VAIL VALLEY - What do you get when you cross a vampire with a snowman?

Frostbite.

Halloween is notorious for bringing the first cold weather snap of the season, so it's lucky for revelers that the valley has planned a whole weekend of events to keep the feet dancing, the mind entertained and, of course, the body warm. Here's some of the highlights from Gypsum to Vail:



Halloween alternative in Gypsum

The good people of the Word of Life Worship Center in Gypsum know that not everyone likes to be scared or grossed out by fake bloody faces. So as an alternative to Halloween, the church is throwing Hallelujah Night at the old American Legion Building in Gypsum across from the Honey Bun Bakery.

It's a party open to the public that features games, candy, lots of food and coffee for parents. There will also be piñatas and face painting, and children are welcome to dress up.

"For one of our games we fill a paper plate with whip cream and at the bottom there is a gummy worm," said Renee Bajza, one of Hallelujah Night's coordinators. "The first to eat through the whip cream to the gummy worm and yell hallelujah wins a prize."

Bajza said the 10-year event, which takes place from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31, is safer for kids then going door to door to trick or treat, and it keeps them inside and warm. For more information, call 524-7116.



Rock away the spirits in Eagle

From classic rock to Latin, Eagle rocks with live music for Halloween.

All Strung Out performs from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Pazzo's in Eagle for the pizzeria's Halloween bash Oct. 28.

"We plan on having a great time all night long," Ron Mitchell, the group's guitarist, said. All Strung Out plays classic rock, reggae, folk and originals.

Pazzo's will host a costume contest with prizes and drink specials. For more information, call 337-9900.

The John Pomales Experience performs at Brush Creek Saloon at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 29 for the Eagle bar's Halloween fete.

"We play Latin music, mostly originals, but we'll also play some popular stuff to keep people dancing and moving," said John Pomales, lead guitarist. "We might try some old school stuff, like 'Monster Mash' to keep people in the Halloween spirit."

Brush Creek Saloon will giveaway a $60 bar tab for top costume, and all the employees plan to dress with spirit. The bartenders will don Nascar mechanic outfits. If not in costume, it's $2 to enter. For more information, call 328-5279.



Edwards hosts fresh beats and bubbly treats

To dress as a kitty cat or Neptune, that is the real question for DJ Twinkle, the host of Gore Range Brewery's Halloween soiree.

"I have to be something mobile because I'm deejaying," DJ Twinkle said. "I wanted to be Neptune, but I can't be very effective as a round ball when I'm trying to run a party. Maybe I'll go as a little kitty cat."

He will be spinning "the freshest beats in the valley" starting at 10 p.m. Oct. 28. The brewery will also host a costume contest with bar-tab prizes for best male, best female and best group costume. There's a $7 cover for those who are boring and show up without costume. It's free for those with spirit. For more information, call 926-2739.

Rays will also host a Halloween party with costumes and a DJ. There's no cover. Call 926-7480 for more information.

- Main Street Grill hosts a Halloween party with the Laughing Bones and a costume contest at 10 p.m. For more information, call 926-2729.



If Halloween had a headquarters ...

A 500-year-old ghost, 35-foot Frankenstein and 4,500 pieces of candy: If Halloween had a headquarters, Beaver Creek would be the logical choice. The resort has all its spooky, gooey and bloody basics covered.

The second annual Halloweenfest on Beaver Creek Plaza is Oct. 29 from 5-8 p.m. The festival features a haunted village, pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, free ice skating and Trick or Treat Street, featuring more than a dozen "scare stations" and 4,500 pieces of candy.

"Halloweenfest is like theater," said Brian Hall of Blue Creek Productions, the company in charge of the decorative spook factor. "We incorporate all the different aspects that will have an impact, like sound, costumes, light and fire. We're making it as exciting a presentation as we can."

Actors playing the roles of Captain Black Beard, mad scientists, ghosts and witches will be strolling the plaza handing out candy and non-candy items, like gooey bug eyes or wind-up toy ghosts. There will also be secret costume contest judges walking the plaza pulling people with stellar outfits to the main stage for a final public voting.

One of the "coolest" features this year, Hall said, is the main stage, which is built to resemble an old castle haunted by a 500-year-old ghost.

