We're halfway through the month but the spooky and scary events keep rolling in! Whether you're up for more calming Halloween events like
Chicago Botanical Garden's jack-o-lantern displays or are looking for more intense frights (see the Graveface art show below), we've got you covered with suggestions of great events in the coming days. So put on that fall coat and enjoy Chicago!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17th
Adler After Dark: Aliens vs. Monsters @ Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 6:00pm - 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Add a little fright to you night at the Adler Planetarium!
SO WHAT: Get in the Halloween spirit and celebrate your favorite cinematic aliens & monsters this fall at Adler After Dark! You’ll get to participate in the Creatures Features Scavenger Hunt and Mask Making Workshop, take photos in their green screen booth, enjoy a special improv performance
It Came From Space!, and watch Terrible Spaceship perform in the Samuel C. Johnson Family Star Theater.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 for this great evening! Costumes encouraged!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18th
DIIV / Chastity / Storefront Church @ Logan Square Auditorium Chastity, Storefront Church, 2539 N Kedzie Blvd,7:00pm, 17+
WHAT: A concert perfect for your Friday night!
SO WHAT: DIIV has been making some of the most interesting shoegaze that will reach you your ears. They are touring in support of their latest album
Deceiver, which is the band’s first since lead singer’s Zachary Cole Smith committed to his recovery substance abuse.
Deceiver is an incredible album that takes a honest look at Smith’s recovery, acknowledging the struggle and makes for a worthwhile listen. Joining DIIV will be
Chastity and Storefront Church.
NOW WHAT:
Tickets are only $20 for this great lineup!!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19th & 20th
Open House Chicago @ Various Locations throughout the city, 10:00am - 5:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A chance to see interiors of some of Chicago's beautiful buildings.
SO WHAT: The Chicago Architecture Foundation will be opening doors to the city’s most interesting places, with more than 350 buildings offering a chance to experience behind-the-scenes access. You’ll be able to explore the culture and diversity of our amazing city through its impressive architecture. All the tours are free and are first-come, first-served.
Visit the Open House Chicago website for a full list of locations.
NOW WHAT: It’s all free, so plan these 48 hours accordingly.
Music Box of Horrors @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, Noon Saturday - Noon Sunday
WHAT: 24 hours of horror movie madness hosted by Katie Rife (Senior Writer at The A.V. Club) and Ryan Oestreich (GM, Music Box) with director Q&As moderated by Steve Prokopy (PR Manager, Music Box)!
SO WHAT: Join the coolest theater in town, the Music Box Theatre, for this year’s incarnation of the
Music Box of Horrors as they swiftly descend into madness through a long list of min altering horror films! This year’s event sees the return of musician Maxx McGathey for a live musical score of
The Man Who Laughs, a Tribute to Larry Cohen, appearances by Directors John Hancock and Neil Marshall for post-film Q&A’s, and more! There will also be plenty of vendors like Graveface Records and Curiosities, Bric-a-Brac, and more selling some cool horror related items as well as food trucks to keep you fed! If you are a horror fan, than this event is fantastic high water mark for you!
NOW WHAT: Passes for the full 24 hours are sold out, but you can still get half marathon tickets!
Tickets are $15 ($10 Music Box Members) ! Showings start at 11:45pm on Saturday!
Fall Pilsen Open Studios @ Various Locations, Noon - 8:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: The 17th Annual, 18th Street Pilsen Open Studios!
SO WHAT: Pilsen Open Studios is an annual art walk independently produced by local artists and volunteers.
You can check out their map of all the locations participating in the event! If you’re more interested in a
guided tour of the colorful and significant murals in Pilsen head to the National Museum of Mexican Art at 1852 W. 19th Street at 1:00pm each day! Check out their
website and
event page for more details on everything going on during this year’s edition of Pilsen Open Studios.
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Go discover the art Pilsen has to offer!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19th
Lit & Luz Festival: Live Magazine Show @ Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave,6:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Lit & Luz Festival is a one-of-a-kind series of events featuring renowned authors and visual artists from Chicago and Mexico City in cultural exchange and conversation.
SO WHAT: The annual edition of the Lit & Luz Festival finish off their year in Chicago with the world premiere Live Magazine Show, before continuing on to Mexico City this winter. You’ll have a chance to experience some excellent storytelling, live music, poetry, video art, and extemporaneous performances that explore the relationship between the languages, art forms, and cultures of the United States and Mexico.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for this great experience!
Ghostly's 20th Anniversary Show w/ Tobacco, Shigeto, Drama, Steve Hauschildt, SV4 @ Metro, 3730 N Clark St, 7:00pm, 18+
WHAT: Ghostly Celebrates 20 years with some insane music.
SO WHAT: Honesty, Tobacco (TOBAXXO) shows are like no other. His music is a deconstruction of electronic music, tearing it down to its dirtiest components and infusing a sense of enjoyableness. He will be joined by an insane lineup of unique an impressive musicians including Shigeto, Drama, Steve Hauschildt, and SV$ doing a DJ set!
NOW WHAT: Let yourself free fall into Ghostly’s anniverssary madness and get yourself some
$19 tickets for this 21+ show.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20th
Graveface Serial Killer and Oddball Art Show Fundraiser @ Bucket o’ Blood Records, 3182 N Elston Ave, 5:00pm - 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Graveface Oddbal Art Show is back in Chicago for possibly the last time as they
fundraise for their permanent Savannah museum
SO WHAT: You’ll get a chance to delight in some of the weirdest and macrabre collection of art oddities during this crazy fundraiser. There will be 33 original death row paintings by John Wayne Gacy (and tons of letters and artifacts from him), 8 drawings by Charles Manson, Aileen Wuornos panties and letters, ephemera from Heaven’s Gate, Manson Family, People’s Temple and much more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets for the 5-7pm VIP Pre Party which include exclusive pint glass, complimentary tastings of POGO the Beer from Metropolitan Brewing and Bucket O’ Blood Books and Record (This will be the ONLY time this beer is available), open bar, exclusive VIP tee, personalized intro/discussion about the pieces with curator Ryan Graveface are
$65! Tickets for entry after 7pm are $10! You can purchase tickets at Bucket O’ Blood to avoid fees!
