Halloween Guide 2017 

We've got a comprehensive list of the coolest shit happening for halloween weekend, and it ranges from family fun to not safe for work.

Abari Movie Nights

If you're reading this, it's already too late ... to catch Abari Movie Night #1. Lucky for you, there's still two more. Everyone's favorite arcade bar will be screening Dawn of the Dead and Dead Alive on Thursday, Oct. 26, then continuing the madness on Halloween night with Friday the 13th Part 2 and Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Each night, attendees can expect free pizza, with House of the Dead 2 and Scared Stiff on free play Thursday night, and selfie league pinball mahcines on free play Tuesday.

When: October 26, 8 p.m.-Midnight; Oct. 31, 8 p.m.-Midnight

Where: Abari Game Bar, 1721 N. Davidson St.

More: Free; abarigamebar.com

• 'Friday the 13th Part 2.'

Chiveoween Costume Party

Remember a few years ago when everyone started saying "Keep Calm and Blah Blah Blah" and wearing shirts with Bill Murray's face on them with no context whatsoever? Well, that was all due to theChive.com, but don't hold it against them, as they raise tons of money for lots of cool causes. This party will feature a costume contest and other Chive-tastic activities, if that's your thing.

When: October 27, 8 p.m.-Midnight

Where: TILT on Trade, 127 W. Trade St.

More: $30; tiltontrade.com

Howl-O-Ween Yappy Hour

Halloween doesn't have to be scary all the time. Dogs dressed up as adorable pumpkins or your favorite superhero always guarantee a smile — or the perfect Instagram. Pet Wants, The Ruff Life and Pop the Top Craft Beer Shop are teaming up to make this the best and cutest Halloween party in town, with booze, treats, prizes and, of course, pups.

When: October 27, 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Where: Pop the Top Craft Beer Shop, 116 West Blvd.

More: Free; popthetopclt.com

Creepy Crawly Critter-ween

You know what kinds of animals come out at night, right? Do you know how many you've actually seen? Bring the family to Reedy Creek Park for a campfire featuring s'mores, hay rides, costumes contests and — once it's dark enough — a night hike to observe the critters that only come out at night.

When: October 27, 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Where: Reedy Creek Park, 2900 Rocky River Rd.

More: Free; bit.ly/2z25mVk

Thomas Davis Halloween Thriller Takeover

Thomas Davis, Defending Dreams Foundation, and his NFL friends are taking over Discovery Place to host fun festivities for a good cause. Costumes, casino games, appetizers, prizes and more will make for a most interesting Halloween throwdown.

When: October 27, 7 p.m.

Where: Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St.

More: $100, donations are appreciated; discoveryplace.org

click to enlarge

• 'The Shining' (Artwork by Rick Guedes)

Retro Horror at Ayrsley Grand

Every year, the folks at Ayrsley Grand Cinemas 14 in southwest Charlotte run classic horror stories on the big screen for just $5 throughout October. The last two featured films remaining this year are Carrie (7 p.m. nightly) and The Shining (9 p.m.)

When: October 27-November 2

Where: Ayrsley Grand Cinemas 14, 9110 Kings Parade Blvd.

More: $5; ayrsleycinemas.com

Trunk or Treat

Trunk-or-treating is fun for everyone, even the adults. While the kids are dressing up for traditional trick-or-treating, the adults get to put their creativity to the test and dress up their cars. Everyone wins, but only the most creative trunk will walk away with bragging rights.

When: October 27, 7 p.m.

Where: Plaza Road Pre-k, 1000 Anderson St.

More: Free; bit.ly/2zxWBi9

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• Spirits of Rosedale Plantation.

Spirits of Rosedale Plantation

Let 200-year-old spirits guide you through the historic plantation near NoDa. Some have been trapped there because of tragic epidemics, insanity, greed and even the hope for freedom on the Underground Railroad.

When: October 27, 28; 7-9:30 p.m.

Where: Historic Rosedale Plantation, 3427 N. Tryon St.

More: $15; historicrosedale.org

Halloween in NoDa

There was a time before Joey Hewell and Scott Lindsley took over the old house behind Smelly Cat Coffeehouse when it could have passed for haunted, but they've really turned the place around. This night won't be so much about fear as having a good time, as is typical of The Company Store. No cover. Snacks. Drinks. Costumes. Beer and other beverages. What else do you really need?

When: October 28, 7 p.m.

Where: The Company Store, 3221 Yadkin Ave.

More: Free; thecompanystore.com

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• Fabio Frizzi and The Beyond Tour.

Fabio Frizzi and The Beyond Tour

Horror movies are nothing without the eerie music and frightening sound effects. The film score for the Italian horror movie The Beyond is coming to life in Charlotte this Halloween, thanks to Fabio Frizzi, the composer of the haunting music. Re-vamped 35 years later, we get two versions: one featuring a full 51-piece orchestra and another by a 7-piece prog-rock band. Each is as powerful as the original, although the latter may be a little louder. Also, you get to see images from the movie projected onto a background screen. Not exactly a director's cut — more like the composer's cut.

When: October 28, 8 p.m.

Where: Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St.

