It’s Halloween weekend, and the city has a few tricks up its sleeve. You can dress like a monster, dance on roller skates, wander from bar to bar in costume or let a group of comedians make a fool of themselves — and possibly you.
The Hanover Theatre welcomes the cast of “Whose Live Anyway?,” while Worcester Common Oval goes full ’80s for a “Thriller”-themed skate night. WCUW throws a Halloween costume party, a nine-stop bar crawl keeps the spirits flowing, and the Worcester Public Library digs into the city’s baseball past.
Here are five picks for the weekend:
- No script, no clue what’s coming next: Anything can happen Saturday, Oct. 31, when “Whose Live Anyway?” brings its quick-witted, completely unscripted comedy to The Hanover Theatre. Featuring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray, the show takes the improvisational games and spontaneous hilarity of the long-running TV series “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and puts the audience in charge of the chaos. Armed with suggestions from the crowd, the performers invent scenes, characters and songs on the spot, with musical direction by Laura Hall. Audience members might even find themselves onstage, so choose your suggestions wisely. The Halloween night performance begins at 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $82 and $92, including fees. The show is open to all ages, though some PG-13 language may sneak into the improvisation.
- Cuz this is thriller, thriller (skate) night: Worcester Common Oval is getting its groove on Friday, Oct. 30, with “Skate Night: Thriller ’80s Edition,” a Halloween-themed roller-skating party featuring music, dancing, costumes and a little friendly competition. DJ Tay.V will provide the soundtrack, while host Larry Lar keeps things moving through a night that includes a battle for New England’s best dance crew, live performances and local vendors. Costumes are encouraged, with a $200 prize up for grabs in the costume contest. Thanks to sponsor Danny “Left Hand” Docimo, the first 20 skaters—10 children and 10 adults—get in free. The festivities run 6-9 p.m. Admission is $5, skate rentals are $10, and skate buddies are available for $15.
- Nine bars, two after-parties and questionable decisions: Halloween night in Worcester is going to be a spirited affair — in more ways than one. The Worcester Halloween Bar Crawl returns Saturday, Oct. 31, inviting costumed revelers to make their way through nine participating bars, with drink specials, vouchers and no cover charges at participating venues. The festivities run from 4 to 10 p.m., beginning with check-in at Bay State Brewery & Tap Room from 4 to 6 p.m., where participants collect their badges and drink vouchers before setting off on their own routes. Stops include 107 TAP, Boland’s Bar and Patio, Shannon’s Irish Ale House and The White Eagle, with a mid-party gathering at Mai Tai Bar and Sushi Restaurant. Electric Haze and The Place host after-parties from 10 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $25 individually, $20 per person for groups of four or more, or $40 at the door. Costumes are mandatory; dignity, apparently, is optional.
- Raise your spirits for a good cause: Halloween gets a little weird — in the best possible way — Saturday, Oct. 31, when WCUW’s FrontRoom hosts a costume party and fundraiser for Worcester’s community radio station. Presented by WCUW’s “The Drifter,” the evening features DJ and video-jaying duo Kitsune Tunes and Tails, promising music and stories to party in the dark, along with atmospheric electronic sounds from Curtis Emery. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for the best-dressed ghouls, goblins and whatever else wanders through the door. Light refreshments will be served, and guests are welcome to bring their own. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with festivities beginning at 7 at 910 Main St. A minimum donation of $15 is suggested, payable by cash or Venmo at the door.
- Before the WooSox, there was a whole other ballgame: Worcester’s love affair with baseball didn’t begin at Polar Park — or even in the 20th century. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Worcester Public Library takes a swing at the city’s rich baseball history with “Worcester History Deep-Dive: Baseball,” a look at the people, teams and traditions that helped make America’s pastime a local obsession. From the Civil War era to today’s WooSox and Bravehearts, local history librarian Alex will trace the game’s roots in Worcester and explore how baseball became part of the city’s identity. The program runs from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Banx Room at the library’s main branch, 3 Salem Square, and is geared toward adults.
For more events, visit the Discover Central Massachusetts events calendar.
Have an event, news tip, idea for a feature, information, joke, favorite recipe or anything else you’d like to tell us about? You should. Contact carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
