Friday, Oct. 28

One of the biggest Halloween parties of the year is happening Friday night this week. Beat Bach’s annual Halloween Dance Party is taking place at 25 E. Center, in the space formerly home to Hawaiian Brian’s. He always goes all out with decorations, and a who’s-who of the local DJ scene will provide the beats. Tickets are $10 at the door.

The Razorback Basketball team will kick off their season with an exhibition versus Central Missouri at Bud Walton Arena Friday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.

How about some theatre? TheatreSquared’s I and You continues with performances all weekend scheduled at Nadine Baum Studios.

The first ever Death Fest is also taking place all weekend at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center. The event is described as a “festival exploring society’s evolving arts, laws, and philosophies of Death through workshops, speakers, performances, and conversation.” Here’s more info.

Music-wise, there’s a rock show at Smoke & Barrel with locals Youth Pastor and Ten High, there’s a country show at George’s with Whiskey Meyers, and Omaha, NE electronic duo Linear Symmetry is at Ryleigh’s.

Full list

Saturday, Oct. 29

With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, a lot of places are holding their parties on Saturday night. Here’s our full guide to all the Halloween events that we know of.

The Good Fear (featuring Flyer co-founders Todd Gill and Dustin Bartholomew) is performing their annual set of Tom Petty songs at Kingfish Saturday night.

Maxine’s has completely decorated the bar in a Stranger Things theme, and they’ll host a three-day dance party starting on Saturday as well.

Also Saturday night, Phunbag’s Comedy Improv is planning a special Halloween performance in the basement at Post on Block.

The largest costume contest we’ve heard of is at Grub’s, where the winner will receive a $500 cash prize.

There’s a big Halloween-themed art and music show called 2 Grotesque at Backspace as well. The show features over 30 local artists, and music by five local bands. Among them, May the Peace of the Sea be with You is performing a set of Built to Spill songs. Here’s more info.

Also in music, there’s a big show at George’s with Zoogma, there’s a Sublime tribute at Ryleigh’s, and Joplin band The Too’s will perform at Smoke & Barrel.

Full list

Sunday, Oct. 30

Event poster

Longtime local-musician Terry Cagle, drummer for The Cate Brothers and Earl & Them and nephew of the late Levon Helm, suffered a serious injury recently, and the community is coming together on Sunday for a benefit to help pay his medical bills at George’s. There’s an all-star lineup of music, featuring The Cate Brothers, Earl & Them, OREO Blue, Brad James Band (Tulsa), Leah & The Mojo Doctors, Jr Markham and The Caretakers (Tulsa), Left of Center, The Traveling Wheelbearings, Dawn Cate, JT Huff, and Lloyd Price. Music starts at around 2 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. Here’s more info about the show.

Also on Sunday, local storytelling troupe That’s What She Said will perform a show titled “Spooky Stories and Nightmare Fodder” at Bordinos, and Maxine’s Stranger Halloween continues with DJ Robert Bell.

Full list: