13 Scary Delicious Dining Events and Halloween Parties around Boston
From frighteningly fresh fare and orange wines to a cheese-and-candy pairing class, here's where ghoulish gourmands should go trick-or-treating.
Photo courtesy of Honeycomb Creamery
All Month Long
Try a Mystery Ice Cream Flavor
Cambridge’s standout Honeycomb Creamery is churning up something strange: It’s a dark and decadent mystery flavor. Dyed with flavorless activated charcoal, the unusual concoction is meant to deceive—is it fruity? Spiced? Nutty? Head to the scoop shop to try it for yourself, then write down your guess at what lurks inside. Honeycomb Creamery will compile all the correct guesses, and will select one finely tuned palate to receive a $20 gift card. The mystery flavor is in the freezer all month long, and thrill-seekers can try it and log as many guesses as they want. The winner—and the flavor—will be revealed November 1.
1702 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-714-3983, honeycombcreamery.com.
Photo courtesy of the Camberville Zombie Crawl Halloween
Saturday, October 19
The Camberville Zombie Pub Crawl
The undead of Cambridge and Somerville will be out in droves as the second annual Camberville Zombie Pub Crawl hits the streets. Organized by Parlor Sports bartender Nikki Darling, the multi-stop tour begins at the Automatic, then hits Lord Hobo, the Rising Bar, Highland Fried and Bukowski Tavern, Trina’s Starlite Lounge and Parlor Sports, and the Druid—undoubtedly searching for brains. Choose your most tattered outfit and cover it in fake blood, as zombiefied costumes are highly encouraged.
Saturday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m.-2 a.m., various locations, Facebook.
Saturday, October 26
The Great Pumpkin Festival
Cambridge Brewing Company has a lot of history throughout its 30 years—including creating New England’s original pumpkin beer, the Great Pumpkin Ale. The 12th annual celebration of that brew features special libations from the CBC team and pumpkin beers from across the country, curated by brewmaster Will Meyers. Chef David Drew will be grilling on the patio, and tickets to the festival include four vouchers to spend on either food or beer. The daytime session is family-friendly, while the later session is 21-plus—and will feature a Pumpkin Processional of a giant, beer-filled pumpkin.
$40, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2-6 p.m. OR 7-11 p.m., 1 Kendall Square, Bldg. 100, Cambridge, 617-494-1994, cambridgebrewingcompany.com, Facebook.
“The 3 Catrinas” at a past Taza Chocolate Dia de los Muertos celebration. / Photo by David Reyes
Dia de los Muertos Block Party
Head to Somerville for a chocolate-fueled afternoon of live music, face-painting, and family-friendly fun. The ninth annual event at Taza Chocolate’s factory features Mexican molino-ground chocolate in free hot chocolate and other samples, plus tacos, tamales, sweets, and more for purchase from vendors like Taco Party, Mr. Tamole, Honeycomb Creamery, and more. Notch Brewery’s mobile biergarten and the 90+ Cellars Rosé Truck will provide the boozy libations, alongside Polar Seltzer and yerba mate. Local performers include the Veronica Robles Cultural Center Mariachi band, and a traditional remembrance ceremony led by La Piñata, a Jamaica Plain-based Latin American cultural family network.
Saturday, Oct. 26, noon-5 p.m., Taza Chocolate, 561 Windsor St., Somerville, 617-284-2232, tazachocolate.com, Facebook.
Photo courtesy of Craft Collective
Sunday, October 27
SoWa Spooktacular
Spirits soar at the final SoWa Open Market of the season—especially at the Craft Collective beer garden, which will have a Halloween-themed tap takeover by Vermont’s Four Quarters Brewing including Cider Donut Imperial Milk Stout, Wicked Witch of the West IPA, and more. Elsewhere around the market, there will be free face painting and pumpkin decorating stations, and the usual lineup of makers, farmers, brewers, vintage vendors, and food trucks. It’s also another excuse to rock your costume: There’s a $500 grand prize, plus other rewards for the best human and pet outfits. It’s free to attend, family-friendly, and sure to be a spooktacular time.
Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 460-540 Harrison Ave., Boston, sowaboston.com.
Monday, October 28
Bring out the Boos
Craving a “scary good” cocktail? Get boo-zy at State Park with some of Boston’s top tastemakers. Ahead of the pre-Halloween party, cocktail lovers can vote online for three out of 10 paranormal libations, created specifically for this annual event hosted by Image Conscious Studios. The potions include the Gomez Addams, a tiki sipper created by A4cade bartender Giorgio Hayes with Privateer Gin, Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur, and Thai chili-infused simple syrup; and Pumpkin King, by the Painted Burro bartenders Marcio Garcia and Brian Willis, with bourbon, pumpkin syrup, and a dash of holiday pie bitters. The top three finalists will be on the menu Monday night, and DJ Ryan Brown will be spinning all the graveyard smashes. Bonus: A silent art auction benefits the youth arts organization RAW Art Works.
