Whether you can’t wait to show off your Halloween costume, simply want to celebrate spooky vibes or honor your deceased beloveds, plenty of restaurants and bars in the Milwaukee area are going all in with those holidays this year. Plan a night out on the last weekend of October that means not only participating in Halloween or Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos), but also grabbing a bite to eat or imbibing with a cocktail, beer or wine.
Here are nine events to celebrate the holidays.
1. Odd Duck
939 S. 2ND ST.
This farm-to-table, small-plates eatery in Walker’s Point is hosting a six-course Halloween feast called “Dinner at Baba Yaga’s: A Culinary Exploration of Slavic Mythology” on Oct. 31. Tickets are $175 each and reservations should be made through Resy. Enjoy Slavic cuisine paired with drinks based on Slavic traditions. Costumes are encouraged.
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It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
2. Lost Whale
2151 S. KINNICKINNIC AVE.
This Bay View bar’s “Black Lagoon” themed pop-up launched Oct. 6 and continues through Nov. 2. Expect a new décor scheme that includes cobweb motifs, skulls, purple lighting and other creepy stuff – and, of course, equally creepy cocktails.
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3. MKE Brewing Company
2335 S. KINNICKINNIC AVE.
Rocking solo this year? Come to this Bay View brewery’s “Halloween Singles Mixer,” organized by Lock and Key Events, on Oct. 29 from 7-9 p.m. Designed for those between the ages of 24 and 49 and tickets ($30.20) should be purchased. Every female gets a lock and a every male a key, and the match made when they literally click. While costumes are required, they’re highly encouraged.
4. Mitchell Park Domes
524 S. LAYTON BLVD.
In addition to marveling at the flowers and trees at this conservatory, the Día de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 31 packs in even more family-friendly fun, such as bilingual story times, locally made food and drinks for purchase, dance performances, light shows, music and crafts. There will be traditional Day of the Dead decorations, too. Admission ($18) is required for entry but includes all of the above.
5. Cactus Club
2496 S. WENTWOTH AVE.
An all-ages Halloween Cover Show at 6 p.m. on Oct. 31 ($5 with food donation or $20 without) features three Wisconsin bands: Garden Home (punk from Milwaukee), Nightmare Unit (hardcore/punk from Milwaukee) and At the Bottom of the Great Lakes (hardcore music from Madison). Another show ($10) follows, at 10:30 p.m., with two DJs and for 18+.
6. Shaker’s Cigar Bar
422 S. 2ND ST.
While tours of this haunted bar in Walker’s Point – a former Al Capone hangout as well as a former brothel, cemetery and speakeasy – are offered nightly throughout the year, it’s especially topical around Halloween. Hangman Tours’ hour-long “Shaker’s Original Ghost Tour” ($25) are at 5:45 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and the 90-minute “Shakers 2.0 Tour” ($50) goes even deeper, offered at 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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7. X-Ray Arcade
5036 S. PACKARD AVE., CUDAHY
Not only is there live music (courtesy of Subspace and Goth Barge) on Nov. 1, there’s also a costume contest, part of the bar’s annual “Halloween Spooktacular” event ($10) that kicks off at 9 p.m. Winners of the costume contest win a percentage of the cash pool, derived from cover charges.
8. Brothers Bar and Grill
1213 N. WATER ST.
Those donning carefully thought-out costumes will want to show them off and what better spot than the bars on Water Street? This bar’s Halloween Bar Crawl ($22.49, general admission; and $49.99, VIP admission) on Nov. 1 includes free covers at select bars, “spooky featured cocktails,” live DJs, spin-to-win prizes and professional-photo opps. Prizes will also be awarded for costumes. Crawl kicks off from Brothers Bar and Grill from 5-7 p.m., and ends at 10 p.m.
9. Halloween Bar Crawl
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Held on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, this bar crawl ($19.50-$25.47) in downtown Milwaukee from 4 p.m. to midnight. includes five venues and between two and three drinks or shots. Tickets are valid for both nights and you get to choose from 16 participating bars – including after parties at Trinity Three Irish Pubs and RWB Milwaukee – and no covers are needed once you buy a ticket. Check-in for the crawl is at either Brothers Bar and Grill or 90s2K Cafe.
