Halloween was originally a pagan festival celebrated by highly superstitious village folk who painted their faces and wore scary costumes to ward off the ghosts and witches threatening to harm their livestock and crops.

Nowadays, its the best excuse of the year to get dressed up as your sexy/scary alter ego, socialise with some similarly dressed hotties and toss back a drink or two.  And your local clubs/bars/lounges are ready to host you and your friends in a night of generic mayhem, fun and (picture it now) lots and lots of exposed bits. Keep an eye out for 365antigua.com’s fiendishly fabulous roving photogs who want to catch you at your scariest/sexiest best. Here’s what 2 know & where 2 go for ghoulish good times around Antigua next weekend...

FRIDAY OCTOBER 30th

Tiny Treasures Annual Halloween Party
location: Crosbies
time: 4-6pm – children 6 and under, 6-10pm – everyone else
cost: $5 per person
features: little kiddie haunted house, food, treats, lots of other little kids.
link: photos & review from last year's party

It's that time of year again!  It's our annual Halloween party and you're invited.  Stop by on Friday, October 30th at Tiny Treasures Day Care Centre, Crosbies.  4pm start for children under 6 years of age, and 6pm start for everyone else.  Very scary masks and monsters are welcome after 7pm.  The party goes until 10pm.

Call Judy Mendes (Aunty Judy) at 562-2856 for more details.

365antigua.com says: This is THE most excellent place to take the kids for halloween. Its been happening for years. And for all the big kids... there's a bar.

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SATURDAY OCTOBER 31st

Kids Halloween Party
location: Reef Gardens, formerly Zanzi Bar
time: 5:00 pm
cover: FREE
features: prizes for the funniest, best, most original

365antigua.com says: Spiffy new location.

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The Beach Restaurant
location: Dickenson Bay
time: 5:00 pm -
cover: FREE
features: The Beach Halloween Dinner
link: The Beach website

The beach Halloween dinner – Halloween menu, special “SPOOKY” drinks. Come join us on Saturday for a HAUNTING good time. For reservations call 480-6940

365antigua.com says: Its a stylin' place to warm up on the night, or dodge the craziness that comes with Halloween. Chill beside the water. Don't be scared.

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Freaky Fright Night Halloween at Foredeck Bar
location: Jolly Harbour Marina
time: 8:00 pm -
cover: FREE
features: Monkey T-Li Band performing live, Costume contest
link: facebook event page

• 1st prize: $1,000 bar tab
• 2nd prize: dinner for 2 @ Al Porto restaurant
• 3rd prize: bottle of champagne

365antigua.com says: Monky T-Li totally rawks, pizza from Al Porto is yummy and its convenient for the JH crowd.

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Mad Mongoose Annual Halloween Party
location: English Harbour
time: 10pm - 1am
features: big prizes, beer specials, chickie spinning
link: madmongooseantigua.com

Prizes for biggest, scariest and funniest costume wins $100EC bar tab and a trip to St. Maarten goes to the most original costume.  Buckets of Red Stripe on sale 4 for $20EC, and buckets of Guinness 4 for $24EC.

365antigua.com says: Lots of beer drank and spilled for big fun. Be sure to drink a big glass of water and two aspirins just before you crawl into bed from MM.

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AUA Thriller Halloween Party
location: The Sands, Runaway Bay
time: 10:30 am
cover: $20. EC
features: DJ inks, lots of AUA students will congregate for the free jello shots.

365antigua.com says: If the AUA Thriller party is anything like their recent "highlight the night" party, this one should be a blast. Love the beach bonfires.

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Rush’s Halloween ‘09
location: Runaway Bay
time: 11pm – 5am
cover: $30 with costume, $20 without
features: loads of prizes, starts and goes late.
link: facebook event page

Dare to be scared? Over past the years Rush has brought you the biggest and best Halloween parties, this year is no exception. It's gonna be bigger, it's gonna be scarier, it’s gonna be crazier with more prizes than ever before.  Prizes will be given to the top 3 in each category:

• Best Male Costume - Blackberry Curve 8520
• Best Female Costume - $250 gift certificate from Lipstick
• Best Couples Costume - Dinner for two from Leah's Restaurant
• Scariest Costume - Touch Therapies certificate
• Sexiest Costume - Diner for two at The Beach Restaurant
• Funniest Costume - 22 inch LCD HDTV
• Most Original Costume - Evening for two at Blue Waters

Get your costumes EARLY for the ultimate party

It's easy as 1-2-3:
1. choose your costume
2. call and place your order (deposit required)
3. pay the balance and collect costume

call Mandie 464-7599 or Caren 776-3762 for more details

365antigua.com says: This is an easy and great way to get your costumes. Rush has been THE party spot for years past.

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Scream 4: superheroes & villians, Coast Restaurant, Bar & Nightclub
location: bottom of Market Street
time: 10pm - 6am
cover: $15 with costumes, $20 without
features: great prizes, guest DJ Irish from Renegade Sounds
link: facebook event page

• Most Realistic Hero - 20" LCD flat screen T.V. from Home & Office Depot
• Most Realistic Villain - $1000 gift certificate from GIGI Industries
• Funniest Hero/Villains - PSP Go from Della Electronics
• Sexiest Hero - Laptop computer from Supreme Security
• SEXIEST Villain - Nokia E71 from LIME
• Best Hero Couple (Male & Female) - Dinner for 2 @ Le Bistro
• Best Villain Couple (Male & Female) - M & F fragrance set from Q-rios
• Best Team Hero/Villain (no more than 4 people) - dinner @ the Coast Restaurant
• Sexiest Female Costume (Non-Super hero/Villain) - $500 gift certificate from IT clothing store
• Funniest Costume (non-superhero/villain) – All-inclusive day pass for 2 @ Hawksbill Beach Resort

365antigua.com says: The biggest prize booty on the island. Past SCREAM parties have been killer. It'll be jammed, so don't come in a hot (sexy is good, warm is not) costume.

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Thriller Halloween Party
location: Life Bar, English Harbour
time: 9pm - 2am
cover: no cover
features: party over the water
link: facebook event page

365antigua.com says: The best party in a club over the water.

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itchyfeet at Putters
location: Putters Bar, Runaway Bay
time: 10pm - 1am
cover: no cover
features: live music from the meisters
link: facebook group page

365antigua.com says: Bring your costume to the pub and dance it up.

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Black Swan Halloween Spooktacular Party!
location: Redcliffe Quay dock, then the Caribbean Sea
time: 8pm - ?
cost: $100 early bird special, $120 at the boat
features: all food and drink is included in price
link: piratesofantigua.com

Wear your pirate or scary costumes and win prizes courtesy of Columbian Emeralds.  Dinner will be served, with an open bar and live DJ.

365antigua.com says: Arrr matey, great dinner, unlimited rum and back to the mainland in time to hit another party, me-thinks.