Weekend Possibilities | Ghost Light, Día de los Muertos and a Chance to Meet Napoleon Dynamite Frightful Fun

Between “Hocus Pocus” trivia, ghost stories in the dark and a wicked walkabout in the West Bottoms, Kansas City is crawling with creepiness this weekend.

Friday, Oct. 21

5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Local storytellers and musicians are joining forces for a night of terrifying tales and spooky sounds in Roanoke Park, 3601 Roanoke Road. Ghost Light 2022 kicks off with food trucks at 5:30 p.m., allowing for plenty of time for dinner and scouting out the perfect spot ahead of the show. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. The event is free, but a ticket reservation is required.

6 – 10 p.m. Dia de los Muertos: La Fiesta returns to Crossroads Hotel, 2101 Central St., Friday evening. The one-night-only party will celebrate the history and cultural traditions of Dia de los Muertos with snacks, drinks, mariachi music, colorful artwork, adult face painting, puppets and more. The fiesta is free to attend. Arrive early, space is limited. 

Saturday, Oct. 22

6:30 p.m. Saturday night’s Wicked West Bottoms Walkabout, 1717 W. 9th St., might be a good alternative to waiting in long lines for the neighborhood’s historic haunted houses. A $30 ticket includes a “Thriller” dance lesson, free beer from Stockyards Brewing Co., free drinks from West Bottoms Whiskey and 9th & State, plus a tote bag from Wellness Warehouse. You must be 21 or older to attend. 

7 p.m. How well do you know the holiday? Join in on Halloween Trivia Saturday night at Pawn and Pint, 613 Walnut St., to put your knowledge to the test. Organizers have lined up drink specials, food trucks and a costume contest to top off the evening. You must be 21 or older to play along. Tickets are $25.

7 – 8 p.m. Black Rose Co., 1739 Oak St., is opening its doors after hours for a boozy adult craft night in the Crossroads Arts District. Guests are invited to bring their drink of choice to Graveyard Terror-ium Craft Night, where a professional artists will lead the project, perfect for a date night or evening on the town with friends. All necessary supplies will be provided. Reserve your spot for $20.

8 p.m. Need a laugh? Check out An Evening with Jon Heder, Jon Gries and Efren Ramirez of “Napoleon Dynamite” at Yardley Hall in Midwest Trust Center, 12345 College Blvd. The actors who played Napoleon, Pedro and Kip will join audience members for a screening of the iconic comedy, followed by off-the-cuff conversation and questions about the film. Meet and greet experiences are also available for purchase. Tickets are $25.

Sunday, Oct. 23

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. If a little smoke, mirrors and makeup won’t put the spook in you, visit the Glore Psychiatric Museum for some real fear. A tour of the former psychiatric hospital and the largest museum of its kind will take guests through exhibits detailing former treatment methods, patient artwork, artifacts and more. Adult tickets are $10, student tickets are available for $7.

6 – 10 p.m. Parlor KCMO, 1707 Locust Ave., will transform into “Tiki in the Black Lagoon” for a little Sunday fun. Stop by the pop-up Halloween experience for themed tiki drinks, a variety of eats, live entertainment and the chance to take home raffle prizes. Tickets are $10. Table reservations are available for groups of 6-10.

Noon – 6 p.m. The Weekend Line Up at KC Wine Co., 13875 S. Gardner Road, is certainly worth looking into. The three-day run wraps up with a full day of pumpkin picking, “Hocus Pocus” trivia, local wine pours and more. Cooter Brand BBQ will be on hand for the hungry. You must be 21 or older to attend.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.