Las Vegas has turned into a Halloween town. Every October as the seasons change, bars get busy decorating and restaurants put out fall menus and plan for special Halloween dinners. There are also weekly parades, screenings of Halloween films and costume parties on rooftops, as well as a real haunted house if you dare.
Here are the many ways to celebrate Halloween in Las Vegas without the scary prices.
Sand Dollar Lounge
The Sand Dollar was one of the original bars to jump into the Halloween scream-fest and has provided a blueprint for every fall-themed pop-up that followed. With its over-the-top decor, frighteningly strong cocktails and scary good pizza, Nightmare on Spring Mountain has established a cult following.
Black Lagoon at Evel Pie
The successful pop-up Black Lagoon (it has locations in 35 cities) makes its Las Vegas debut this year at Evel Pie. The downtown pizza joint has turned its backyard patio into a speakeasy where you’ll find themed drinks and a festive atmosphere.
scAREA15
The immersive entertainment district transforms into scAREA15 with an array of Halloween happenings, including a special Halloween-themed edition of Museum Fiasco, an immersive viewing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct 27–31), a frightening Twisted Tent party and two nights of “Strange Circus” featuring music and mayhem.
The Underground
Shhh, we’re letting you in on a secret: The Underground speakeasy and distillery at the Mob Museum is hosting a Halloween party on October 31 from 8pm to midnight. Admission is free if you enter the secret side door and whisper the password “Secrets and Spells.” There’ll be a costume contest, live jazz and craft cocktails. The speakeasy also has limited-edition cocktails available October 25 to 31. Choose from the gin-based Corpse Reviver No. 2, garnished with a skull and crossbones lollipop, the boozy 160-proof spiced rum Trick or Treat or the Pumpkin King.
Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum
Why not visit a real haunted house? Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, Zak Bagans’ Haunted Mansion is truly the most frightening place on the planet. The Ghost Adventures host has been collecting creepy cursed artifacts for decades and naturally he bought the Wengert Mansion, a building known for its dark occult history, to display them. Paranormal exhibits and haunted items include Dr. Kevorkian’s death van, the Dybbuk Box and the Peggy doll. Feeling brave? Take the flashlight tour and explore the house in the dark.
Haunted Manor at Legacy Club
Sixty floors up, this sky-high lounge at Circa Las Vegas is throwing a “Haunted Manor” adult costume party on October 26. The spooky soiree at Legacy Club ($150) will have customizable candy apples, passed appetizers, sinister sweets and an open bar.
Pinkbox Doughnuts
Grab a box of these spooky treats for your family or friends. Pinkbox Doughnuts has a Halloween-inspired line of doughnuts that includes a pink frosted ube cake with a spider web design, a green frosted Frankenstein bar and a doughnut that looks eerily like Jack Skellington. The sweets are available through Halloween.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
Known for its outlandish oversize shakes, Black Tap slims things down with a milkshake flight ($37). These three “miniature” portions come in candy apple, pumpkin pie and witch’s brew—an ube blueberry with a witch’s hat sugar cookie. Find them from October 31 to November 3.
HallOVeen at the Magical Forest
Here’s some family fun. The Magical Forest transforms into a somewhat scary theme park with skeletons, pumpkins and a creepy cemetery. There are trick-or-treat stations, midway carnival games and a beer garden for the adults in the bunch.
Parade of Mischief
The Parade of Mischief hits the streets of Downtown Summerlin every Friday throughout October. The family-friendly parade features dozens of costumed actors and floats, including one with a Día de los Muertos theme and another paying homage to the Addams Family.
Downtown Container Park
There’s more all-ages fun coming to Downtown Container Park. The open-air shopping and entertainment district will host Halloween movie nights on The Lawn, costume contests and trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Sunday sunset screenings include Frankenweenie (Oct 13), The Addams Family (Oct 20), The Nightmare Before Christmas (Oct 27) and Hocus Pocus (Oct 31).