There's a 45-foot flame thrower jutting out from the castle to warm the whole plaza. Video projectors will be casting black and white Halloween film classics, like "Frankenstein," onto the walls in the village, as well. For the tweens who can take a little more scare, Blue Creek Productions has built its own version of the "Creature From the Black Lagoon," a scare station complete with a dark, misty lagoon and monsters that ankle-grab.

"It's a very family Halloween experience," Hall said.

Halloweenfest is free to enter. For more information, call 926-5855.



Chophouse bride haunts Beaver Creek

Legend has it that a bride was to married in Beaver Creek in the location that is now the Chophouse. But before she could say "I do," her groom's mistress, deranged and crazy, killed her. The groom was so upset at the death of his bride, he hung himself. Now every year around Halloween, the bride rises seeking revenge and searching for her groom at the Chophouse.

Eagle County Charter Academy eighth- and seventh-graders have created "The Haunted Chophouse: Where Nightmares Become A Reality," a haunted house fundraiser. All proceeds go toward the eighth-grade trips to Washington, D.C., and New York. The students work on it during the haunted house elective course, and they promise a dead bride will be spooking the area.

"It's a full on haunted house. It's not recommended for kids under 12," said language arts teacher Hilary Hughes. Hughes and Spanish teacher Michelle Fisher teach the haunted house elective and help the kids organize the event. "They have done so much work. It's all kid run. They've built everything and are doing all the acting."

In addition to the legendary ghost bride, the haunted house features a doll house room, a graveyard, mirror room and insane asylum, among other scary delights. For those too young for bloody hatchets, there will also be a kids carnival going on at the same time. Face painting, cookie decorating, cake walk and fishing for prizes will be on tap for the toddlers. On Oct. 26-27, the haunted house happens from 6-9 p.m., with the carnival starting at 5 p.m. On Oct. 28-29, the haunted house happens from 7-10 p.m. with the carnival beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students.

Chophouse owner Brian Nolan, who loves haunted houses, will offer a discounted menu during the scare fest. For more information, call 926-0656.

Disco aliens invade The Beav

For some people, it's the Disco era that scares them the most - not Halloween. Understanding just how frightening afros and polyester sparkle pants can be, the Eagle County Charter Academy is throwing a Ghostly Gala Oct. 29, an adult Halloween party with "alien disco" as its theme. Ticket proceeds benefit the school. The party takes place at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek.

Head party organizer Carolyn Pope, aka Alien Disco Queen, says she plans on wearing a vinyl snake skin jumpsuit, neon green wig and will paint herself in silver.

"It is the premiere adult Halloween party in town," Pope said. "Costumes are a prerequisite. There's a full sit down dinner, cocktails and dancing with the Boogie Machine. There's a costume contest and a fabulous live auction."

The live auction highlights include a trip to ski in Lech, Austria, with a private instructor, a chance to fly a fighter jet and cooking lessons in Costa Rica. Baby-sitting is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and the Hyatt is offering a special $99 room rate for revelers. Tickets are $100, which includes beer and wine, and there will be a cash bar. For more information, call 390-9913.



Surf's up in Avon this Halloween

As an alternative to the gory spooks that usually accompany Halloween night, the Calvary Church along with other valley churches and Avon Rec Center are hosting Catch The Wave to Fall Fun Night Oct. 31 in Nottingham Park in Avon.

It's a carnival type party with games, candy, food and bouncy toys. There will also be a Tiki hut serving coffee for parents and a special zone for real small kids with a caterpillar maze. The separate tent is to insure the kindergarten and under kids won't get trampled on.

"We wanted to do something exciting, different, bright and colorful during what could be a dark night," said Heather Nicholes of the Calvary Church. "The entire inside of the tent will have a real surf, beachey, tropical kind of feel. Volunteers will have an Hawaiian appearance."

One hundred and fifty people volunteer for this event, which grows in numbers each year. Nicholes said people start calling in early September to sign up and take part.

"It's the biggest family-friendly safe place for children of all ages on Halloween. Even the little guys through middle school," Nicholes said.

Catch the Wave begins at 4 p.m. and is free. For more information, call 748-1103.



Jell-O shots and Dia de Los Muertos in Avon

If you're going to shoot Jell-O out of tiny paper cups, do it in costume and do it at Loaded Joe's for Halloween.

