Sure, Christmas has food galore and presents and the Fourth of July has fireworks and barbeques and pool parties, but no holiday brings as much joy to the LGBT community as Halloween does.
As to be expected, the ATL has an abundance of events coinciding with All Hallows’ Eve. And because the actual day is during the week, the weekend before and weekend after will be conveniently included in the festivities. It’s practically a week’s worth of parties, special events and costumes that only the LGBT community can come up with. Here are some of the highlights:
Jerusalem House’s “Fairy Tales and Magic” party looks to be one of the community’s major events. Scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, it’s the 14th annual event for the organization, which is the area’s oldest, largest provider of permanent housing for Atlanta’s low income and homeless individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
The benefit has grown and changed over the years, says Jon Santos, director of development at Jerusalem House. Formerly an event that drew an LGBT and straight ally crowd, it’s now more for LGBT audiences, with DJ Bill Berdeaux spinning, and an open bar and dinner courtesy of Soiree Catering. Santos, who says the mix of men and women is almost even, is expecting approximately 400 attendees.
One of the highlights of the party is the costume contest. Cash prizes of $3,000 are awarded in three categories ― individual, group and Best of Show. Last year, Santos recalls, a couple came in French Revolution-era garb (“Marie Antoinette-like, with powdered faces,” he says) and others came as shipmates of the Titanic.
Santos himself always dresses up ― two of his costumes have been Mama Cass and Bonnie Parker. Picking the 2013 winners are celebrity judges: public relations executive Kelli Flournoy; Bill Kaelin of Bill Kaelin Marketing; Brittany Sharp, the reigning Miss Georgia USA; actor/model Tribbele Reese; and WSB-TV’s Carol Sbarge.
The Foundry at Puritan Mill is the location for this season’s party. All ticket levels include a cash bar, dinner and entry to the costume contest. New this year are after-party events at both 10th & Piedmont and the Heretic, where “Fairy Tales and Magic” attendees can skip the line outside and gain immediate access.
Santos feels “Fairy Tales and Magic” is a signature event benefiting a significant cause.
“This is wrapped around a holiday that everyone understands,” says Santos. “It’s a party with a purpose. If you are going to go out and spend some money, come to this. It’s a great time as well as a chance to do some good.”
Also on Oct. 26 is the Eyes Wide Shut Masquerade Party, presented by Rockstars Productions, for a ninth annual year. Potential draws are an open bar, a black carpet arrival, gift bags and costume contest, with $100 going to the best Olivia Pope impersonator from “Scandal.” The party is hosted by Wendy Raquel Robinson from BET’s show “The Game.”
The local bars will be popping as well. Virtually all the establishments will host events to mark the occasion. LeBUZZ in Marietta, for instance, has special events three consecutive evenings beginning Oct. 31, after a Good vs. Evil contest on Oct. 26.
“Every year we celebrate Halloween in a big way,” says Jonathon Murphy, owner of LeBUZZ. “It’s our favorite holiday and the staff begins decorating as (October) begins.”
On Halloween night the bar will host the Zombie Kings/Lady Zombies Production and a flash mob corpse dance. The Apocalypse Show follows on Friday, with a cast including Destiny Brooks, Jasmine Antoinette, and Envy Van Michaels. Adding to the fun will be a freak dance with DJ Birdman USA. The three night event concludes on Saturday with a costume contest, the Divas of the Dead show, and a bloody moon blackout party.
Mary’s, too, will have a lot going on. The weekend of Oct. 25-26 will include Scary Mary’s 9th annual Spooky Monster Mash on Friday ― complete with a costume party ― and then Scary-oke, a Halloween take on karaoke, and Pandemonium, a glam rock party, on Saturday. The East Atlanta bar will also be open on Halloween night with its second costume party. According to Jason Davis, lead bartender at Mary’s Atlanta, Halloween is always one oft he club’s busiest evenings.
The Heretic Haunted Hoedown promises a Halloween evening of fun, with free line dancing from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then a costume contest at 10 p.m., while the Atlanta Eagle will host its Panther levi/leather haunted bar on Nov. 1 and then a costume contest and Monster’s Ball with DJ Stan Jackson and DJ Brett Long on Nov. 2.
Other bars with special events include: My Sister’s Room, whose annual Halloween party ― this year on Oct. 26 ― with the performing Court of Kings, will cater to the ladies heading out that evening; 10th & Piedmont, which will have food and drink specials over the Oct. 25-26 weekend, as well as on Halloween night; the new Lips Atlanta, with a special Dinner With the Zombies event on Oct. 31, hosted by Savannah Leigh; and Burkharts, with a special Skareoke on Oct. 28 and Dancefloor Divas Halloween Special event on Oct. 31.
A costume contest at Swinging Richards on Oct. 26 offers $1,000 in cash and prizes, but hopefully the performers will shed any costumes they have on as part of the night’s fun. Continuing the celebration the day after the holiday, the weekly drag event “The Other Show” at the Jungle, hosts its event Friday, Nov. 1.
In addition to parties, the area has a plethora of haunted houses to put chills into spookseekers. Netherworld Haunted House in Norcross uses live actors and special effects to acclaimed use ― it was recently hailed by Hauntworld magazine as “the most influential haunted house in the history of haunted houses.”
For those looking to venture outside of the metro area, live theater is an option. Serenbe Playhouse is staging a special presentation of the spooky “The Sleepy Hollow Experience” and the company has added late night shows at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 25 – 26. Oct. 31 performance at 8 p.m. features a bonfire with a marshmallow roast and a Monster Mash Dance Party, in addition to the performance.
Parties
“Fairy Tales and Magic,” 7 p.m. to midnight, The Foundry at Puritan Mill, Oct. 26, www.jerusalemhouse.org/halloween/
Eyes Wide Shut Masquerade Party, 9 p.m. – 4 a.m., Inventor’s Loft, Oct. 26, www.rockstarsproduction.com
Bars
Mary’s costume contest and Scary-oke, Oct. 25 – 26 and 31, www.marysatlanta.com
10th & Piedmont food and drink specials, Oct. 25 – 26 and 31, www.10thandpiedmont.com
Swinging Richards costume contest, Oct. 26, www.swingingrichards.com
My Sister’s Room Court of Kings show, Oct. 26, www.mysistersroom.com
LeBUZZ Zombie Fest week, Oct. 26 and Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, www.thenewlebuzz.com
Lips Atlanta’s Dinner with the Zombies, Oct. 31, www.lipsusa.com
Heretic Haunted Hoedown, Oct. 31, www.hereticatlanta.com
Burkharts’ Skareoke and Dancefloor Divas Halloween edition, Oct. 28 and Oct. 31, www.burkharts.com
“The Other Show”drag show/Halloween party, Nov. 1, www.jungleatl.com
Atlanta Eagle costume contest and Monster’s Ball, Nov. 1 and 2, www.atlantaeagle.com
Other
Serenbe Playhouse’s “The Sleepy Hollow Experience,” 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., through Oct. 31, Stables at Serenbe, www.serenbeplayhouse.com
Netherworld Haunted House, 7 p.m. – midnight, through Nov. 3,
www.fearworld.com