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Halloween revelry started early at this Canadian parade, but there will be plenty of ghouls and witches partying in Beijing and Shanghai this week, too. LIANG SEN/XINHUA |
Once largely ignored in China, the Western holiday Halloween is getting more traction every year, with parties that are spooky, sexy, beery or just good family fun. The Beijing listings below offer something for everyone:
Oct 29
Pumpkin power
Get a head start on Halloween with Juice by Melissa, with a cold-pressed Pumpkin Spiced Rum cocktail. Buy one drink and you'll get a free pumpkin to carve in the shop. The person that carves the most creative pumpkin gets a chance to win a free hangover package to be delivered on Nov 1, after all that crazy Halloween partying.
6-10 pm; juicebymelissa.com; 130-4112-1556.
Oct 30
On-screen fright
Mas will be showing trashy '80s horror films Chopping Mall and Society at its third annual Scream Queens Halloween scary spectacular. (On Halloween night: Giallo music and specialty cocktails with a haunted-house theme.)
9 pm-late; 25 Beixinqiao Toutiao. 010-6405-4337.
Oct 31
Family-fun brunch
Feast restaurant at East Hotel Beijing is putting on a spooky good Halloween brunch especially for the kids. One boy and one girl every hour will win a best-costume prize. There will be trick-or-treat for candy and face-painting at the children's corner. Cost 238 yuan ($37) plus 15 percent service charge per person; children under 6 dine for free and children 6-11 are half priced.
11:30 am-3 pm; www.east-beijing.com/en/; 010-8414-9820.
Day of the Dead
Cantina Agave's Dead Sexy party is all about Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). For this Mexican-themed party, put on your face paint and sexy outfit. (A makeup artist will be on hand to give you a sugar-skull transformation if you don't trust your own skills.) Sangria and beer will be 25 yuan each; DJ Jager Zhadan will be mixing it up.
7 pm-late; www.cantinaagave.com; 010-6416-5212.
Halloween feast
Want to avoid the crush around Sanlitun and the usual party haunts in Beijing? Head north to the Yongtaizhuang area and relax at Windy City Ballroom, where the 188-yuan set-meal options include porcupine prawns on salad greens, cranberry-brie-stuffed chicken and pumpkin-pie crumble with dolce de leche sauce. Pumpkin-carving, trick-or-treating and games－plus a free drink on arrival.
From 6pm; www.comfortfoodbeijing.com; 010-6299-3777.
Beery good fun
The Great Leap Brewing team has something different going at each location: Free beer for everyone that shows up in costume at #6. The biggest event, at #12, is the annual costume contest with prizes for the best get-ups. The evening's after party is at #45: 10 yuan from all pints of Imperial Pumpkin sold will be donated to the LGBT Center.
6 pm-2 am; www.greatleapbrewing.com.
