Halloween Parties Offer Cure For Identity Crisis Forget Who You Are And Be Someone Else At Nightclub Bashes

For some strange reason, thousands of Inland Northwesterners go through a sort of identity crisis every year at this time.

Could Halloween have something to do with this?

Those who like to assume other identities and don costumes, whether it be Jabba the Hut or Cinderella, will be on the prowl for the next five days in search of places to haunt.

There’s a ton of horrific fun to be had at the numerous Halloween parties happening throughout the area.

Although Halloween is Tuesday, many of the monster moshes are tonight and Saturday.

Here’s a list of some of the parties:

A gruesome bash is set for Ripples at Cavanaugh’s River Inn on Saturday at 9 p.m. Partygoers clad in Halloween wear (you know, costumes) will be eligible for cash prizes. Final judgment will be rendered at midnight. Loose Endz will be pumping out the spooky tunes. The cover is $5. All patrons will be automatically entered into a drawing.

The almighty Fat James, master of screaming blues, will come all the way from Seattle to help Fort Spokane Brewery celebrate the haunted holiday on Saturday. Costumes are preferred but not necessary. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. The cover is $5.

Dempseys Brass Rail’s ghostly bash happens on Halloween. There’ll be a costume contest and an assortment of prizes for those wearing the top three costumes. There’s no cover. Come dance to the spookerific music. Party’s at 9 p.m.

Mother’s Pub will resurrect the Swampdogs and a couple of other bands on stage for its Halloween shindig. Miller beer will give away prizes, so don’t forget to throw on a costume. The cover is $3. Monster moshing starts at 9 p.m.

Swackhammer’s will be packed with creatures of the night both Saturday and Tuesday. Saturday is the club’s big Halloween Bash. KZZU Radio is again co-sponsoring the evening. A cash prize of $1,000 will be divided among three people clad in the most outstanding costumes. Dracula’s Blood (the drink) will flow all night. Saturday’s creepy fun starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Advance tickets, $8, are available at J&B Stereo in Coeur d’Alene and at Swackhammer’s.

The event sold out last year, so buy tickets in advance. Tuesday’s affair kicks-off at 8 p.m. Women pay no cover. There is $100 for the best costumes.

Tonight, the Red Lion Inn in the Valley will be haunted with its Halloween Monster Bash and Costume Party. There’ll be all sorts of games and prizes. Partygoers can adopt a bat to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Fun starts at 8 p.m.

A “parade of freaks” will wreak havoc at the Fourth Quarter Pub in Post Falls on Saturday. Three hot North Idaho blues bands, the Rum Runners, Electric Bossman and Too Hug, will entertain the costumed freaks. A Thomas Kemper Octoberfest blend will be frightfully cheap. There’s no cover and the party starts at 7 p.m.

The Spokane Chapter of Rotaract will host its second annual evening of sinister fun, aptly titled “The Scream,” tonight at the Crescent Court Ballroom. The second annual fright night will include dancing, a costume contest and door prizes. It all begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or by calling Michelle Gorman at (509) 926-1897.

Ichabod’s North has scheduled two nights of ghoulish Halloween excitement for tonight and Saturday. Come in Costume or be doomed forever. Tonight, Cringe, Fatty Lumpkin, Big Comb and Barbie Car will scare the living daylights out of everyone. Punk bands the Fumes, Moral Crux, Loaded and Dizzy Spell will jar guests on Saturday. Both shows start at 9:30 p.m. The cover each night is $4. Bring your costume and ID.

On Halloween night, Tuesday, Outback Jack’s will terrorize its patrons with a night of devilish fun featuring dancing to red-hot Top 40 tunes of DJ Ryndog. Over $200 in cash prizes will be awarded to the best costumes. There will also be other door prizes, too. Ghoulish fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 ($5 at the door).

The Blue Dolphin will be in the Halloween spirit on Saturday. Local favorite All Fall Down will do the entertaining. Six hundred dollars in cash and prizes have been set aside for the top costumes. Ruckus kicks off at 9 p.m. The cover is $6 for those in costume and $4 for those who aren’t.

The Shed Comedy Club will transform into a haunted hall of doom for a Halloween party on Saturday. DJ Sir Charles will lay down dancing vibes with a host of spooky tunes as well as reggae, hip-hop, R&B and soul music. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the best costumes. The entry fee is $2. Chills begin at 9 p.m. The cover is $5.

Ghosts, goblins and mummies ought to head to the Big Dipper on Monday and Tuesday. Monday’s Halloween party features some of the scariest bands in town, Snaut, Cringe and the Dry Heaves. A cash prize will be given to the best costume on Monday. On Tuesday, rocker Limbo Lads will share the stage with reggae band Planetary Refugees. The horror kicks off at 9:30 on both nights. The cover is $3 each night.

The dead have awakened and will be rampaging all Saturday night at “The Night of the Living Dead” Halloween party at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. Bash begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available at G&B.