It’s that time of year again when you let your freak flag fly and bring your spirit animal to life. Transform into something entirely different and celebrate the macabre with your funkiest friends. Halloween season doth approach.
Of course, Halloween means Halloween parties, and the dance music world loves a good costume as much as any other genre — maybe even more. Whether you’re trick-or-treating for candy or kandi, this list of bangin’ boo-fests has treats for you. From bass music to house to hip-hop, here are our favorite Halloween parties of 2018. Yes, full-on dress-up are always encouraged.
FreakNight Festival
Date: Friday, Oct. 26
Location: Seattle
Tickets: Here
The rainy Northwest comes to life with things that go bump in the night, but we’re not talking animated skeletons and vampires. Hitmaker headliners converge on a college kid atmosphere, but it’s not a dry-bones hang out. Anyone 21 or older can drink up and with the spirits, but there’s free water for all.
Wynnwood Fear FactoryDate: Friday and Saturday, Oct 26 and 27
Location: Miami
Tickets: Here
The Miami art district wants to thrill and chill with some of the best names in funky house and bassy booms. It’s the third edition of this annual fright fest, and because this is Miami, the weather is sure to heat things up. You can actually be that nearly-naked Robert Mueller without getting cold, or whatever you might have in mind.
Haunted Fest
Date: Friday, Oct 26
Location: Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis
Tickets: Here
Depending on where you party, you could get down to headline performances from Porter Robinson (Columbus) or Tchami (Indianapolis). Actually, you’re getting down to Tchami either way. Check the website for more details about each scream-worthy event.
Marquee NYC
Date: Wednesday, Oct 31
Location: New York
Tickets: Here
If you’re looking for anthems to dance your heart out to, look no further than Marquee on Halloween. The high-end venue nabbed Alesso as the headliner for what’s sure to be a larger-than-life, yet intimate novelty experience for club-goers. College favorite Two Friends will also be performing the Friday prior (Oct. 26), followed by G-Eazy that Saturday.
Suwannee HulaweenDate: Friday to Sunday, Oct. 26 to 28
Location: Suwannee, Florida
Tickets: Here
Anyone who’s ever partied at Suwannee will tell you – at length – about how it’s the most magical, nautral festival venue you’ll ever find. The Florida woods are extra creepy in the fog-filled night. Set to a soundtrack like this, you’re bound to get goosebumps and then some. It’s the festival’s biggest year ever, featuring some of the biggest acts in dance, pop, rock and more.
Jawbreaker Fest
Date: Saturday and Sunday, Oct 27 and 28
Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
Tickets: Here
Don’t choke on the details. Zedd, ODESZA and more need your alive so they can blow your feeble mind. There’s an evil clown theme, so get ready to laugh and cry at the same time. We all float down here.
Escape Psycho Circus
Date: Friday to Saturday, Oct. 26 to 27
Location: San Bernardino, Calif.
Tickets: Here
Speaking of evil clowns, Escape Psycho Circus is one event you’ll want to get trapped in. Just read that lineup and tell us it doesn’t have something you’re drooling for. It’s an Insomniac event, the same people that give you EDC, so you know it’s going to be wildly over-the-top. No detail will be left unfretted. It will be like walking into a whole new world.
Voodoo Music & Arts Experience
Date: Friday to Sunday, Oct. 26 to 28
Location: New Orleans
Tickets: Here
Voodoo Fest has become a ritual for many music lovers these past few decades. Big names of rock, dance, rap and more converge on the spookiest place in all of the United States for three days and nights of merriment and mayhem. No one does Halloween like New Orleans, and this is the top of the pops.
Freaky Deaky
Date: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 28
Location: Houston, Texas
Tickets: Here
Bass comes to shake the living dead and make you bang your head until you barely remember your own name. You can cool down with some great house sets, too, even a little evil electro. Everything is bigger in Texas, so expect to do the most.
Cityfox Halloween
Date: Saturday, Oct. 27
Location: New York
Tickets: Here
If six feet deep is where you wanna be, Cityfox is the place tech-house heads die and go to heaven. This may be the most black-clad event of the list, but we’re going to need you to come dressed in something other than a big witch hat, just this once.
Hard Day of the Dead
Date: Saturday, Nov. 3
Location: Los Angeles
Tickets: Here
It’s aiive! It’s alive! After years on hiatus, HARD’s Day of the Dead festival is back and ready to go bloodier than ever. It’s the only post-Halloween event on our list. Headliners include Justice‘s last live performance of Woman Worldwide, Die Antwoord, Knife Party and Cashmere Cat.