Halloween is one of the most fun holidays out there. No need to worry about big family visits, huge meals or gathering gifts. All you have to do is find a great costume and have a good attitude, and you're bound for fun. Despite Sandy, many Halloween parties will still take place this week. Check out some of the best options, but remember to call or confirm to make sure the event is still happening as planned.

FranZenstein Fright Fest
5 PM–2 AM, Wednesday, October 31
Bierstube (206 Market St.)
Old City tavern Bierstube will be transformed into FranZenstein’s lair, with Fright Fest decorations on the ground floor and a fog-filled dungeon below-ground. Dress in your best costume and look for specials and giveaways from Spaten-Franziskaner.

Feliz Fright Night
10 PM–midnight, Wednesday, October 31; $20 in advance, $25 at the door
La Calaca Feliz (2321 Fairmount Ave.)
The Fairmount Mexican will host a Halloween bash with an open bar and all you can eat food. Drinks include Espolon margaritas, Tecate beer, sangria and cocktails from Lemon Hill, which will also host the after party. Call 215-787-9930 to reserve your ticket.

Frankford Halloween
Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.) will be hosting a costume Halloween party featuring $4 half liters, $8 liters of pumpkin beer, and $2 Pumpkin milkshakes all night. Couples costume winner receives a $100 Starr gift card.

Yelp’s Night by the Nile
8–10 PM, Wednesday, October 31; Free with RSVP, $10 donation suggested
Penn Museum (3260 South St.)
Dress in your best Egyptian-themed costume and spend Halloween night with real mummies while enjoying bites and sips from local restaurants. You must RSVP on Yelp to gain entry, which is totally free (as are all the food and drink), though a $10 donation to Alex’s Lemonade stand is strongly suggested.

Halloween Pumpkin Firkin
Wednesday, October 31
Devil’s Den (1148 S. 11th St.)
To celebrate the holiday, the South Philly beer bar will tap a special firkin of Southern Tier Pumking, poured via hand pump. Also on offer are other pumpkin beers such as The Bruery Autumn Maple and Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin.

Voodoo Boogaloo
9 PM–2 AM, Wednesday, October 31
The Trestle Inn (339 N. 11th St.)
Dance your costume to its limit at the upscale go-go bar’s Halloween bash, featuring a DJ, specials on spooky cocktails and pumpkin canned beers and prizes for best outfit.

Terror at the Tap
9 PM–midnight, Wednesday, October 31
Standard Tap (901 N. 2nd St.)
Come out in costume to enjoy $3 Yards drafts and win prizes from Yards Brewing. A DJ will spin and there will be plenty of dancing and howling at the moon.

Halloween Dance Party
9 PM–late night, Wednesday, October 31
McCrossen's Tavern (529 N. 20th St.)
A costume contest will have prizes for first, second and third places, including gift certificates and collectable bottles of beer and wine. Enjoy seasonal drinks like bourbon barrel-aged pumpkin beer, pumpkin pie martinis and hot rum ciders while dancing and having fun.


Halloween Harvest Chef’s Counter
October 29–November 5; $75, add $50 for beverage pairing
Sbraga (440 S. Broad St.)
The chef’s tasting menu at Kevin Sbraga’s Avenue of the Arts restaurant will go Halloween-themed, with a full complement of appropriate dishes like deviled eggs, butternut squash soup with “bobbing for apples,” chestnut tortellini with a candy corn purée and more, ending with a wicked pumpkin cupcake. If you opt for the drink pairing, look for Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay, Saint Somewhere Saison Athene and a Jacked Apple dessert cocktail. Reservations are suggested.

Dia de los Muertos Tasting Menu
October 29–November 4; $27, add $12 for beverage pairing
Cantina Feliz (4245 S. Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington) and La Calaca Feliz (2321 Fairmount Ave.)
Chef Tim Spinner is serving a special Day of the Dead three-course dinner menu at both his Mexican eateries. The Fort Washington menu features a blood orange Kampachi ceviche, a flank steak with bone marrow tamales and pumpkin bread pudding with dolce de leche ice cream. Reservations are available at either restaurant.

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Past Events

Zombie Ball
7–11 PM, Saturday, October 27; $30
Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford)
The winery will host a zombie costume ball on the vineyard grounds, with live DJs and snack foods. Your ticket includes two glasses of wine, and reservations are recommended — call 610-388-6221 x203 or email hospitality@chaddsford.com.

Voodoo Halloween Party
9 PM–2 AM, Saturday, October 27
The Twisted Tail (509 S. 2nd St.)
The Headhouse Square blues and bourbon bar will reprise last year’s Halloween party with a Voodoo theme. Look for fire-breathers, magicians, costumed performers a fortune teller and other event.. Drink specials include the Drunkin Punkin (Catdaddy moonshie, spiced rum, pumpkin purée) for $8, plus a deal that runs every 15 minutes from 11 PM on: $3 Devil’s Cut shots, $3 well drinks, $3 Evil Genius IPA and $3 Witch’s Milk shots out of a pumpkin.

Ride the Rails with Boxcar Brewing
5–9 PM, Saturday, October 27; $40
West Chester Railroad (230 E. Market St., West Chester)
West Chester’s Boxcar Brewing invites you to dress in your best costume for a train ride on a historic 1930s train. Make sure your costume is comfortable, because the train will whisk you to a picnic in a Glen Mills park, where beer, food and live music will keep you entertained.

Rittenhouse Row Halloween Celebration and Trick-or-Treat
10 AM–5 PM, Saturday, October 27; $15 for adults, $10 for kids
Rittenhouse Row and Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel (220 S. 17th St.)
From 10 AM–noon, bring a book to donate for The Gift of Life House and bring the family for a Halloween themed brunch at the Radisson Warwick and enjoy a children’s costume contest with prizes and other activities. Pick up a map for a list of member businesses participating in the trick or treating, running through 5 PM.

Devilish Dinner Party and Dancing with the Devil
4 PM–2 AM, Saturday, October 27
Devil’s Alley (1907 Chestnut St.)
Dress in a devil or devil-inspired costume to get 20% off your dinner check of a special á la carte Halloween menu, then stay for the dance party, kicking off at 9 PM with a DJ, apple bobbing, a costume contest and spooky drink specials.

Mischief Night
5 PM–2 AM, Tuesday, October 30
Cantina Los Caballitos (1651 E. Passyunk Ave.)
The East Passyunk tavern is holding its annual Halloween fiesta with "wickedly boozy" drinks like Witches' Brew, Sinister Cider, Vampiro and plenty of pumpkin beers. DJs will spin tracks and the Photobot 3000 will be on site to capture your best costumed look.