$15-25, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, State Park, One Kendall Square Building 300 Lower Level, Cambridge, bringouttheboos.com, Tickets.
Talulla photo by Wayne Chinnock
Tuesday, October 29
Orange Wine Dinner
For the Halloween edition of this North Cambridge bistro’s Tuesday night wine dinner series, Talulla chef Conor Dennehy and sommelier Danielle Ayer are pairing four fall courses with funky wines. Beyond their seasonal shade, orange wines are perfect shoulder-season selections: They are white wines allowed to ferment in contact with the grape skins, like red wines, which gives them a fuller body and more structure than a typical white. Make a reservation to celebrate the approaching All Hallows’ Eve with a Slovenian bubbly and a fall kale salad, a Spanish sherry with XO gouda, and more refined, whimsical, local fare.
$60, Tuesday, Oct. 30, reservations available 5:30-9:45 p.m., 377 Walden Street, Cambridge, 617-714–5584, talullacambridge.com.
Wednesday, October 30
Cheese and Candy Pairing
Who says Halloween candy is just for children? At Brookline Village cheese shop Curds & Co., try the fun-sized classics alongside delicious bites of cheese and drinks. Tickets include all candy, cheeses, and a flight of adult beverages. Remember to pick up some cheese to have on-hand while you welcome trick-or-treaters.
$45, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7-8:30 p.m., Curds & Co., 288 Washington St., Brookline, 617-879-0565, curdsandco.com, Tickets.
Thursday, October 31
Halloween Party at The Porch
Medford’s new barbecue-and-blues venue is throwing down for its first Halloween with live music by Toronzo Cannon and the Chicago Way, with special guest Professor Harp. Tromba Tequila and Narragansett Beer are sponsoring, so expect plenty of treats—and look out for the ice luge. The party will also have face-painting and a costume contest.
$20, Thursday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m.-midnight (show 9:30-11:30 p.m.), The Porch, 175 Rivers Edge Drive, Medford, 781-874-9357, theporchsouthern.com.
Photo courtesy of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Halloween Candy & Wine Pairings
Get expert wine-pairing tips in time to share in your kid’s Halloween candy. The staff at the downtown Boston location of the upscale chain Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse will talk licorice and rosé, candy corn and moscato, peanut butter cups and pinot noir, and many more compelling combinations, and will pass around appetizers to nosh on so dinner isn’t all candy. Order your ticket for the Halloween evening event by calling 617-292-0808.
$45, Thursday, Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m., Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 217 Stuart St. Boston, 617-292-0808, flemingssteakhouse.com.
Spooky Spirits Halloween Party
Don your costume and head to Everett, where Short Path Distillery is readying an exclusive cocktail list of spooky sips, including scary boozy punch bowls for groups of two or more. One drink is included in the ticket price—as well as tons of candy. The best costume could win you a swag bag plus a $25 gift certificate. Tickets are required for entry.
$15, Thursday, Oct. 31, 5-11 p.m., Short Path Distillery, 71 Kelvin St., Everett, 617-830-7954, shortpathdistillery.com, Tickets.
Photo courtesy of Hop Culture
Friday, November 1
Hop Culture Presents: Spooky Brews
Beer lifestyle brand Hop Culture returns to Boston for the second annual Spooky Brews beer fest, with a lineup of frightening fresh flavors. Enjoy unlimited samples from the likes of Allagash, Aslin Beer Co., Vitamin Sea Brewing, Shacksbury Cider, and more. DJ Cake Walk is spinning tunes to fuel the costumed party, and there will be plenty of food vendors on site with vegetarian options, too. Leave the kids at home while you trick-or-treat around at some of the most hyped breweries in the country—and there will be candy, too. Designated driver tickets include a free T-shirt from Hop Culture designer Sam Taylor. This is a 21-plus event.
$60, Friday, Nov. 1, 7-11 p.m., the Innovation and Design Building, 19 Drydock Ave., Floor 1, Boston, hopculture.com, Tickets.
The Gallows is getting ready “Galloween.” / Photo provided
Galloween: Camp Gallows
The Gallows is back with its 10th annual Galloween party. This year’s theme is inspired by a heart-pumping murder mystery in the woods—specifically, a haunted 1980s summer camp. Will the staff be able to keep you safe? They’ll be dressed as camp counselors. Show up early (or better yet, make a reservation) to dine first on seasonal poutine and burger specials, on the menu all week leading up to Galloween. The DJ Yvng Pavl-led dance party starts at 10 p.m. and is 21-plus.
Friday, Nov. 1, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., the Gallows, 1395 Washington St., Boston, 617-425-0200, thegallowsboston.com, Facebook.
