Halloween comes early

Friday, Oct. 28

Local group Johnson’s Crossroad (“described by friends and fans as everything from ‘Appalachian soul’ to ‘Hillbilly Metal’”) brings the lush dark side of new album Mockingbird to the LAB. OK, it may not be a Halloween show outright, but wear a mask or something. No tricks, but plenty of treats: The Whiskey Gentry also performs. 10 p.m., http://www.lexavebrew.com.

Electric West African ensemble Zansa is billing its Friday-night show at at Pisgah Brewing Company’s indoor stage as “your Moogfest alternative party!” The band includes members of Afromotive and “blends everything from African folk songs, to modern Afropop, to the driving, pulsating rhythms of African drumming. Hints of rock, reggae and Latin music are also woven into the mix.” The performance starts at 9 p.m. $6 advance or $8 at the door. http://www.pisgahbrewing.com.

Kick off the Halloween weekend with a costume contest (and DIY upcycled costume contest) and live music from Taylor Martin's Engine. The party takes place at Tolliver’s Crossing (733 Haywood Road). 10 p.m.

The Grove House complex (11 Grove St.) hosts Halloween events throughout the weekend, starting with Zumba In Da Club costume party in Eleven Grove and Reggae with Chalwa & friends costume party in the Boiler Room (9 p.m.). http://www.thegrovehouse.com.

Dress up as a scary beast, adorable kitten or anything else that strikes your fancy at the Vampire's (Fur)ball Halloween Costume Party to benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. Have your fortune read, vie for “risqué” raffle prizes and play ghoulish games from 8 p.m. to midnight. Only human adults are welcome, so leave your pets and children at home. $15. http://www.bwar.org.

If you're looking for some family-friendly (and not too scary) Halloween fun, take a drive out to KidSenses Museum in Rutherfordton for Freaky Friday. Dress in Halloween garb and receive a prize. The costume contest starts at 6:30 p.m. and spooky crafts begin at 5:30 p.m. http://www.kidsenses.com.

The Halloween skies are usually reserved for bats and vampires, but this year you can join them for a zipline tour by Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures. The tour, which takes flight on Friday and Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., will accept 10 participants per ride, so register early. Info: http://www.wildwaterrafting.com.

Saturday, Oct. 29

Travel to the spookiest part of Romania without leaving North Carolina at Halloweenfest from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The town of Brevard will be filled with pumpkin bowling, trick-or-treating, a costume parade and other ghostly fun. Drive into the heart of Brevard to enjoy this family-friendly festival. http://brevardnc.org

For more kid-approved autumn fun, head to the Shiloh Park Fall Festival (121 Shiloh Road, Asheville) for face painting, games and inflatables. Costumes encouraged. 2-4 p.m. Info: 702-1375.

Truth & Salvage Co. returns to the Grey Eagle. (Quick recap: Used to live in Asheville, most of the members were in Scrappy Hamilton, moved to L.A. where a songwriters’ night at Crane’s Tavern cemented the four songwriters and their Laurel Canyon-informed sound. Their debut album was produced by Chris Robinson; they toured with The Black Crowes and they’re currently gearing up to release their next album in the spring.) While it made not be a Halloween show per se, the T&S Co. semi-annual homecoming is sure to be a celebratory one. And, if you were ever thinking of dressing as a member of Crazy Horse of Buffalo Springfield for Halloween, this is one show where no one will look twice. The Lumineers and Ruston Kelly open the show. 8:30 p.m. $10 advance or $12 day of show. http://www.thegreyeagle.com.

Asheville On Bikes brings back the annual Pumpkin Pedaller, a community oriented Halloween-themed bike ride. Wear a costume, bring your family and friends and saddle up. This year, there are two Pumpkin Pedaller options:
1. The family-friendly ride meets at Stephens Lee Center at 2:30 p.m., the ride begins at 3 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m.
2. The evening ride gathers outside of City Hall at 3:30 p.m., pedalling starts at 4 p.m. and culminates at The Wedge Brewery at 7 p.m. http://ashevilleonbikes.com.

Folk-psych rockers Arbouretum make the trip from from Baltimore to play The Get Down. This tour is in support of fourth full-length album The Gathering which dropped earlier this year.  “The new album finds the band exploring different aspects of their sonic arsenal,” says a press release. “The keys have replaced one of the guitars, melding with the rhythm section to create a rich backdrop for Dave Heumann's exploratory guitar solos and his metaphorical lyrics reach new heights, taking inspiration from Carl Jung's Red Book.” Celebration! opens. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 10 p.m. $7. http://www.getdownasheville.com.

This is the Grove House complex’s big blowout: The Haunted Grove House Inferno. It includes a $1,000 costume contest, decorations throughout the building and parties on all floors. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. $20 all-access with a $5 discount for members in costume. http://www.thegrovehouse.com/gh_special_events.htm.

At the LAB, Lionized Events presents a Halloween ball featuring Sinistarr, Razor & Blade and Tommy L with a VJ to be announced. 10 p.m.http://lexavebrew.com

Westville Pub’s Halloween Party and costume contest is headlined by rockabilly/Western outfit Cisco Playboys. 10 p.m. http://www.westvillepub.com.

Wild Wing Café holds a Hallowing Freaker's Bash with over $2,000 in cash and prizes. Holla Rocket plays. $10 advance or $12 at the door. http://www.wildwingcafe.com/our-locations/asheville-nc.php.

Pools and candy are forbidden by the "wait one hour between between food and swimming" rule, but what better time to break the rules than Halloween? The Zeugner Center, located behind TC Roberson High School, will host its annual Haunted Pool Lagoon festival. It will feature a costume contest, face painting and ghoulish crafts. Bring a bathing suit to go swimming and a bag in which to carry home candy. Donation of canned goods requested for MANNA FoodBank. $2 to swim in the spooky
(yet sparkling clean) lagoon pool. 684-5072.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Two People Playing Music (yes, that’s actually the band’s name) finish their fall tour with a show at BoBo Gallery. The band To All My Dear Friends lends support. 10 p.m. http://www.bobogallery.com.

Arcade Asheville’s Hallelujah Hullabaloo (which is almost, but not quite, Halloween) features DJs Jamie Hepler, Whitney Shroyer and friends. http://www.arcadeasheville.com.

Monday, Oct. 31

“Halloween Party-FKNA!” at BoBo Gallery gets started around 10 p.m. http://www.bobogallery.com

The Orange Peel hosts (wait for it…) A Horny Halloween featuring local bands Asheville Horns and Eymarel. 9 p.m., $10. http://theorangepeel.net.

In case you didn’t get enough Grove House in your weekend, here’s one more chance: The complex hosts Hell-A-Queen featuring Thriller, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. at Scandals; and a psychedelic rock costume party with Jahman Brahman and Duende Mountain Duo, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. in the Boiler Room. http://www.thegrovehouse.com.

TallGary's Cantina hosts a Halloween dance party. ‘Nuf said. http://www.tallgarys.com.

Whether you like your poetry living, undead or lycanthropic, poets are invited to eat, drink and slam until the wee hours of All Hallows' Eve. Sign-ups for The Slam of the Dead begin at 7:30 p.m., with tales of all things scary to follow. Held at The Magnetic Field, 372 Depot St. in the River Arts District. $5 cover with a $50 prize to the winner. http://themagneticfield.com.