From costume contests and concerts to Halloweekend bar crawls and devilish dance parties, celebrating Halloween is tons of skele-fun for everyone—not just for the kids. So leave your little monsters at home and check out these Baltimore events for a holiday celebration full of booze, boos, and witch’s brews.

Creepy Crawls

Federal Hill-O-Ween: Creep and crawl over to Federal Hill’s 10th annual Halloween tour-de-bar on October 27 from 5 p.m.-12 a.m. Drink your way through 14 of Federal Hill’s spookiest saloons and take advantage of the drinks deals, including $3 Miller Lites, $4 Blue Moons, $4 Leinenkugel’s Harvest Patch, $5 mixed drinks, and shooter specials. If you don’t go, it may haunt you forever.

Baltimore Halloween Crawl Fells Point: Calling all ghouls, ghosts, and goblins! Mark your calendars for the official Fells Point Halloween Crawl on October 27 from 1-9 p.m. A $12 ticket gets you a haunted mug, cover-free access to nearly a dozen Fells Point bars, food promotions, and an entry into a raffle to win prizes. Drink specials include $3 beers, $3 rail drinks, and $4 haunted shots. They’ll also be prizes for the best dressed participants. South Broadway

Power Plant Live Baltimore Horror Story: Creatures of the night unite for Baltimore’s biggest Halloween party at Power Plant Live on October 27. Pre-order a $5 ticket for access to all 11 bars and nightclubs, including Mosaic, Luckie’s Liquors, and Rams Head Live, and each bar will represent a different season from American Horror Story. The event will feature a costume contest with over $10,000 in prizes and a DJ spinning the spookiest tracks. 34 Market Pl., 410-727-5483

Supernatural Soirees

Power Plant Live! Halloween Rally: Start your Halloweekend early at Power Plant Live’s 6th annual Halloween rally. On October 25 from 10 p.m.-1 a.m., there will be an epic rave complete with live entertainment, confetti cannons, a photo booth, glow sticks, and tons of other spooktacular fun. General admission is $35 and includes five drink tickets, good at over 10 Power Plant bars and restaurants. 34 Market Pl., 410-727-5483

Rocket to Venus: This annual Halloween costume ball returns for its 12th year on October 27. DJ Ghoul Guy and Creepy Worm will spin tracks from 10 p.m.-2 a.m., and there will be cash prizes and drinks specials all night long. The costume contest judging starts at 1 a.m., so bring your ghoulfriends and zombaes and get ready for a scary good time. 3360 Chestnut Ave., 410-235-7887

Hollywood is Dead Party: Check out The Owl Bar’s Hollywood is Dead Party on October 27 from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Come dressed as your favorite dead celebrity and be ready to boo-gie at this spirited shindig. The event will feature a DJ playing party tunes, a costume contest, and tons of food and cocktail specials that you won’t want to miss. The cover charge is $5. 1 E Chase St., 410-347-0888

A Very Wicked Affair: Baltimore nonprofit HASA will host a Halloween-themed event at Boordy Vineyards on October 26 from 6-9:30 p.m. The $85 ticket includes bottomless wine, a fall harvest menu, live music by John Silver, and a commemorative wine glass. And the proceeds will benefit children and adults through HASA’s interpreting, educational, and therapeutic services. 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, 410-318-6780

Lee’s Block Party: Celebrate Halloween with 20,000 free oysters at the 6th annual Shuckin’ in the Street festival. The block party goes from 12-10 p.m. on October 27 and features performances by DJ Nick Paros, Crushing Day, and Honey Extractor. There will also be a costume contest with a $1,000 prize. Get access to the event with a $10 donation at the door—a portion of the proceeds go to Kennedy Kreiger & The Chesapeake Oyster Recovery Partnership. 2844 Hudson St., 410-327-2883

Monster Melodies

The Glow Ball with Dos Santos: Do the monster mash at Creative Alliance’s annual costume dance party. The festivities start at 8:30 p.m. on October 27, and Chicago-based quintet Dos Santos will be taking center stage. Pre-ordered tickets are $13, and tickets at the door are $16, so get ready for a night of dancing and debauchery. 3134 Eastern Ave., 410-276-1651

Halloween Baltimore: Believe in Music and the Maryland Science Center are back with their annual Halloween extravaganza on October 27, featuring a diverse lineup of musical guests playing on seven unique stages. The acts include Dan Deacon, Natural Velvet, Prismatic, DJ James Nasty, Electric Love Machine, and many more. There’s also a costume contest with the first prize winner claiming a $1,000 prize. 601 Light St., 410.685.5225

Halloween Costume Party: Eat, drink, and be scary at The Windup Space’s Halloween bash on October 26 at 7 p.m. The $10 cover charge will get you access to tons of live entertainment, including performances by Ca8al, Kit & The Chardonnay Boys, AM I DEMON, Voodoo Pharmacology, and Rooney’s Shoe. 12 W North Ave., 410-244-8855

