LAKEVIEW — Halloween lovers have plenty of ways to celebrate in Lakeview — whether you're searching for kid-friendly pumpkin painting or a party with a skin-bearing costume contest.
Events are happening every day leading up to the big parade on Halsted on Oct. 31. The only thing left is to dig up a costume.
For those with tots
Pumpkin painting at Hutch restaurant, 3301 N. Clark St., 5-8 p.m. Monday: The recently revamped restaurant is offering pumpkins for painting. Bonus: Kids eat free between 5-6:30 p.m., and adults get 20 percent off dinner that night.
Agassiz Elementary Annual Halloween Extravaganza, 2851 N. Seminary Ave., 10 a.m.-noon Saturday: The school's party will feature games, mini-pumpkin and cookie decorating, face paintings, tattoos and a haunted house.
South Lakeview Playlot Halloween Party, 1300 W. Wolfram St., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday: This Lakeview playground will fill with art and other Halloween activities.
Trick or Treat & Pumpkin Party on Southport, Southport between Belmont and Irving Park, 1-4 p.m. Sunday: Businesses will be offering candy for trick-or-treaters, and a Pumpkin Party between Grace and Byron will feature games, crafts and pumpkin decorating.
Space Park Spooktacular, 815 W. Roscoe St., noon-3 p.m. Sunday: The event is a precursor to Northalsted Business Alliance's annual Halloween parade — except just for tots.
Halloween Hoopla for Kids, 3252 N. Broadway, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday: Family fun last until 2 p.m. and includes hay rides, face painting and balloon animals. Then take the tots trick-or-treating at area businesses from 2-5 p.m.
For the arts experience
Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble: Zombie Apocalypse, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., 7:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 29, $20 general, $12 students/seniors: The LGBT music ensemble celebrates Halloween with a "creepy monster mashup of music." Show up in a costume; drink at a cash bar.
"Rocky Horror Picture Show," Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., midnight Friday, $12 admission: Music Box does a midnight showing of the famous film every month, but seeing it on Halloween has its own special aura. Buy a "Midnight Madness Virgin Kit" for $3, which includes all the props you need for the interactive movie.
Halloween Spectacular! with Future Hits, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, $10 adults, $5 kids: "Educational" family band Future Hits performs, Whole Foods provides treats, and of course, it wouldn't be Halloween without a costume contest, too.
For pumpkin drinking and carving
Avenue Tavern's 10th Annual Pumpkin Carving Party, 2916 N. Broadway, 8-midnight Thursday: The neighborhood bar will provide pumpkins and carvings. Arrive early for a pumpkin. Special: $5 Newcastle Werewolf draft.
Sheffield's 28th Annual Pumpkin Carving, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave., 7 p.m. Thursday: The beer and wine garden will also provide pumpkins and carvings, and results will be displayed in the bar until Halloween. Sheffield's will also release Vandermill Cyser Van Doom and have pumpkin beer and mulled cider.
For the costumes
Night of 100 Drag Queens, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, $15 general admission: Drag queens, booze and charity — proceeds from this annual Sidetrack event go toward Equality Illinois, a same-sex marriage advocacy group.
Slutty Costume Contest, Progress Bar, 3359 N. Halsted St., 6-8 p.m. Sunday: The event description: Halloween is the only day "a gay can dress like a total slut and no other gays can say anything about it!" organizers say. First place wins $400 in cash, second place $200 and third $100. Winners announced at 8 p.m. "Mean Girls" not allowed.
17th Annual Halloween on Halsted Parade, Halsted from Belmont to Addison; 8 p.m. Oct. 31: Northalsted Business Alliance's annual Halloween parade is unmatched — people go all out for the costumes, and with this year's theme of Twisted Circus, expect the most creative clowns, bearded ladies and more in town at the Boystown event.