More: $35-50, blumenthalarts.org

Ghost Walk Haunted Trail — Sleepy Hollow

Rumor has it that the Headless Horseman's noggin is buried near the Catawba River, which means his demonic spirit is searching somewhere in our backyards to find it. Latta Plantation is requesting only the bravest souls to walk in the presence of the very pissed-off decapitated demon.

When: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. October 28-29

Where: Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road

More: $10; lattaplantation.org

CLT Uptown Haunted Ghost Tours

Ghosts can no longer stuff their faces until their full, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a few snacks and cocktails at 204 North before and after this candlelit ghost tour in Charlotte's Old Settlers' Cemetery in Fourth Ward. Listen to the secrets and legends of the spirits who once were (and still are) there...

When: October 29 - 30, 8 p.m.

Where: 204 North, 204 N Tryon St.

More: $25 - $45; bit.ly/2h2rYdW

• CLT Uptown Haunted Ghost Tours.

Beers and Pyrs Halloween Social

Wanna adopt a polar bear? Or actually, a Great Pyrenees? Carolina Pyrenees Rescue will be dressing up its adoptable pooches and taking over Resident Culture for a Halloween Social. All dogs are welcome, and though costumes are not required, they're recommended.

When: October 29, 4 p.m.- 7 p.m.

Where: Resident Culture, 2101 Central Ave.

More: RSVP; residentculture.com

Monster Movie Monday Finale

For its final Monster Movie Monday, the Rabbit Hole will screen — what else? — the original 1978 Halloween, that influential genre flick featuring P.J. Soles (the peppy Ramones fan from Rock 'n' Roll High School) and the first appearance from budding teen scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis. (Horror trivia: Director John Carpenter wrote the the iconic theme in an hour.)

When: October 30, 8 p.m.

Where: The Rabbit Hole, 1801 Commonwealth Ave.

More: Free; therabbitspot.com

Sofar Sounds Halloween Spooktacular Show

Just a bunch of people playing music on Halloween, but that's all we know. You could get all dressed for it, if you want to, seeing as how it's called a "spooktacular show." But we don't really know, because we don't know where it'll be or who'll be there. And neither do you. Or anybody else, for that matter. Don't know what Sofar Sounds is? Neither do we! Just get dressed up and have some faith. Or proceed to the next several items.

When: October 31, 7:30 p.m.

Where: We don't know, but they'll tell you Oct. 30.

More: $15; sofarsounds.com/cities/charlotte/events/14403

Halloween Costume Picnic

Come dress as any character you want to — except for Carla from Cheers. We don't know exactly why, but the folks putting on this Halloween picnic don't want any Carlas or any Cheers characters whatsoever. Maybe Frasier — as long as it's the post-Cheers Frasier. Seriously, go be whoever you want to be. Just remember: if you're wearing a mask, it's gonna be hard to eat a hot dog.

When: October 31, 4 - 6 p.m.

Where: Freedom Park, 1900 East Blvd.

More: Free; bit.ly/2yMLAw3

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• Artwork by Rick Guedes.

Hattie's VR Halloween Horror Night

Why even create technology if we're not going to use it to scare the shit out of each other? Hattie's will introduce you into a new virtual reality world or two on Halloween, where you can clown around with IT Float, test your zombie survival skills by taking part in the Brookhaven Experiment or do a haunted walk-through in Affected: The Manor.

When: October 31, 7 p.m.-midnight.

Where: Hattie's Tap & Tavern, 2918 The Plaza

More: Free; hattiescharlotte.com

Nightmare on College Street

Stumbling around the Epicenter drunk is a scary thought at any time of the year. Bars like Bubble, Vida Vida, Blackfinn and others will open their doors for the Halloween Bar Crawl. Each location has its own special drink, so try to make it to all of them. Then try not to scream in terror when you look at your bank account the next day.

When: October 31, 6 p.m.

Where: EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St

More: $15; bit.ly/2zkuanB

Murder Mystery Trivia

Do you have what it takes to solve a murder? What about murder someone? OK, we're just kidding, back to the first question. Have your whole team dress up as their favorite Clue character for this trivia show, with prizes and points for those who pull it off the best. There's murder, theres trivia, there's booze and more.

When: October 31, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Davidson Street Public House, 1000 Anderson St.

More: Free; davidsonspub.com

Petra's Halloween Costume Contest

Can you think of a better place than Petra's to get dressed up like someone else? Nope, it was made for Halloween. DJ Monster Piece will be there, and so will $100 in cash prizes. And it won't cost you a dime unless you drink. But you'll probably drink, so take a few dimes.

When: October 31, 10:30 p.m.

Where: 1919 Commonwealth Ave.

More: Free; petrasbar.com

Haunted Harbor

OK, folks, this is the big Halloween blowout — if you like to rock. Space Wizard, Dr. Dice, Diving Board & The Deep Ends, The Poontanglers, Brother Atena, and that's just the bands. Snug's been doing this for more than a decade now, so they got it down pat. Dress up, wander to other parties, and when you're makeup is appropriately smeared, come on down to Snug Harbor, where everybody knows your name — even if you're all green and dressed up like the Wicked Witch.

When: October 31, 10 p.m.

Where: 1228 Gordon St.

More: $5; snugrock.com