The WEEKENDER

Eat, Shop, Go

The BU physics department is holding its popular annual Pumpkin Drop from the roof of the Metcalf Science Center on Friday, October 26. It’s just one of many Halloween-themed events happening on and off campus this weekend. Photo by Jackie Ricciardi

With Halloween fast approaching, things are getting spooky around Boston. Check out this Thursday’s extra-wicked edition of “The Weekender” for ideas about which of the numerous haunted festivities to choose, on and off campus. If you have suggestions for events or places we should feature, leave them in the Comment section below.

8th Annual Dia de los Muertos Block Party at Taza Chocolate

Join renowned local chocolate manufacturer Taza Chocolate for its annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) block party this Saturday. There will be plenty of food, live music, and face painting. Vendors—including Taco Party, Tex Mex Eats, Tenoch Mexican, North East of the Border, Eloti Boston, A&J King Artisan Bakers, Honeycomb Creamery, Bantam Cider, and Slumbrew—will be on hand selling tacos, tamales, elotes, sweet treats, beer, cider, juice, and other delicacies. Among the live performances is a traditional Mexican celebration of remembrance by La Piñata, a local Latin American culture group. And Taza will be handing out free hot chocolate, a tasty way to ward off the autumn chill.

Taza Chocolate’s Dia de los Muertos celebration is Saturday, October 27, from noon to 5 pm, at the Taza factory, 561 Windsor St., Somerville. Admission is free. Take an MBTA Red Line train to Central Square, Cambridge, and walk 20 minutes.

Dorothy’s Costume Boutique

Does your Halloween costume still need that finishing touch? Stop by Dorothy’s Boutique, the self-proclaimed “Boston Halloween Headquarters.” You’ll find costumes, makeup, hats, bags, funky shoes and boots, jewelry, and hundreds of wigs in every color and style. Check out the store’s website for coupons and to browse a small selection of the huge inventory. If you stop by, be prepared to wait: this time of year, there’s often a line that wraps around the block.

Dorothy’s Costume Boutique, 190 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm and Sunday from noon to 6 pm. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Hynes Convention Center and walk five minutes.

Dorothy’s Costume Boutique is your one-stop shop for Halloween costumes and accessories, including shoes, boots, makeup, wigs, jewelry, and more. Photo courtesy of Dorothy’s Boutique

BU Physics Department’s 14th Annual Pumpkin Drop

Every year around Halloween, the BU physics department pushes pumpkins filled with various substances off the Metcalf Science Center roof—in the name of science. Come join the gravity-assisted fun this Friday, October 26, on the Metcalf Science Center plaza. Be sure to dress up and arrive early so you can enter the costume contest (prizes will be awarded, with a premium placed on creativity and detail), guess the weight of the biggest pumpkin, munch on free snacks, and snag a good seat to watch the fun. Pumpkins begin dropping at 12:30 pm.

The BU physics department’s annual Pumpkin Drop is Friday, October 26, at the Metcalf Science Center plaza, 590 Commonwealth Ave., at 12:30 pm. The contest entry table and science demo tables open at 11 am. This event is free and open to the public.

ImprovBoston’s GOREFEST XVI: 2280 A Space Slaughterssey

ImprovBoston, one of the city’s most famous comedy troupes, hosts a Halloween-themed comedy musical “splatterfest.” In keeping with tradition, this year’s show will be full of musical mayhem and fake blood, guts, and gore. It’s an immersive comedy experience and the audience is always in the splash zone, so plan to buy a poncho on site to keep your costume (or whatever you’re wearing) in tip-top shape for trick-or-treating. And be sure to arrive on time—there will be no late seating.

GOREFEST XVI runs through Wednesday, October 31, at ImprovBoston’s Studio Theater, 40 Prospect St., Central Square, Cambridge. Find admission prices and show dates and times here. Buy tickets here. Student tickets are $20 (at the door only).

Faneuil Hall Halloween Pet Parade and Costume Contest

Head over to Faneuil Hall Marketplace this Saturday for arguably the cutest, cuddliest Halloween event in town. We’re talking about the annual Halloween Pet Parade and Costume Contest, featuring cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes bedecked in adorable costumes to celebrate the spooky season. Pet owners can enter them online. Prizes will be awarded in six categories: best of show, best owner and pet combo, most creative, best group, spookiest, and best local representation. The event is free and open to the public.

The Halloween Pet Parade and Costume Contest is at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market St., Boston, Sunday, October 28, from noon to 2 pm. Take an MBTA Green Line trolley to Government Center and walk across City Hall Plaza to Faneuil Hall.

Dogs and cats bedecked in their finest Halloween garb will walk the red carpet at the annual Faneuil Hall Halloween Pet Parade and Costume Contest. Photo courtesy of Faneuil Hall Marketplace

In Achord Presents: Freecappella

In Achord, BU’s premier co-ed a cappella group, hosts its annual fall concert this Saturday, October 27, at 7:30 pm, at Jacob Sleeper Auditorium. Join In Achord and special guests BU’s Terpsichore and two additional a cappella groups whose identity is a surprise for a night of spooky singing. Come in costume for a chance to win a prize.

Freecappella is Saturday, October 27, at Jacob Sleeper Auditorium, 871 Commonwealth Ave., at 7:30 pm. Admission is free.

Coolidge Corner Theatre’s 18th Annual Halloween Horror Marathon

Want to get into a spooky mood for the upcoming Halloween holiday? Take in the Coolidge Corner Theatre’s annual Halloween Horror Marathon Saturday night. The theme of this year’s marathon, which features 12 hours of films, is extraterrestrial terrors. The fun kicks off at midnight with the classic 1953 science fiction drama The War of the Worlds, followed by Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979). After that, five more films will roll out, and in keeping with this marathon tradition, you won’t know the titles until they play. But the theater promises “there will be plenty of intergalactic killers, creatures, goo, and gore to keep the audience up all night.”

The Coolidge Corner Theatre Halloween Horror Marathon begins Saturday, October 27, at 11:59 pm, at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Purchase tickets, $25 for a double feature and $30 for the full marathon, here. Take an MBTA Green Line C trolley to Coolidge Corner.

SoWa Spooktacular

It’s the final SoWa Open Market of the season, and as usual, it’s going out in spooky style. The popular market hosts its annual SoWa Spooktacular this Sunday. In addition to the regular market, which sells art, jewelry, local produce, and more, there’ll be a costume contest (for people and pets), pumpkin and face painting, and live music by All Types of Kinds. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Come hungry and thirsty: several food trucks will be selling a range of cuisines, and this week’s market will include a mini beer festival, featuring six local brewers, for those 21+.

SoWa Spooktacular is Sunday, October 28, at the SoWa Open Market, 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, from 10 am to 4 pm. The costume contest is from noon to 2 pm. Find directions here.

Madeleine O’Keefe can be reached at mokeefe@bu.edu; follow her on Twitter @OKeefeMadeleine.