It’s October, so this can mean only one thing: it’s time to plan your costume and book that out-of-town trip to celebrate Halloween. However skimpy or politically driven your disguise portrays, make sure you think of everything since there are plenty of events from coast-to-coast to show off your … spirit.
All events are on the 31st, unless otherwise noted.
New York City
At 7pm, the Greenwich Village comes alive with all things Halloween. Only those in costume and masks can join the Village Halloween Parade, but for those feeling shy, music and dancers will entertain all revelers.
Boston
Head over to Royale Boston for DRAGATHON: Halloween Night Spooktacular which promises spooky nonstop drag performances all night hosted by The Boulet Brothers and starring Trixie Mattel, Katya and Kylie Sonique Love.
Provincetown
The tip of the cape is bear-y spooky for Halloween. With a full weekend schedule of spooky, sexy parties, street entertainment and events fit for every kind of zombie, angel, demon twink, daddy and bear — P-Town ends the season in true celebratory fashion with Spooky Bear.
Washington D.C.
The DC High Heel Drag Queen Race is an annual event that is held each year on the Tuesday before Halloween. Thousands of spectators flock to Dupont Circle to watch as 100 or so costumed drag queens show off their elaborate outfits and race down 17th Street.
Fort Lauderdale
Wicked Manors is the signature holiday event that sees Wilton Drive close down for a masquerade ball. This year’s theme is “Turn Back Time” so there isn’t a shortage of costumes with all the 80s looks you can pull off.
Chicago
From 5-10pm, Midwestern ghosts and ghouls will take over Boystown with the 24th Annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade & Costume Contest. With any one of the bars along the strip hosting viewing parties, it’s sure to be a festive event.
New Orleans
Halloween New Orleans is a full weekend event so, pack your best arcade-inspired costumes for charity benefit parties. We know that the city is kinda haunted, so make sure you plan time to get spooked in the infamous NOLA cemeteries.
Palm Springs
If you think you have what it takes to take home a top prize, head to the desert for Halloween on Arenas Road. Even if you don’t win one of the prizes (worth over $1,800), you can dance to Debby Holiday all night long.
Key West
Fantasy Fest is a 10-day, no-holds-barred party filled with costumes, body paint, drinking, dancing, life loving and skin aplenty!
Philadelphia
On Halloween night, RuPaul’s Drag Race alum take over the Met Philadelphia for Night of the Living Drag. Violet Chachki guides unsuspecting guests through the untimely deaths of drag superstars Alyssa Edwards, Aquaria, Jaida Essence Hall, GottMik, Kandy Muse, Plastique, Rosé & Kim Chi before summoning them back from the dead as flesh craving drag zombies.
Photos courtesy of Village Halloween Festival, The Boulet Brothers, Provincetown Tourism Office, Halloween New Orleans, and by Flickr users Ted Eytan (DC), ChrisChavez (Fort Lauderdale), Natasha Jelezkina (Chicacgo) and JBetac used under the Creative Commons Attribution license