The funky lounge in Avon will be giving away Jell-O shots to everyone in the house at midnight Oct. 29 during its Halloween bash starting at 9 p.m. DJ Twinkle will be spinning dance music and the guys of Loaded Joe's will be handing out prizes for best costume in different categories. It's $3 cover with costume and $7 for those with no spirit.

"We'll have drink specials, a special punch mix and we're going to decorate the place to the tee," said owner Kent Beidel. "It's just going to be crazy."

For more information, call 748-1480.

Agave will host a costume party Oct. 31 with a DJ and $1 Jagermeister shots from 8-midnight. But the bar's big celebration is Nov. 2 for Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday remembering the dead.

"It's a Mexican tradition when the dead souls come to earth to visit," said owner Richard Wheelock. "They are coming back to visit Agave's alter and all of our offerings. We expect everyone else to come in costume, too."

Agave is offering $100 cash prize for best costume and $100 bar tab for second best costume.

"It's one last chance to put on your costume," Wheelock said.

Agave's alter features food and drink and happy skeletons. They have given Avon fifth-graders sugar skeletons to decorate for the celebration. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. with a DJ at 10 p.m. Drink specials include $1 Coors and $1 Jagermeister shots. For more information, call 748-8666.



Little monsters and Mardi Gras in Minturn

Around 700 kids dressed as vampires to fairy princesses converge on the streets of Minturn Oct. 30 for the valley's biggest trick or treating party. It's tradition for the old mining town to celebrate Halloween the night before.

"Minturn is a real town," resident Patty Bidez said. "So it's easy for people to watch their kids and walk around neighborhoods."

Bidez said a lot of Minturn residents really get into the spirit of Halloween, decorating their homes to treat children to a nice scare.

"All we know is that there are witches at the Bidez household this year," she said.

There will be a party at La Plyuela Park from 5-7 p.m. for trick or treaters and their parents.

The Saloon in Minturn hosts the most famous of costume parties throughout the valley. For its 16th year, Saloon owner Andy Kaufman and crew will host a Mardi Gras theme costume party with funk heroes Little Hercules playing all night long.

"We thought of the New Orleans theme well before Katrina and Rita," Kaufman said. "But we decided to continue on with that and in addition to collecting at the door, we'll have some opportunities to contribute to Red Cross and a Katrina fund as well."

"It's a chance for people to party down and remember their favorite town," added Bruce Plummer, Saloon bartender and party organizer.

Plummer said people can wear anything New Orleans from sexy Mardi Gras outfits to something outlandish you might see in a parade. There will be prizes for best costumes.

Tickets are $10 and all proceeds benefit Minturn community projects. The party starts around 9 p.m. For more information, call 827-5954.



Hair band or jam band?: Sandbar's got it all

Sandbar in West Vail hosts a weekend of music to stir that inner spirit. And if music doesn't do it for you, how about $1,000 in cash prizes for best costume?

Bust out those black concert Ts and mullet wigs for 80s hair metal cover band Huge in Germany Oct. 28. The bar encourages you to dress as you did when Axel Rose was a sex symbol. There will be prizes for best head-banger outfit. The band features electric bassist Andy Irvine of Carlos Washington's Giant People band. They will play all the metal favorites from Metallica to Poison and even some Tesla.

Tea Leaf Green performs for Sandbar's official Halloween bash Oct. 29. The bar will give away $1,000 in cash prizes for best costumes.

"I would say Tea Leaf Green is the hottest up and coming jam band," Steve Corr, talent booker, said. "They're awesome. They tear it up."

Based out of San Francisco, Tea Leaf Green is based in rock n roll, leaving plenty of room to roll with open jams. Members are lead guitar Josh Clark, singer/songwriter Trevor Garrod on piano, Milky Chambers on bass and Scott Rager on drums.

Tickets are $10 for Tea Leaf Green. For more information, call 476-4314.



Matterhorn hosts community Halloween party

The people of Matterhorn in West Vail are Halloween purists. They believe in celebrating Halloween on the actual day - Oct. 31.

The neighborhood will be hosting trick or treaters from 5-6 p.m. Police will be there to insure kids' safety. Around 6 p.m., the party will move to Donovan Park Pavilion for a pot luck dinner, games, piñatas, costume contest and haunted house. There will be a scary food contest, as well.

