We’re finally in the thick of it. It’s that time of the year when you need to you check underneath your bed for the boogeyman, make sure you’re not exploring an abandoned house where three evil-sister-witches used to live, and you definitely don’t want to travel to any remote cabins in the woods and recite any passages from some old book. Here at Totally Boise, we love October and all things spooky. To us, the entire month of October is basically Halloween. If you’ve been wondering about what fun events are going on in Boise this month, don’t worry: We’ve got you covered.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Stagecoach Theater
“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure.” This month at the Stagecoach Theater, they will be performing The Rocky Horror Picture Show live! If you’re a fan of the cult-classic film, this is a must-see play. Audiences are encouraged to participate with sass, props will be given out and there’s even a bar open in the lobby during intermission. While this event is basically running all month long, there’s still a high probability that showtimes will sell out - so be sure to call and get your tickets soon.
Spooky Movies at The Egyptian Theater
Talk about a perfect pairing. If you haven’t heard the rumors, The Egyptian Theatermiiiiight be haunted. There’s talks of an old projectionist named Joe that died on the job after working there for 35 years whose soul never seemed to leave the old-school, single-screen theater. Don’t worry, though! He’s apparently nice and just likes to play harmless pranks. Throughout the month of October, you can find the following movies playing at this supposedly haunted theater:
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (Oct. 11th)
- Beetlejuice (Oct. 16th)
- Young Frankenstein (Oct. 19th) 21+ ONLY
- Hocus Pocus (Oct. 20th) Two Showtimes
- The Shining (Oct. 21st) 21+ ONLY
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 29th)
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 30th) 21+ ONLY
Go see one of these movies and you might just mingle with some manifestations!
Halloween Trolley Tours
This is a Boise favorite and tends to sell out quickly. The company decks out it’s vintage trolley in spooky decorations and then heads out into the night on a 1.5 hour tour of all the haunted locations in Boise! All tours are for ages 12 and older, except for the night of the 31st, which is 21+ and includes sandwiches and wine.
Frightened Felons X
On October 26th, 2018, you have an opportunity to go party in the Old Idaho Penitentiary. The 21+ night is sold out, but there’s plenty of tickets left for their all-ages night. Their facebook event sums it nicely: “We invite you to tour the site at night and dare to enter the only haunted cell house in Boise (expanded even more this year with more frights per cell!). With special performances of the Zombie "Thriller" Dance, costume contests with cash prizes, actors portraying inmates of the past, Old Pen mugshots and photo ops, photos with our historic hearse and undertaker, music, presentations, prizes, scavenger hunt, food trucks, coffee, hot cocoa, beer and wine! Food trucks this year include Foxy Franks, Genki Takoyaki, il Segreto Wood Fired Pizza, Twisted Sister Coffee and Smoothies, and Jo's Traveling Bar.”
Costumes are encouraged, but masks are not recommended due to visibility concerns and safety hazards.
Out of the Darkness Treasure Valley Area Walk
If you have the morning of Friday the 13th off of work, we highly suggest participating in this walk-a-thon that raises awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. The Treasure Valley Out of the Darkness Community Walk is a journey of remembrance and a walk that unites a community – a time to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and our loved ones. The walk route starts near the amphitheater of Kleiner Park in Meridian. The route is just over three miles long and is wheelchair and stroller friendly.
Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome at the event, too!
Boo at the Zoo
Have you been looking for a great Halloween event to take the kiddos out to see? We think this might be a great choice! Boo at the Zoo is an event on Saturday, October 27th where costumed characters pass out candy, there are costume contests for all ages, face painting, and more! All while being able to walk through and check out the all of the different animals. Proceeds from all activities are used for improvements to the zoo, too! ZooBoise is a huge proponent of conservation action in our community and donates towards the Boise Foothills Restoration Project and consistently rehabilitates and helps endangered species.
Idaho Horror Film Festival
The 5th Annual Idaho Horror Film Festival is coming back to Boise October 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2018! The Idaho Horror Film Festival takes place at the Egyptian Theater and is a non-profit international film exhibition whose mission is to shine a spotlight on Idaho’s emerging filmmakers. If you are a lover of slasher flicks, horror-comedies, zombie movies, or anything else horror related - this event is not to be missed.