Halloween at the Symphony: Listen to the banshees belt and the sirens sing at this Halloween-themed musical event. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on October 26, the event will feature a costume contest with prizes, access to backstage tours, light fare and candy, as well as musical activities. Tickets are free for BSO members and their families and are $15 for non members. 1212 Cathedral St., 410-783-8000

Mondo Baltimore Halloween Bash: Celebrate Halloween’s spookiest screenplays at The Windup Space on October 27. The event is from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. and will feature the Mondo Baltimore Band, covering cult classic bad movie tunes, as well as clips from classic Halloween flicks to get the party started. 12 W North Ave., 410-244-8855

Halloween Happenings

Bike Party: Halloween Ride!: Gather your friends on October 26 for the scariest bike party of the year. From the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman to Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn, this Halloween hangout will surely attract all of Baltimore’s muscle-y monsters. The ride starts at 6:30 p.m. 600 N Paca St.

AVAM’s Free Fall Halloween Celebration: Boos and ghouls of all ages are invited to the American Visionary Art Museum’s Monster Mash-Up Workshop on October 30. From 4-7 p.m., visitors can create boo-tiful paper monsters, and the Halloween-day festivities are free of charge. 800 Key Highway, 410-244-1900

Fells Point Ghost Tours: There’s no better time to get to know Baltimore’s haunted history than on Halloweekend. Learn about Charm City’s supernatural past, share spooky tales, and maybe even see a ghoul or two in historic neighborhoods Mt. Vernon and Fells Point. 731 S. Broadway, 877-293-1571

Harry Potter Halloween at Johnny’s: Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s famous fantasy novels, Johnny’s in Roland Park is transforming into a wizardly wonderland on Halloween night. Come in costume to order spooky specials—in addition to the regular dinner menu—from servers decked out in Hogwarts-inspired attire. In keeping with the theme, the evening’s treats will include butterbeer cupcakes, Dragon’s Breath macarons, Troll Boogie bonbons, and more. 4800 Roland Ave. 410-773-0777

Halloween is our annual opportunity to step outside of our normal selves and embody someone (or something) else for a night of revelry. Whether you’re aiming for spooky, silly, or sexy, we’re of the mindset that the best place to source your best festive look isn’t Amazon or Party City. If you’re willing to dig a little deeper, vintage shops are a treasure trove of inspiration and unique pieces that will bring any look to life. We asked local vintage mavens to put together costumes pulled from their racks and give us hot tips on shopping used for a memorable look.

“A costume doesn’t have to be blatantly obvious—explaining the gist of your idea to people can be half the fun,” says Sara Autrey of new Charles Village vintage mecca Get Shredded Vintage. Autrey’s “Eccentric Yacht Couple” couples’ costume, is the perfect example of that sentiment. On their own, each of the pieces can be worn in normal life for an on-trend nautical look or worn all together, with a sprinkle of wanderlust attitude, the costume comes to life.

Looking to party hard this All Hallows Eve? The Halloween queens at Milk and Ice Vintage have you covered. “Don’t hesitate to ask the owners at a vintage store if they have any ‘wounded birds,’ meaning cool vintage that’s not for sale because it’s flawed in some way,” says Kate Thomas, who co-owns the store with Angie Gavin. “You can often get super rare and more interesting one-of-a-kind pieces at a discount, and you don’t have to worry about damaging them if you’re out partying!”

Once you’ve got the basics of your holiday ‘fit picked out, the last piece of the puzzle to a successful costume is all in the attitude. “The key to pulling off a DIY costume is going all out,” says Morissa Rothman-Pierce of Bottle of Bread. “Go the extra mile and paint your face. Roll around in a pile of dirt if you’re being Pigpen. Just go wild, because Halloween is an excuse to be your wildest self.”

We asked our favorite vintage owners from Get Shredded, Keepers Vintage, Bottle of Bread, and Milk and Ice to style (and model!) some of the best potential Halloween looks in their stores.

Marvel’s latest blockbuster Black Panther has already broken records during its opening weekend, topping the charts and earning more than $200 million. The film has not only received accolades for being Marvel’s first film with a black director, an almost entire black cast, and featuring a black superhero—but also for its fashion.

The black community had been anticipating this moment since the trailer dropped in June showcasing colorful, ethnic designs worn by the cast. Veteran costume designer Ruth Carter can be cited for the uproar it created on “black Twitter” with the hashtag #BlackPantherSoLit, everyone asking “What are you wearing to Black Panther?”

Not only are the costumes fashion-forward, but they blend traditional and contemporary African styles from across the continent. From cold-shoulder, floor length gowns to Afropunk stylings to authentic African, hand-dyed robes, the film’s costumes have sparked up discussions about embracing African culture vs. cultural appropriation.

