Photo by Paul J. Roane.

The folks at 4611 Springfield Avenue are again hosting a Halloween party for neighbors of all ages, an annual tradition in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. On Halloween night, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., make sure to visit the Haunted Garden for treats and tricks. As usual, the garden will feature a dozen spooky sets and treat stations, with thousands of candy bars, fruits, pretzel bags and bite-sized treats. And while waiting in line, enjoy The Philly Thrillers group performing the zombie dance from the “Thriller” video.

Haunted Garden wouldn’t be such a success without all the help from people in the neighborhood. This year, too, the event organizers are looking for volunteers to help decorate the place this Saturday and Sunday, from 1-4, and on Halloween, from 4:30-7:30 to act in costume and distribute treats. If you would like to help, you can contact one of the organizers, Elizabeth, by email: home.in.phila@juno.com.

It’s time to sharpen your knives and start carving those pumpkins as West Philly Local’s 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest has opened today. We are accepting photos of your pumpkins through October 29. Please follow this link to read more about the contest and how to enter it.

We have awesome prizes from these amazing sponsors this year: Curio Theatre, Dock Street Brewery, Four Worlds Bakery, Green Line Cafe, Lil’ Pop Shop, Locust Moon Comics, Mariposa Food Co-op, Penn Museum, and Sabrina’s Cafe.

If you own some scary or creepy books or books with themes like fall, Halloween, harvest, leaves, pumpkins, etc., you can donate them for this cool Halloween event. This year, All Hallow’s Read is organizing a book hunt for spooky books hidden in Woodlands Cemetery. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct 20. After the hunt, there will be an opportunity to read the books and share them. The idea of All Hallow’s Read was created by author Neil Gaiman, who suggested that people should give each other scary books on or around Halloween.

There are several locations in West Philly where you can drop off your books:

Walnut West Library (40th and Walnut) – drop your book in the regular donation box
Lucien E. Blackwell Regional Library (52nd and Chestnut) – donation box is located in the children’s section
Locust Moon Comics and Movies (34 S. 40th Street)
Bindlestiff Books (4530 Baltimore Ave)
House of Our Own (3920 Spruce Street)
Woodlands Mansion (40th and Woodland Ave)

Donations are accepted through October 15. For more information and to learn about how else you can help at this event, please visit this page.

So another Halloween has come and gone in West Philly. We have a photo slideshow and video below from the parade and we will be announcing the winners of our Pumpkin Carving Contest a little later today. We hope everyone had an awesome and safe Halloween.
 

 

We would like to add two more events to the list of Halloween happenings in our area.
 

Monday, October 31

 
Halloween Haunted Garden

4611 Springfield Ave.

5 – 7 p.m.

All ages, free

This annual Halloween party features 10+ spooky “Sets” with five being “Treat” stations, over 2,000 full sized candy bars, about 1,600 hugs and thousands of fruits, pretzel bags and bite-sized treats. The PHILLY THRILLERS will entertain the folks who are waiting in line.

NOTE: Volunteers are needed to hand out treats and tricks. Anyone who is free Monday from about 4:30-7:30 p.m. and has a warm costume, can help deliver the candy. Treat delivery starts at 5 p.m., so volunteers must commit from about 4:30 to about 7:30 p.m. At least two people are assigned to a station, so come with a friend or make new ones at the event.

You can also help with decorating needs today until 5 p.m. and doing a run-through in the early Monday afternoon, to turn on machines, check power, batteries and fluids, and ‘break’ the glow sticks into eerie perfection.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror

University of Pennsylvania – Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce Street

7:15 p.m.

Free, open to the public

Following Penn’s annual Halloween concert tradition, the 1922 German classic movie “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” is screening Monday night, accompanied by a musical score performed by famed organist Peter Edwin Krasinski on Irvine’s 10,731-pipe Curtis Organ. For more information go here.

West Philly folks: Get ready for some Halloween madness this and early next week. Here’s a rundown of spooky happenings for adults, kids and pets! (We’ll be adding to the list. If you know of something that should be included please email: editor[at]westphillylocal.com).

Tuesday, October 25

 
Movie Night: Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
Dock Street Brewery, 701 S. 50th Street
8 p.m.
21+
For more information go here.

Thursday, October 27

 
Variety Show! Halloween Round-Up with the Suitcase Junket
Green Line Cafe, 4426 Locust Street
7 p.m.
Free
All ages
The West Philly Round-Up has a Halloween theme and a special challenge: How many accordionists can fit into the Green Line on one night? If you’d like to perform (any genre welcome), email bate.emily[at]gmail.com. This Round-Up will also feature a special guest, one-man-band The Suitcase Junket.

Friday, October 28

 
Annual Halloween Party
International House, 3701 Chestnut Street
9 p.m.
$10 general admission; $8 students + seniors; Free for IHP members + residents
21+
Come out to play and dance with ghosts and goblins as IHP is transformed into a haunted playground. Enjoy music, food, beer and a costume contest at midnight!
 

Saturday, October 29

 
Drinker’s Halloween Massacre
Drinker’s West, 3900 Chestnut St.
8 p.m. – 2 a.m.
21+
Website

“Heroween” Celebration
City Tap House, 3925 Walnut Street
9 p.m.
$10 per person
The event will benefit the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Featuring DJ, dancing, raffle and a Halloween fashion show. There will be prizes for best costume, best team costume, and highest fundraiser. Sign-up for a costume or make a donation and enter for free. Otherwise, a $10 donation will be collected at the door.
For more information go here.

Rocknoceros Halloween Party!
World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street
11:30 a.m.
Adults: $10; Children: $7 (ages 1-12); Free for children under the age of one
Presented by Peanut Butter & Jams.
For more information and to buy tickets go here.

Sunday, October 30

 
Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade
Pleasant Park Nursing Home, 4712 Chester Avenue
2 p.m.
Halloween themed costume parade featuring the dog park dogs. Fun for all ages.

Monday, October 31

 
Halloween Tot Parade
Meeting by Milk & Honey (45th & Baltimore)
4 p.m.
Featuring the Penn Drum Band, costumes, dancers and trick or treating! Parade will begin by 4:30 p.m., proceed to Larchwood Avenue, to 43rd Street and end at “Little Osage” between 42nd and 43rd Streets.