"If you want to trick or treat in the town of Vail, it's really the best place to go," said past organizer Chris Moffet. "Usually the people who attend have young children."

The party is open to the public and organizers are asking for a $5 donation and for people to bring finger foods or something warm for the dinner.



Calling all ghosts and goblins to Vail and Lionshead businesses

The 13th annual Vail Recreation District Trick or Treat Trot is parading down the streets of Vail Oct. 31.

Kids, infant to age 8, can join over 500 children to flaunt their costumes through shops and restaurants in the Vail and Lionshead Villages. Merchants offering candy to children will display a Halloween decoration at their entrance. Kids can come by the Vail Village or Lionshead Bus stops from 2-5 p.m. to pick up a balloon and start gathering treats. Millennium Bank will present all participants with their first treat at each bus stop. For more information, call 479-2292.



Celebrate Halloween the Afro-Cuban way at 8150

8150 hosts eight-piece Afro-Cuban party band Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca for its annual Halloween Open Bar Blowout.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and includes open bar, headlining band and late night deejays. The bar is giving away $200 for sexiest costume and $300 for most creative.

"Ricardo Lemvo is from the Congo, but he's inspired by Cuban music," Crawford Byers, talent booker, said. "The show's on fire with dancers and horns."

Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca play a mix of Latin and African music. The group has been called "future of salsa." Lemvo grew up in the cosmopolitan African metropolis of Kinshasa at a time when Cuban music and American soul was taking Africa by Storm. After moving to Los Angeles in 1972 to pursue a political science degree with designs of becoming an international lawyer, Lemvo became determined to create a musical group that captured all of the elements of the African and Cuban music that he missed and loved. In 1990 Makina Loca - whose name is a word play on the Spanish "maquina loca " meaning "crazy machine" - was born, blending African soukous and rumba together with Cuban salsa and son.

The band starts at 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Mojo Music in Avon, Eagle Valley Music in Vail, www.club8150.com and Affordable Music in Dylan. For more information, call 479-0607.

Bar hop for party variety in Vail Village

If you are finicky this time of year (should I go as a transvestite nurse or Curious George?), bar hopping through Vail Village is the solution. All the bars are hosting some kind of party for Halloween all weekend.

"This is one of the busiest nights of the year for us," Steve Kaufman, co-owner of the Tap Room, said. "All the bars decorate. This town knows how to party." Tap Room will have drink specials and a costume contest with prizes Oct. 29.

Samana, the stylish lounge on Bridge Street, will host a masquerade party Oct. 28. Disguise yourself in a funky mask and dance the night away to DJ a.d.d and DJ Hal.

"It is kind of a birthday party, a gathering of friends. There will be drink specials and good times," said manager Scott Stoughton in an e-mail from Bosnia. It is Stoughton's birthday revelers will be celebrating.

Samana will throw its "real" Halloween party Oct. 31. Sucker will play all night long for a $5 cover, and partiers can expect a costume contest and prizes.

Vendetta's is hosting "Auction for Action" at 7 p.m. Oct. 29. In addition to being a Halloween party with music and a costume competition, 100 percent of the auction and $10 ticket proceeds will go toward the Gulfport, Miss., hurricane relief fund.

Art's Bar hosts a costume party with cash prizes starting at 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29,w ith DJ Steve Stone, DJ Crisco, dancing and drink specials. Barry Davis says there may even be a live tiger.



It doesn't matter where you go for Halloween, what really matters is it's day light savings on Oct. 29. That means one extra hour of hauntingly good fun. Be safe, wear a costume and take a cab.



Trick or treating schedules

- Eagle will host trick or treating Oct. 31 throughout town from 5:30-9:30

p.m., depending on the age of the child.

- Minturn hosts trick or treating Oct. 30 throughout the town from 4-7 p.m. After party at La Plyuela Park from 5-7 p.m.

- Vail Recreation District hosts Trick or Treat Trot Oct. 31 from 2-5 p.m. through Vail and Lionshead Villages.

- Matterhorn neighborhood in West Vail hosts trick or treating Oct. 31 starting around 5 p.m.



Arts and Entertainment Editor Cassie Pence can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 618, or cpence@vaildaily.com.



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