The Weekender: October 28 to 31

Photo by iStock/Lakshmi3

Eat, shop, go

It’s Halloween weekend and we’ve gathered some of the spookiest happenings on campus and around the city for you. Kick off your weekend with a Halloween-themed brunch or by listening to some scary tunes, donning your costume and strolling around a holiday-themed market, or watching some haunting scenes from plays dating back to ancient times. If you want to balance the cute and the terrifying, head downtown for a parade of pups decked out in costume.

City Tap Boston

Fill up with some Halloween-themed meals and specials at City Tap Boston this weekend. Stop by Saturday to enjoy a Basic Witch Brunch, which includes psychic readings, a photo booth, avocado toast, and more. Guests are urged to wear Uggs and black leggings and other apparel that complements this “basic witch” theme (a play on the slang term “basic bitch,” which makes fun of people who conform to mainstream trends). Want something spookier? Visit on Sunday, when the restaurant is hosting a Skeleton Crew PJ Brunch, offering black mimosas and a chance to win a $50 gift card by competing in a scariest pajama set contest. Both days will feature special cocktails (21-plus) and entrées to get you in the Halloween spirit.

City Tap Boston is at 10 Boston Wharf Rd., Boston. The Basic Witch Brunch is Saturday, October 30, and the Skeleton Crew PJ Brunch is Sunday, October 31; both are served from 11 am to 3 pm. Reservations are recommended. Call 617-904-2748 or reserve a table on thewebsite.

Brighton Bazaar Market Night: Halloween Edition

Put on your holiday costume and head over to Brighton for an evening of live music, food, and shopping at the Brighton Bazaar Market Night. Dozens of local vendors will be on hand selling art, vinyl, vintage clothing, and more. For those 21-plus, be sure to check out the beer garden. There’s no need to register in advance, just show up in a costume and a mask and get ready to have a good time shopping.

Brighton Bazaar Market Night: Halloween Edition is Thursday, October 28, from 5 to 9 pm at the Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Boston.

Gore Fest 2021: A Halloween Reading of Greek and Roman Tragedy

Here’s a chance to watch some of the scariest scenes from classical Greek and Roman literature come to life. Yes, we’re talking about Gore Fest 2021, the annual event sponsored by BU’s Undergraduate Classics Association, the CAS classical studies department, and Core Curriculum, where students and faculty perform scenes from some of the world’s greatest plays. The performances will be in English and are open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costumes and are required to wear masks.

Gore Fest 2021 is Friday, October 29, from 5 to 7 pm, both in person and virtually. Register here to receive the Zoom link and reserve your spot for the in-person performance in the School of Theology, Room B10, 745 Commonwealth Ave. 

Freecappella

The BU a cappella group In Achord hosts its annual Halloween-themed concert Friday, October 29, and will be joined by fellow a cappella groups Terpsichore, Chordially Yours, and Distilled Harmony. Count on the lineup including some spooky songs. The concert is free and open to all, no registration required, costumes encouraged. 

Freecappella is Friday, October 29, at 7:30 pm in the Photonics Center, Room 206, 8 St. Mary’s St. 

2021 Doggone Halloween Costume Parade

Sure haunted houses and horror movies are great ways to get in the Halloween mood, but what better way to celebrate the season than seeing adorable dogs of all breeds and sizes decked out in costumes and strutting through downtown Boston? It’s the annual Doggone Halloween Costume Parade, hosted by the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID), where canines and their owners dress up and take over Downtown Crossing to compete for prizes. 

Each dog competing receives a treat and a chance to win the prize for cutest costume, scariest costume, best dog and human duo, best costume, and more.

The 2021 Doggone Halloween Costume Parade is Saturday, October 30, from noon to 2 pm outside of Macy’s at Downtown Crossing, 450 Washington St., Boston. Find more information and register your pet here.