Celebrate Halloween with events that range from a costume contest to a walk-through haunted house.
TAKE THE ENTIRE DAY — really, the entire day — to celebrate Halloween in Rahway.
On Oct. 31, beginning at 10 a.m. (and continuing to 4 p.m.), visit the Ugly Parlor on Cherry Street, where makeup artists will help to amp up your frightful appearance. Fees vary from $15 to $35.
At 11 a.m., the city's annual Halloween Costume Contest kicks off at Train Station Plaza, at the corner of East Milton Avenue and Irving Street; register at the Recreation Center (3 City Hall Plaza) or online at cityofrahway.org/halloween.
The city's Halloween Parade starts at noon at Train Station Plaza and finishes at the Hamilton Stage parking lot, where a Trunk-or-Treat awaits trick-or-treaters. Also at noon, the second annual Rahway Zombie and Vampire Apocalypse Scavenger Hunt gets underway as zombies and vampires stalk the city looking for clues in the hunt, which continues to 5:54 p.m. Prizes will be awarded. Cost is $15; buy tickets online at cityofrahway.org/zombie.
"Views From The Dark World," a special Halloween art exhibit at Arts Guild New Jersey, opens with a free reception from 1 to 4 p.m. at the gallery, located at 1670 Irving Ave. Visit agnj.org.
At 2 p.m., the Union County Performing Arts Center will be transformed into The Devil's Theater, a walk-through haunted house. Open from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., the haunted house is appropriate for ages 9 and older, or with a parent/guardian. Tickets are $25 and $35. Visit devilstheater.com.
If visitors haven't seen enough of the undead and bloodsucking fiends, a free Zombie vs. Vampire Walk begins at 6 p.m. Participants must dress as either a zombie or vampire and march through Rahway's downtown.
The evening sky will light up at 6:45 p.m. with Fear Works! "A splattering of fireworks in the bloodiest of colors" is how the city is describing this fireworks display outside City Hall, at the corner of Main Street and East Milton Avenue. A dance party will follow the fireworks display and will feature live music, lights and prizes for the best zombies and vampires.
Wrap up the day's events with "Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical" at 8 p.m. at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton St. Tickets are $20. Visit ucpac.org/events.
To learn about more about any of the events, visit cityofrahway.org/halloween.
LAUGH OUT LOUD
It's 1930s Paris and the stage is set for the concert of the century ... what could possibly go wrong?
Rob McClure, left, and Ron Orbach in "A Comedy of Tenors" at McCarter Theatre in Princeton. Find out at a performance of Ken Ludwig's "A Comedy of Tenors", being staged at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. It's a story of mistaken identities, bedroom high jinks and madcap delights — involving one hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, three girlfriends and a soccer stadium filled with screaming fans.
After tonight's performance, there will be a post-show discussion. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., the discussion follows with an artist from the production. Among the topics discussed are how artistic choices were made for the production and the actors' process.
The show continues through Nov. 1, with performances on Oct. 30, at 8 p.m.; Oct. 31, at 3 and 8 p.m.; and Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $110.10. Call (609) 258-2787 or visit mccarter.org.
AND MORE ...
• The Origins Art Show, opening today at Merseles Studios in Jersey City, launches a series of art events from the Jersey City Theater Center that explore the question of how our origins influence our lives. A free opening reception for the exhibition, a panel discussion and a preview of upcoming events in the series will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at the studios, 339 Newark Ave., 2nd floor. The series, featuring community dialogue, theater, film, interactive workshops, multimedia presentations, readings and visual arts, will continue through Dec. 3. Call the Jersey City Theater Center at (201) 795-5386 or visit jctcenter.org.
• New Brunswick ska veterans Streetlight Manifesto will rock the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville on Oct. 30. Show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $23. Visit starlandballroom.com.
• Fiendishly fun characters will be out and about on Halloween for trick-or-treating at the Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May, where they'll have treats for the youngest ghosts and goblins, pirates and princesses. The event takes place Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the estate, 1048 Washington St. Free. Visit capemaymac.org.
• The Arco Ensemble string orchestra performs Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. at Enlow Hall, on Kean University's East Campus, 215 North Ave., Hillside. Joseph Colaneri will conduct, with soloist Andre Tarantiles on harp. As part of Enlow Hall's Concerts & Cafe Series, refreshments and a reception with the artists will follow the performance. Tickets are $25. Call (908) 737-7469 or visit keanstage.com.
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