Social-Distanced, Virtual Halloween Events

Halloween. (Pixabay License)

There’s plenty to do in the Milwaukee area this week while still maintaining social distancing.

Each week, Urban Milwaukee is curating a list of events that are taking the necessary safety precautions provided by the Centers for Disease Control in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This week, it’s Halloween, and you’re never too old to do some trick-or-treating. Thankfully, some Milwaukee businesses are making it safe and easy to do just that. For example, Vino Third Ward has take-home packages of full bottles of wine it is pairing with Halloween candy. Or visit Company Brewing for a package of limited-edition beers from an assortment of Milwaukee breweries. If beer and wine isn’t your thing, take a spooky tour of some famous Milwaukee venues like The Rave or the Riverside Theater. It’s also last call for the Fondy and Southshore farmer’s markets.

There aren’t going to be any wild Halloween parties or shows at The Rave (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave.) this year, but the venue is making up for it with its Halloween Blackout event. Stories of how haunted the venue is have been passed around by locals in the city as well as famous touring musicians. And now you can experience the terror firsthand. The building will have most of its lights shut off and guests will explore by flashlight only, from the penthouse lounge to the abandoned pool. The event is for ages 18 and older and will require masks and social distancing. Tickets range from $30 to $40 and can be purchased here.

October 29-31: Riverside Theater Ghost Tours

The Riverside Theater (116 W. Wisconsin St.) is continuing its series of Ghost Tours this weekend. Self-proclaimed as one of the “most haunted places in Wisconsin,” The Riverside is offering guests the opportunity to learn more about the various paranormal activities that staff members, guests and professional ghost hunters alike have claimed to come in contact with. Masks are required for this event, and groups must be limited to 10 people or fewer. Tours last for an hour and will include bar service before and after the tours. There will also be an exclusive Late Night Ghost Hunt offered, starting at 11:30 p.m. that will include a seance led by a medium. For more information, visit this link.

October 29-31: Halloween Candy and Wine Tasting

Vino Third Ward (219 E. Erie St.) is upholding its Halloween tradition of hosting a wine and candy tasting party, this time with new socially distanced restrictions. Vino is asking that groups that plan on sitting together purchase one ticket so that group sizes can be monitored, with groups no larger than six being allowed access to the event. Time slots are limited, and there will be 16 open seats for every hour-and-a-half. Walk-ins are welcome, but are not guaranteed to be seated. Vino is also offering a take-home package for those uncomfortable with the in-store tasting. The take-home packages include full bottles of wine and the Halloween candy pairings with options for a three-bottle package or a six-bottle package. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased here.

October 30-31: Adult Trick-or-Treat Beer Drive Thru

Broken Bat Brewing (135 E. Pittsburgh Ave.) is hosting an adult trick-or-treat drive-thru that will offer discounted four-packs of beer out of its “haunted back alley.” Options include the Five Tool Ale, Golden Sombrero or Bermuda Triangle four-packs for $8; the Ugly Finder, Straight Chedd, Beach Ball, Mr. Octoberfest, Just a Wit Outside or the variety pack for $12 and Juice’d or Unwritten Rules four-packs for $15. A vehicle is required for the drive-thru, which will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 31st. Cash will be accepted, but Broken Bat is encouraging credit card transactions to keep COVID-19 risk low.

Celebrate Halloween with WMSE by tuning into to 91.7FM and experiencing the regularly scheduled programming with a spooky twist! From midnight to midnight, WMSE will keep up the creepy broadcasting with programs like the original War of the Worlds featuring Orson Wells. And in keeping with Halloween tradition, there will be puns. Their program, Brew-City Brutality instead becomes Boo-City Brutality.

October 31-November 1: Last Call for Fondy Farmer’s Market

It’s the final two days of operation for the Fondy Farmers Market at 2200 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. Fresh vegetables, baked goods, wellness products and more will be sold. The event is taking precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as requiring masks and prohibiting eating on-site. Free masks are available at the information booth. SNAP benefits are accepted, and some vendors also accept WIC and Senior vouchers. The market will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

October 31: Drink or Treat 2020 

Company Brewing is offering a very special treat this year for adult trick-or-treaters: an assortment of 24 rare beers from several Milwaukee breweries. Participating breweries include MobCraft Beer, The Fermentorium Brewery & Tasting Room, Indeed Brewing Company, 1840 Brewing Company and Gathering Place Brewing Company. Orders can be placed online and can be picked up anytime starting Oct. 30. There is also a “Haunted Drive-Thru” pickup option, in which customers will grab their beers from Company Brewing’s alley. For this option, pickup orders must be placed for between 2 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 31. The Drink or Treat 2020 package costs $95 and can be preordered here. Supplies are limited.

It’s your last chance to visit the South Shore Farmer’s Market at South Shore Park in Bay View for the year. The farmer’s market will be open from 8 a.m. until noon. The market is following a new social-distancing format that will allow for safe, fast and easy transactions.

October 31: Subspace Mad Planet Science Fiction Double Feature

Plan on staying home for Halloween this year? Mad Planet (533 E. Center St.) has you covered. Subspace, a team of video-mixing DJs, is putting on a Science-Fiction themed double virtual event. The first set at 1:30 p.m. is designed for those overseas or anyone who wants to celebrate a little early. The second set at 9 p.m. is a virtual dance party fundraiser for Mad Planet. Aside from just playing Halloween-appropriate tunes, Subspace will play movie clips and other visual treats. The event is free, but consider donating to Mad Planet’s GoFundMe to help out a Milwaukee staple.