“I wanted to show the world the beauty of tribal dress and move that forward in a more modernistic way,” Carter told The Atlantic. “I have seen some really bad African depictions of costumes where there’s a bone in their nose and they’re wearing some kind of hide and cross-strap.” 

Local musician DDm raved about the film in a Facebook live video to his followers. He praised Carter’s juxtaposition of traditional and modern African fashions. He also relates to the fashion in the film on a personal level, how it empowers the women in the film—reminding him of his grandmother.

“I grew up in a family ran by matriarchs who were tough, but unapologetically feminine,” he said. “The way Okoye can go from a military uniform to an evening gown to a cocktail dress is everything I love about the women in my life.” 

Because she wasn’t basing her costumes off actual historical periods—as she did with Selma, Malcolm X, and Amistad—Carter had the creative freedom to come up with original designs for the fictional country of Wakanda.

“The choice of wardrobe in the movie represented freedom,” says Ashley Sidney, who saw Black Panther at CinéBistro at the Rotunda. “The freedom to be who we are, freedom to represent our culture, and freedom to embrace our beauty, power, and talent.”

Although moviegoers did not have Carter at their disposal to create handmade Wakandan garb, many showed up to the theaters dressed as though the plane to Wakanda was leaving after the showing and their attire was the boarding pass.

“I felt like it was important for black Americans to connect to the Pan-African identity,” said Le’Nay Maye, who saw the movie with her husband at the AMC in White Marsh. “Seeing the Black Panther premiere photos and seeing how the actors and director really exemplified black royalty, it was the least we could do.”

Playwright Olympe de Gouge, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Caribbean spy Marianne Angelle walk into a bar . . . okay, maybe it wasn’t a bar, but if you found yourself slightly interested in the punchline to that poorly executed (no pun intended) joke, then you will want to grab a ticket to Everyman’s Theatre‘s The Revolutionists, which opens this week and runs through the first week of January. 

The play, which is set during the French Revolution, propels itself to modern times with a bold, brave, and hilarious take on feminism and standing up for one’s beliefs. We talked to resident costume designer, David Burdick about the show and the inspiration behind the costumes.

This is a play full of strong female characters. How did you draw inspiration for their costumes?
Three of the four women in this play are real historical figures, so I started out doing research on those actual women. Of course, Marie Antoinette is very famous so there were a lot of portraits of her. The other two are a little less known. Charlotte Corday is a bit of a legend so there were a few portraits and romanticized versions of her out there, but Olympe de Gouges was difficult because she wasn’t as celebrated in her day. So I started with the historical aspects, and then as we were talking we discussed the fact that the play and the language is very modern. It’s definitely not a period piece, so we talked about mixing in modern with period items with both the set and the costumes. 

A lot of times one of the things that is really popular to do with shows like this is to have a very abstract set and then have the costumes be more period and what really sets you into that time, but we kind of flipped that on this one. We decided to have the set be more period and then have the clothes be more modern. A lot of the research I did was both looking at 18th century clothes and contemporary fashion designers and fashion layouts that were sort of inspired by the 18th century so that is sort of where the costumes wound up.

Who are some of the designers that you referenced and what type of modern trends were you able to incorporate?
Charlotte’s dress is inspired by and based on Yohji Yamamoto, so it’s very avant-garde Japanese. Her character is kind of punk, so I found a collection by Yohji Yamamoto which felt very 18th century inspired and kind of went with that. Marie’s outfit was heavily inspired by John Galliano who did a big 18th-century collection, but also Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier. Olympe was sort of tough, and my first go-round at it there were a lot great sort of riding suits and things like that because her character is a little bit more tailored. But then I saw coverage of the Emmys, and saw Evan Rachel Wood wearing this fantastic wide legged tuxedo and it all came together. Her hair is actually also inspired by a red carpet look Evan Rachel Wood did a couple of years ago where it was kind of punk-y and purple.

How was the design process different for the fictional character?
Marianne Angelle was definitely the most difficult because she is fictional. But for her I looked at 18th century images of women in the Caribbean, and also looked at contemporary Caribbean fashion to see what Caribbean fashion designers were doing currently. We tried a lot of different things. And eventually I found a skirt, which is actually TopShop, that was really interesting and had this ruffled detail and I combined that piece with inspiration from this image we found and liked. So the final product is a lace effect over a silk that is the same color as her skin so it looks almost see through. For her hair we noticed that a lot of the portraits of women during this time that had their hair in these high wrapped turbans. So to avoid a literal translation of that we gave her dreadlocks that are piled up echoing the shop of the actual wrap.  

How long do you have to prepare for a show? What is the process like?

This whole process starts probably 6 months or so before the play is set to open.The director, set designer, sound designer, lighting designer, and costume designer all get together and have a meeting. That first meeting is usually just talking about the play itself, themes, and figuring out the direction that we want to go. 

