Originally Published in the October 2013 issue of The SCENE Magazine.

Calling all super heroes, rock stars, movie characters, witches, mummies and bloodied zombies! Your night is just around the corner. That’s right, if you don’t have your costume ready, what are you waiting for? Here is a guide of local hangouts with more treats than tricks ready to celebrate the kid in you in full Halloween style. ~ Enjoy Halloween responsibly.

Aspens: Saturday, November 2:  Get more use out of that costume by coming to our Halloween Costume Contest the Saturday after Halloween!  It will be a Halloween Party with Costume Contest and prizes!

Bakkhus Taverna: Thursday, October 31:  DJ and dancing from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. Costume contest with 1st place cash prize. Drink promotions, freebies, and giveaways!

Big Shots: TWO official parties: Tuesday, October 29 is the Ladies’ Night Halloween party starting at 9 p.m. Drink specials all night. Hottest Halloween Costume Contest: First place $500 cash, second place $250 cash, and prizes for third place! • Thursday, October 31: Enjoy the 4th annual Saints & Sinner Ball. Doors open at 9 p.m. No cover. 21+. Drink specials. Costume contest for the best saint and the best sinner with a $300 cash prize for each category. VIP tables and bottle service available for reservations.

Cabo: Saturday, October 26: Cabo is going spooktacular this year for Halloween. All of the staff members will be in costume. The beach bar will be haunted!  A full blown grave yard and a murder scene! Fireball specials all night long! Never a cover.

Cock-Eyed Seagull: Saturday, October 26: Annual Halloween Party starts at 8 p.m. with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for the best costumes.

Dempsey’s: Thursday, October 31: Costume contest: $150 for the scariest costume, $150 for the sexiest costume, $50 gift card for funniest costume. Live music by Westin Brown Band. Trick or treat for a door prize. Walk through our Rob Zombie House of Hotties. Very scary décor with a splash of sexuality.

International Signature Bistro: Saturday, October 26: DJ, dance floor, and costume contest.

Jackie’s Brickhouse: Saturday, October 26 is a full blown Halloween costume contest for our guests. There will be $1000 in prizes up for grabs. We usually judge on Scariest, Best Original, Best Couple, Skimpiest, etc. Our staff will be in costumes from Thursday, October 24 through Halloween night. Live music with The Nailers. • Thursday, October 31: We will be having our employee costume contest, decided by guest applause. Come out and vote for your favorite! We will have drink specials, shot specials, and even jello shots! Live music from Rapture. This party gets BIGGER and BIGGER every year and we are expecting nothing less this year! There is NO cover, and the parties kick off at 8 p.m. both nights! (On a side note, we are also starting a FREE Happy Hour buffet Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m.)

Katie’s Bar: Thursday, October 31: Live music by Pink Floyd Revisited. Drinks specials. No cover.

Kemah Boardwalk: October 1-31 with Freaky Fridays, Scary Saturdays, and Spooky Sundays. Face your fears in our terrifying Dungeon of Doom Haunted House or the kids can enjoy our Little Boo Haunted Fun House. Plus, pumpkin decorating, trick or treating and much more. • Thursday, October 31: Halloween party from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Family friendly movie “Beetlejuice” at 8:30 p.m. Visit www.kemahboardwalk.com for all events.

Latitudes: Thursday, October 31: Costume contest with cash payout. Food and drink specials.

Mainly Drinks: Thursday, October 31: Costume contest. We’ll take pictures of our guests and they will be judged at the end of the evening.  The winner will be announced at 10:00.  Need not be present to win.

Pier 27 Tavern: Thursday, October 31: Costume contest with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. $3 wells, $3 shots, and $2 domestic drafts. DJ. The party starts at 8 p.m. No cover.

Scotty’s Pub: Friday, November 1:  Halloween party with a costume contest, shot walk, “Thriller” dance-off, and spooky shot specials.

Scout Bar: Thursday, October 31: It’s our ninth annual Halloween night show. Live music entertainment by ERASETHEVIRUS. FREE for 21 and up. Costume contest with cash and prizes.

Sherlock's: Thursday, October 31: Costume contest with $500 in prizes. Happy hour until 9 p.m. Live music by Rat Ranch. The spookiest party in town. $500. Costume contest. No cover.

Skallywag:  Thursday, October 31. DJ and dancing from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. Costume contest with 1st place cash prize. Drink promotions, freebies, and giveaways!

The Cock & Bull British Pub: Saturday, October 26:  Jack the Ripper Halloween Party. Come celebrate Halloween at 7 p.m. and dance until 1 a.m. $35 per person with reservation (does not include tax and gratuity) or $45 per person at the door. True British buffet. Dancing with DJ Bill Byous.  Complimentary Bloody Mary. Valet parking. Prizes for Best Dressed & Most Creative. Call 832-282-8202 to make reservations.

The Hop: Two nights! Saturday, October 26 and Thursday, October 31. Mark your calendar for the 25th Annual Halloween Ball and Costume Contest with $500 in cash and prizes each night. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Weiner Robinson Theater: Thursday, October 31:  Halloween costume party with a DJ, dance music, and horror movies. Costume Required! Doors open at 8 p.m.