The strangest, best and most Asheville things happening this week. A few sell out, so book these first.
The best scare in town
Hauntville High: Class of '26
The Montford Park Players' outdoor Shakespeare stage turns into a haunted high school for three nights. Groups of 15 get walked through 13 scenes for about an hour: backstage, onstage, and above and below the stage. Two local immersive theater makers put it on, it's gory, and it has sold out every year. As of Oct 23, most of Thursday's and Friday's tours between 7 and 9 are gone. Saturday still has the most open times, and every night has openings after 9.
Appalachian folk horror goes to prom
Goth Prom with Old Gods of Appalachia
Old Gods of Appalachia is the folk horror podcast built on the kind of mountain stories a lot of us grew up hearing. Its creators, Cam Collins and Steve Shell, are taking over Burial's room on the South Slope for a Halloween prom: DJ Poltergeist on deep cuts, fog and candlelight, and Cam and Steve crowning prom royalty. Dress formal or full gothic. Cast members may stop by.
A 1922 vampire, scored live
Nosferatu with a live score by GHOSTsTALKER
F.W. Murnau's silent vampire film, the original creepy Count Orlok, with GHOSTsTALKER playing a live metal and electronic score against it. A great way to open Halloween week, and cheap.
Tell a ghost story, get a drink
Haunts and Haints: Appalachian storytelling
An open ghost-story swap at the distillery on Fairview Road, hosted by Modelface Comedy. Bring a haint tale, a family legend or a bit of mountain folklore, and if you tell one your next drink is on them. It's seated, so come early for a good spot.
A party for the Grove Park Inn's ghost
The Pink Lady Party
The Grove Park Inn's most famous guest is the Pink Lady, a young woman in a pink gown said to have fallen into the Palm Court in the 1920s. Staff still blame her for cold spots near Room 545. This is her party, in Elaine's piano bar: dueling pianos, tarot readings, themed cocktails, small plates and a costume contest. Some drinks and food come with the ticket. The inn also has free live music in the Great Hall Friday and Saturday nights, 7 to 10pm.
Monster movies, jazz and a $150 prize
Haunted Hollywood at Antidote
Antidote, the cocktail lounge at Chemist, turns into an old movie house: 1920s to 1940s monster films on the walls, Dracula, Frankenstein and Wolf Man rooms, a red carpet and live jazz, then a vinyl DJ for the Monster Mash. The costume prizes are real: $150 for the best group, $75 for a couple, $50 for one person and $25 for most creative.
Local bands dressed as other bands
Night of the Living Covers at Fleetwood's
Halloween cover night at Fleetwood's, and every dollar goes to AVL Prison Books. drowningleo plays a Limp Bizkit tribute set, and other local bands take on Paramore, Social Distortion, Guided By Voices, DIO and more.
A gothic cabaret in a story parlor
Palimpsest's Third Annual Gothic Cabaret
A live episode of the Palimpsest audio drama, a reading from Jen Julian's The Winter Folk, ballads from Eleanor Chen, and horror-themed teas from Haints and Hollers, the horror bookstore and tea bar coming to the South Slope.
Dance until 3, no hangover
Halloween the AfterLife at Nightshade
Nightshade is the South Slope's alcohol-free lounge, from the folks behind Asheville Dispensary and Plant Bar. On Halloween it opens the whole place for six hours of deep, groovy dance music from four local DJs: Mikaya at 9, Purrriestess at 10:30, Bowie at midnight and Osiah at 1:30. There's a second sound system, the terrace firepit and cacao. With the clocks falling back at 2, it's a long night.