Then we will have subsequent meetings after doing lots of research to get the directors initial thoughts on what I am putting together, and then from that research I start sketching and doing drawings that actually incorporate the pieces that we want to use to. Then we create samples, which we call mock-ups, in a cheap fabric just to get the fit and proportion right before going into the actual fabric and making the costume that will be in the show. 

What is your day-to-day like while the show is running?

So right now we are doing our technical rehearsals where we are perfecting the lighting and sound, but also it’s the first time that we are seeing the costumes on stage, under lights, and moving. So we are figuring out what works and what doesn’t and taking notes on what we need to fix or alter. 

For example, there is point in the show where there is a quick change for Marie and she is switching wigs so we decided to put a little magnet on her necklace because I wanted her to be able to get her necklace back on quickly for the last scene. So it’s really just figuring those last minute things out. And with this show since it is only four women and they have four costumes it’s a bit easier than doing something where people have multiple changes.

How long have you been at Everyman?

I’ve been at Everyman since 2009. My first shows were the The Mystery of Irma Vep and All My Sons. After All My Sons, they asked me to become a company member and the resident costume designer. And ever since depending on the season and my schedule I’ve been doing two shows, sometimes three shows, a season. This year however I am doing four out of the six shows, but they were all just really great projects that I couldn’t pass them up. I am really excited about this show because it’s so funny, so well-written, and has four really great female characters. Three of the four actresses are company members here and the characters in this show were such fantastic roles for each of them.

What would you say is your favorite look in The Revolutionists?

This is hard. I can’t choose. I mean, Charlotte’s look is great and so fun and I love how the suit for Olympe turned out, but the Marie thing is so over the top. Beth Hylton is just an actress that can handle anything you throw at her. It’s definitely not an easy costume to wear. The wig is tall, the dress is wide, and she is wearing more than five-inch Betsey Johnson platforms that would be a challenge for anyone.

That sounds like a heavy burden to carry! 

It’s actually not. It’s really just a little bit of silk and a little bit of metal.

Do you think people are intimidated to try a DIY costume?
AG: Sometimes I feel like people just don’t think about it. But that’s what we are here for. We want to walk with you on this journey.

KT: We take people to a different level of costume. It’s not just going to a Halloween store and finding a pre-made “sexy” Raggedy Ann thing. You can come here and get an actual red and white gingham house dress and possibly even wear it again. You can get a cape and be so many different characters, but then you can wear a cape for winter.

There is nothing worse than “sexy _________” costumes.
AG: Yeah, we are so not into that. We find it funny when we are like, ‘I’ll be this gross thing.’ And maybe that is a confidence thing, but don’t be afraid to be something different. Like if you are a dude and you want to do a tight shave on your head and be Eleven from Stranger Things, you should go for it.

KT: In some cases, you gain confidence after you have everything on. I mean, I was dressed as Doc Brown yesterday from Back to the Future and, as soon as I had it all on I was like, ‘Man, I look fucking cool.’ And it wasn’t exactly what he looked like, but we made it work with everything that we had.

What is the key piece or item to pull off a DIY costume?
AG: We always say that accessories are really important. If you don’t have the exact outfit or color that the character wears, you can still pull it off with accessories. Like if you are being Jackie Kennedy Onassis, you don’t have to have a ’60s pink two-piece suit, you can wear a blue one. But get the pill box hat, gloves, pearls, and all the little things that are nuance-y. Wigs and makeup can help a lot, too. We always tell people for $20 you can do a head-to-toe look in our shop and then spend the rest of your money on a wig and/or makeup from a specialty or Halloween store.

What is your favorite costume you’ve put together in the store?
AG: I think Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding was pretty funny because it really was random. We found these ‘60s leotards and of course we didn’t have ice skates or anything but I think the angle worked.

KT: That one was really fun because it was so random and we were like, “Huh, we have these leotards, what are we going to do?” And then we had to research to characters to make sure Tonya was the one with the baton.

What are you being for Halloween this year?
AG: After doing this now for three years, we always end up doing something avant-garde and really out there for our personal costumes because we have all month to think about it. If we have funny things that we have ideas about we get that creativity out through the month of October for the store.

KT: Last year we were the sun and the moon, but it was very ’30s style. We had pin curls, gowns, and big headpieces.

I’ve noticed you guys also do amazing Halloween window displays each year. How do you come up with the theme for the windows?
AG: This year we did Stranger Things, which kind of caters to vintage. We felt like we had to do it. The timing was so perfect.

KT: Our first year we did witches and they were all in crazy vintage black gowns. Last year we did Carrie with a mannequin in a vintage prom dress, and then someone pulling the cord to pour the bucket of blood, which was actually metallic streamers, onto her head.