It’s almost that time… to get spooky and scary on 6th street (and beyond)!
There are always tons of things to do in Austin year-round, but Halloween encourages some especially gothic fun in the capital city. If you’re goth (like me) or emo, or anywhere in between, and planning on making your way up to Austin this year for Halloween weekend, here are the top 6 things you should do:
Halloween Freakend by Levitation Fest
Brought to you by the curators of the annual Levitation Fest – a psych rock, goth, shoegaze, punk, and doom metal festival – is Halloween Freakend, a 2-day live music event at Far Out Lounge.
From Viagra Boys and Stereolab to Clown Core and Black Moth Super Rainbow, there’s no shortage of great established and local acts to catch this Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1. Unfortunately, single-day passes for October 31 are sold out, but you can still get single-day passes for Nov. 1 (starting at $50 for GA), and two-day passes (starting at $132). The Far Out Lounge is a great outdoor venue in South Austin, but be sure to arrive early to get good parking!
‘70s Horror Classics & French New Wave at AFS Cinema
Austin Film Society’s AFS Cinema is the coolest art house movie theater in the city. It’s out of the way of downtown, but worth the drive for all you cult, indie, and art film fans.
On Thursday, October 30, watch Christopher Lee slay in the 1970 British film, Taste the Blood of Dracula, at 6:15 p.m., or catch Werner Herzog’s 1979 classic Nosferatu the Vampyre at 9:05 p.m.
On Halloween, October 31, AFS is showing Richard Linklater’s latest film, “Nouvelle Vague,” a movie reimagining the making of the iconic ‘60s French New Wave film “Breathless,” directed by Jean Luc Godard. Linklater has also been curating the theater’s French New Wave film showings this past fall – watch the original “Breathless” by Jean-Luc Godard, Wednesday, Oct. 29 through Sunday, Nov. 2.
(Haunted) House of Torment
It wouldn’t be a proper Halloween list without the best haunted house in Austin. Named America’s Scariest Haunted House by the Travel Channel, House of Torment offers the best thrills around. Open every night through Nov. 2 (and ultimately concluding on Nov. 9), catch the haunted house’s main attractions: “Blood Stained,” “Cursed Pharoh’s Tomb,” and “La Casa De Bruja.” There’s also mini escape games, axe throwing, a “secret bar”, zombie shooting, and other immersive experiences. Tickets start at $32.99, but act fast – this attraction has been known to sell out.
Dirty Sixth
Well, this one is kind of obligatory and obvious – Austin is most famous for Old 6th Street. Back in the day, it was what garnered Austin its moniker as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Locals call the main party area of 6th Street “Dirty Sixth,” which includes the strip between Congress and IH-35.
While 6th Street can be fun, it gets PACKED on Halloween. Costumes, college students, dive bars, and dance clubs galore! If you can handle the young crowd, and… well, the CROWD, you might want to stop by on Friday or Saturday night. Walk up and down 6th (if you can squeeze your way through), check out the nightclubs, and admire all the insane Halloween decorations and costumes.
Esther’s Follies – a sketch comedy, political satire, and magic show – on the corner of 6th and Red River is probably the most unique entertainment spot on Dirty Sixth. Tickets range between $30 – $40 per person. Afterward, you can grab a decent-sized, delicious burger next door at my FAVORITE PLACE on 6th, Casino El Camino, a dive bar and restaurant with pool tables and an outdoor seating area. When it comes to the menu, you definitely get your bang for your buck, and they’re always showing interesting cult horror and pulp movies. Pick something to play from the jukebox, which features lots of goth, psych, rock, and punk music. Casino El Camino is open ‘til 2:00 a.m. and the kitchen serves food ‘til 1:30 a.m.!
Additionally, if you’re looking for trinkets, Aaron’s Rock & Roll is a very goth music & movie memorabilia shop on 6th, stocking T-shirts, posters, action figures, and other unique items. And when it comes to other food, Voodoo Doughnuts, Roppolo’s Pizza, and various authentic taco food trucks offer some of the best late-night eats.
Hangout Spots & Witch Shops on East 6th
What’s referred to as East 6th includes the area of 6th Street that’s on the other side of IH-35/Dirty 6th. There are several dance clubs, live music venues, and party places. It’s way cooler than Dirty Sixth in my opinion, with chill hangout spots and cooler DJ-led parties, like at Shangri-La. East Sixth usually gets pretty busy as well, but it is nowhere near as crowded as Dirty Sixth, in my experience.
For all the brujas out there, you’ll definitely want to stop by City Alchemist Witch Shop during the day. According to it’s website, City Alchemist is “an esoteric purveyor of occult goods and services whose aim is to revitalize witchcraft for the next generation.” On Halloween, between 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., get a Tarot reading from the spectacular Deidre A.K.A. @hexetarots, a local witch who also sings and songwrites in her band, Red & The Rebels. She’s scarily accurate and supremely talented.
(If you can help it, avoid West 6th – lots of sports bars and frat bros… unless you’re into that!)
Goth Clubs & Queer Dance Clubs on Red River
When I’m not on 6th Street, I prefer to hang out on its perpendicular street, Red River. It’s home to many of Austin’s coolest rock music venues, goth clubs, and queer dance clubs.
Elysium is Red River’s main goth club and live music venue. On October 31, they’re hosting Darkwave Disko, featuring Goth, Darkwave, EBM, and Post-Punk music. Perfect for Halloween! If you’re still in town on Sunday, check out their ‘80s Goth night.
Self-described as “a dance club for people who don’t like dance clubs” on Instagram, Barbarella is usually my and my mom’s go-to. There are two dance clubs, featuring queer pop inside and hip hop/pop/electronic outside. Barbarella is also connected to a third club, Swan Dive, which typically hosts themed events featuring DJs or live music. They usually play a lot of emo music (for all you ‘00s kids out there.)
Note: You can enter all three clubs via either the Swan Dive or Barbarella entrances, and you only have to pay once! Typically, entry is $10/person, and free before 10:00 p.m.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
Finally, the Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail is an innovative walk-through experience, and the first of its kind. Located at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center off of Mopac, the website describes it as an immersive ”wonderland of moonlit magic.” Austin is one of only two cities in the country selected to host The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail, the other being New York City.
Between Tuesday, Oct. 28, through Saturday, Nov. 1, the trail will be open between 6:45 p.m. – 10:15 p.m., with ticket prices starting at $25. Catch it before it’s gone on Nov. 30!
I hope this has enlightened you about all the cool things Austin has to offer this Halloween – time to engage with the darkness this weekend. Stay scary, my friends.
Photo at top provided by Disney’s Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail
