Get ready to celebrate Halloween Jersey City style as the city’s most popular bars and restaurants host their annual costume parties, dinners, and masquerades. Plus, join Mayor Fulop in welcoming Pet Shop JC and its new PS Wine Bar to the neighborhood during Pet Shop’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
**Wednesday: WORD Bookstore presents Joel McHale — star of the NBC’s “Community” — at the Landmark Loew’s Theater. McHale will be on-hand to promote his new book. Fellow comedian Will Forte will join him during a 1-hour open forum. The event begins at 8pm and costs $45 (which includes a copy of McHale’s book).
**Wednesday: JCFamilies and the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association present their 2016 Halloween Parade. The event runs from 5pm till 8pm and includes a children’s costume parade and dog/pet parade.
**Thursday: Join Mayor Fulop in officially welcoming Pet Shop JC to the neighborhood. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will run from 4.30pm to 5pm. Thursday will also be the official opening of PS Wine Bar, Pet Shop’s basement wine bar/speakeasy serving small, independent wines.
**Thursday: Squeeze’d and 8 Springs Studio are throwing their first Halloween Party together. The kid-friendly event will include a costume party, food, megaformer demos, raffle, and live music. The event starts at 5.30pm at 8 Springs Studio at Cast Iron Lofts.
**Thursday: Live music, Halloween costumes, and New York City views are just part of Battello’s Halloween Masquerade Party. Music starts at 5pm and continues at 8pm in the Battello Lounge.
**Friday: Orale’s Día de Los Muertos celebration kicks off Friday night with live music and Orale’s annual Halloween costume contest.
**Friday: Halloween meets modern art during LITM’s 4-day Haunted Garden celebration. Things kick off with Friday’s Mad Wonderland Tea Party, a night of tea-based cocktail specials and tarot card readings. To celebrate LITM’s current art installation — which is inspired by Alice in Wonderland — LITM will also have a Wonderland selfie booth. Anyone who dresses up in costume will receive 10% off their bill.
**Saturday: Beautifully creepy, creepily beautiful: that’s the motto of Cathedral Hall’s Spectral Gala, a Halloween ball held inside a converted church. The party kicks off at 8pm with a cash bar and live DJ. Tickets cost $45 and a portion of sales will benefit 4th Street Arts and the York Street Project.
**Saturday: Jersey City’s best-dressed dogs will congregate at K9dergarten for See Spot Rescued’s annual Halloween Hangout — a costume party for your four-legged friends. The event runs from 4pm to 6pm and includes prizes for the best-dressed pooch.
New: Saturday: Comedy and goth horror will hit the big screen at The Loew’s Theater, which will screen the Oscar-nominated movie, The Addams Family (1991) at 6pm. Following the movie, there will be a Masquerade After-Party in the Grand Lobby with music, dancing, a cash bar, and a costume contest. Admission to the movie is $8. Tickets for the after-party cost $25 online or $30 at the door.
New: Saturday: Celebrate Halloween with your best dancing shoes on. Jersey City Ballroom’s Halloween party will feature a group Thriller class, costume contest, and a dance show. The party — which starts at 7pm — is open to all; admission is $15 per person or $10 if you arrive in costume. Refreshments and wine will be provided.
**Saturday: Cellar 335 is hosting its first Halloween party/costume contest. The Shipwrecked Soiree will feature specialty Caribbean cocktails, a live DJ, and contests for best pirate, most creative, and best overall costume. The party runs from 9pm to 1am.
**Saturday: Zeppelin Hall’s Shocktober Fest is being described as the unholy child of Oktoberfest and Halloween. The events kicks off at 9.30pm and includes live music and a costume party. The winner of the best costume takes home $500, which might be the biggest costume party payout in all of downtown.
**Saturday: Liberty State Park’s Central Railroad is the backdrop for the Terminal of Terror — a Halloween party for kids and adults. The first portion of the party — from 4pm to 8pm — is the family-friendly part, with a haunted bouncy house for kids, costume party, and other kid-friendly activities. The adults-only party starts at 9pm and runs to 2am.
**Sunday: Fancy yourself a Rocky Horror Picture Show expert? LITM is hosting a night of RHPS trivia with $50 and $30 prizes for the top-placing teams. The trivia will be followed by a screening of the cult classic. The event starts at 5pm.
Halloween Day
**Monday: The Pedestrian Plaza will be transformed into a Halloween wonderland during the 3rd Annual Family Halloween Bash. The event runs from 3pm to 6pm with local vendors like Bambino Chef, Gia Gelato, and Gymboree Play & Music lining up the streets of the Plaza.
**Monday: LITM’s Halloween festivities continue Monday night during the bar’s annual Halloween Karaoke & Costume Party, which starts at 7pm. The winner of the contest will take home a $50 gift card. (Karaoke starts at 9pm).
**Monday: Madame Claude Bis is throwing a Masquerade Party for Haiti. The costume party includes a 2-hour open bar (from 7pm to 9pm) and a full buffet dinner. Tickets are $50 in advance or $55 at the door. Half of all proceeds will help the victims of Haiti recently affected by Hurricane Matthew.
(Photo: LITM/Buko Media)