Refugee Restaurant Week
After going to all of these amazing October events listed above, you’re going to need a good meal. Although this isn’t necessarily Halloween-related, we do think it is an amazing addition to the Treasure Valley. This is the second annualRefugee Restaurant Week after a successful first year. This is a weeklong event that has just started where local restaurants team up with guest chefs from around the world to “create dishes that represent their home countries,” according to the official website. This event helps refugee chefs and farmers and we couldn’t be happier to go try these incredible dishes:
The STIL | Oct. 8th - 14th
Syrian-inspired ice cream - by chefs Najlaa Omar & Jenna Kieta
Petite 4 | Oct. 11th - 13th
Pork and beef momos with signature sauce - by chefs Ratna Subba & Sarah Kelly
Locavore | Oct. 8th - 14th
Baasto suugo pasta with tuna, bariis Somali-style rice, and maraq goat and vegetable soup - by chefs Rahma Abdi Ali & Christine Reid
Grit American Cuisine | Oct. 11th - 13th
Chicken kepsa, kofta siniyah, and fattoush salad - by chefs Saddam Alkadro and Paul Faucher
Duck Club Presents: Halloween Freak Party
Now this is gonna be a party. On the 27th of October (the Saturday before Halloween) at the Neurolux will be a massive Halloween Freak Party. Every year there’s a cover band - last year was an ELO cover band complete with full string accompaniment that was incredible - and it looks like this year we will be getting a full live-band rendition of The Beatle’s seminal and classic Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, performed in its entirety. Other live performances by And And And, St. Terrible, and Tuck Nelson will ensure a good time will be had this year. Every year, this event is filled with hundreds of young adults wearing their best costumes. Oh, also, you get $3 off of your ticket if you wear a costume.
Witches Night Out | Fundraiser for the Women's And Children's Alliance
On October 17th at 6-8pm there is a great fundraiser happening at The Village out on Eagle Road. The event is described as follows:
"Join hundreds of witch clad women in a night of music, fun and prizes to support a great cause. Our goal is to raise $20,000 for the WCA whose mission is to provide safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault! At the event, raffle tickets will be sold to win the contents of the Witch’s Wardrobe (valued over $2,000) and a variety of other raffle prizes. 100% of the proceeds benefit the WCA. Enjoy fun activities such as Harry Potter Sorting Hat station, green screen photos, Psychic Lip Reading, Wall of Whine, Witches Brew station, Live Music with the Retreads and more!"
Ingmar Bergman Centenary| Presented by Boise State University
Over on The Flicks website it reads that “2018 marks the 100th anniversary of legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman's birth. Heralded as one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema, Bergman and his films will be celebrated across the globe this year in numerous retrospectives and film festivals. Between October 22 and 26, Boise State University will host a five-day celebration of Bergman and his films along with introductions by various BSU faculty members: October 22--Wild Strawberries (with Dr. Rulon Wood), October 23--The Virgin Spring (with Dr. Richard Klautsch), October 24--The Silence (with Dr. Michael Porter), October 25--Cries and Whispers (with Prof. Ryan Cannon). Screenings on October 22-25 will be held in the Morrison Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall at 7:00 pm.
The festival will conclude at The Flicks with Bergman's masterpiece, The Seventh Seal, on October 26 at 7:00 pm. It will be introduced by Dr. Thomas Sobchack, Director of Graduate Studies for Film and Theatre at the University of Utah.”
This is an amazing opportunity to see some of one of the most heralded filmmakers best films in a theater setting - and for FREE no less! Ingmar Bergman is often referred to as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century whose works dealt heavily with the questioning of the human condition, individual consciousness and existentialism.
Just to tie this back into Halloween: What’s more terrifying than pondering our own existence?!
Get Halloween Ready at Albertsons on Broadway #eatlifeup
Got Guts? Microbiome Makeover
Learn more about how you can revamp your guy microbiota for optimal health. Join Molly, our dietician for a fun and informative workshop about fermented foods, sprouted grain, and gut friendly foods. Great for the whole family! This event is not ticketed, but please register online at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3606140 Event will be located in the Broadway on the Rocks restaurant
Date: 10/25
Time: 5-6pm
Freaky Fruits
Come check out the spine-tingling surprises our fruit display has in store in the produce department.
Date: 10/26-10/30
Free samples and tastings
Rogue Brewing and Redrum Rum will be upstairs with Halloween specials.
Date: 10/26
Time: 4-7pm
Catch the BSU game
Edge Brewing and Party Animal Vodka will be at Broadway on the Rocks for the Boise State game with games and drink specials.
Date: 10/27
Time: 5:00pm
In-store trick or treating
While you’re shopping let the little ones get a jump start on collecting their Halloween loot.
Date: 10/31
Time: 4-7pm