teal Pumpkin Project” trail helps to ensure that kids with a range of allergens, including nut, dairy and gluten sensitivities, have a safe space to enjoy trick or treating. With both allergy-safe treats and non-food trinkets, the trail is sure to leave families of whatever allergy background feeling happy and healthy.
Tuesday, Oct. 28
Evergreen Boo Bash, 6 p.m. at Evergreen Village: The fun kicks off at 6 p.m. for this family-friendly event boasting a haunted trail, Halloween-themed crafts, and “the most candy in town.” Kids can search for one of six golden tickets to win a special prize.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
Paint the Town Dead (first of two sessions), 6 to 9 p.m. at Gather: Get in the Halloween spirit by painting and customizing some spooky pottery casts, including witches, bats, black cats, ghosts and more. Prices vary based on item, from $25-35. View options and book your spot at tinyurl.com/5ymsd64f.
Thursday, Oct. 30
Haunted Hall of Hoops, 6 to 8 p.m. at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall: IU men’s and women’s basketball teams will host this free event where kids can receive candy, play games, and score autographs from Indiana’s star players.
“Queens of the Dead,” 8 p.m. at the Back Door: Released earlier this year but sure to become an LGBTQ+ horror-comedy classic, “Queens of the Dead” follows a group of Brooklyn drag artists as they put aside their fierce competition to battle a zombie apocalypse. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online at cicadacinema.com/collections/all. Not rated.
Friday, Oct. 31 (Halloween)
Paint the Town Dead (second session), 6 to 9 p.m. at Gather: Get in the Halloween spirit by painting and customizing some spooky pottery casts, including witches, bats, black cats, ghosts and more. Prices vary based on item, from $25-35. View options and book your spot at tinyurl.com/5ymsd64f.
“Clown in a Cornfield” and “Red Rooms” double feature, 7 p.m. at IU Cinema: Don’t miss this double feature with two horror releases from the past year – one about killer clowns in a Missouri corn town, and another about a woman hell-bent on locking away an infamous serial killer – on Halloween night at IU Cinema. Tickets for the double feature are $10 and can be purchased at the box office, or online at cinema.indiana.edu/upcoming-films. “Clown in a Cornfield” is Rated R; “Red Rooms” is unrated.
“The Fog” and “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” double feature, 11 p.m. at IU Cinema: Witness two 80s horror classics, one from “Halloween” director John Carpenter and one from Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto with this late night screening. “The Fog” is an unconventional slasher following a mysterious, deathly cloud of fog as it entrenches a coastal California town, while “Tetuso” is a surreal, non-linear film depicting a man who unexpectedly finds metal sprouting from his body – slowly becoming an “iron man” despite his best efforts.
Halloween Dance Party, 10 p.m. till late at the Back Door: It’s been well-known ever since “Thriller” that dancing is the only way out of a killer night. Do just that on Halloween night with an all-night dance party at the Back Door. Come in costume for a contest at 10 p.m. or just enjoy a night of dancing. The cover is $10 at the door.
Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com. Follow him on X/Twitter at @brianwritesnews.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Halloween events around Bloomington, from trick-or-treating to horror movies
Reporting by Brian Rosenzweig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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