Didn't get a ticket to Moogfest? There's still plenty of Halloween mischief to be had! We've rounded up a few of the best, but be sure to check out Clubland for a complete listing of weekend entertainment.
Never one to miss out on costumes and theatrics, LaZoom Tours offers its own twisted take on Asheville ghouls with the Haunted Comedy Tour, a "horrific and hysterical exploration of Asheville's dark and sordid past." The hour-long excursion will wind through Montford and Downtown spinning tales of murder, mystery and scandal, or as organizers say, "spilling Asheville's blood right before your very eyes." Costumes encouraged. Sunday, Oct. 31. $15. Info: 225-6932 and lazoomtours.com.
The Grove House wraps up a month's worth of spooktacular festivities with their two-night Haunted Inferno celebration. The party kicks off Saturday with a costume contest (worth $1,000 in prizes) and ends Sunday with more than 20 entertainers, musicians and DJs performing in all three venues. The whole complex is very well decorated! Dress up for a discount on admission. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30 & 31. Saturday’s festivities are $20 for three levels of entertainment, including Eleven on Grove, Scandals Nightclub and the Boiler Room. Sunday’s Halloween Rave is $10 for all three levels. Info: 505-1612. thegrovehouse.com.
Design a sporty costume and decorate your ride for Asheville on Bikes' fourth annual Pumpkin Pedaller, "a community ride throughout Asheville's ghoulish grounds." Ride departs from City Hall at 3:30 p.m. and ends with a celebration at the Wedge Brewery, where you can pick up a handmade Asheville on Bikes beer koozie and catch a late-night Halloween flick on the outdoor screen. Free. ashevilleonbikes.com.
Grammy-nominated Latin-funk masters Grupo Fantasma have been sharing their horn-infused jazz fusion with audiences around the world for a decade. Lucky for us, they'll celebrate Halloween with a Sunday performance at the Grey Eagle that promises to bring the dead to life. No BS Brass Band opens. 8 p.m. $10/$15. thegreyeagle.com.
For those who take haunted houses very seriously, Better Tours of Asheville offers back-to-back paranormal investigations led by a professional ghost hunter. The two-hour excursion will include the first-ever examination of the Flat Iron Building — "the sight of several historically unexplained haunts" — and culminates with drinks at the eighth-floor Sky Bar. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 29 & 30. 9 p.m. $25. bettertoursofasheville.com.
Who let the dogs out? Something for your furry friends: Blaze-N-Skyy (30 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 253-2850) announces this year's Halloween Dog Festival, a "Spooky, Costumed Pooches Haunt Wall Street to Raise Funds for Asheville Humane Society." The festivities go from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 on Wall St., downtown Asheville. Costume contests (large dog, small dog, best ensemble, best trick), begin at 1 p.m. The event also includes Asheville Humane Society pet adoptions, raffles and games, pet photography, animal-friendly marketplace and food and beverage vendors. Admission is free, contests are $5 per dog per contest.
— Dane Smith
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