Halloween falls on a Friday this year, so if you’re anything like me (drinking in the driveway, handing out candy, and entertaining (and sometimes scaring) the neighborhood kids with my vampire fangs), it may have been years since you actually hit the road in your holiday costume.
Fear not, haphazard Orlandons, for I bring you ideas.
The options are plentiful, from Enzian’s annual party at Eden Bar (which is so great that it’s my choice for multiple Halloweens in a row on the way home) to less formal ticket-free options like The Courtesy Bar’s spooky courtyard or Oviedo Mall’s Bite or Treat: Witch’s Ball for air-conditioned early morning birds.
You might also consider Disney Springs, where multiple venues, including Raglan Road, host all kinds of spooky specials.
“For the past few years we have embraced the spirit of Halloween, but each year we strive to take our creativity even further,” said Raglan General Manager Rachel Conroy.
“It started out small with just some festive decorations and a themed drink or two, but over time it’s grown into something we all really look forward to. This year, we’ve added a fun Halloween number performed three times each night by Irish dancers. Think traditional steps, fun costumes, and an unforgettable twist on classic Irish sounds. It brings a whole new energy to the celebration.”
Samhain, the harvest festival that gave rise to the more modern Halloween, is Irish, so Raglan seems like a fitting place to celebrate.
“The Irish believed that during Samhain, the line between the living and the dead blurred, so people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits,” she explains. “Instead of pumpkins, we carved creepy faces on turnips and gourds.”
When immigrants brought Samhain to America from Ireland, they discovered that pumpkins were larger, softer, and easier to cut.
“That simple swap helped shape the modern Halloween aesthetic,” Conroy says.
Zymarium meadery is available for Halloween
It’s an aesthetic embraced wholeheartedly at The Courtesy Bar in Winter Park, where the 8th annual Nightmare on Orange is being held.
Those who are familiar with the nationally popular “Miracle Bar” program around Christmastime know that The Courtesy has been a long-time participant. And with the success of this celebration, a polite version of Halloween was established.
“We were driven by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received from Miracle,” says Gene Zimmerman, co-owner of Courtesy. “[Nightmare]is getting pretty close to Miracle in terms of popularity, and every year we’ve gotten more and more time to buy.”
It served them well. I attended this year’s Nightmare and had to get a reservation for 4pm because slots (for parties of 4 or more) were sold out as soon as they opened. As such, this is a great option for an early walk-up, and throughout Halloween weekend, parties will be held outside in the bar’s courtyard area, serving the same spooky Nightmare drinks.
La Ofrenda (with booze included!) was one of my favorites of this year’s crop, but there was no fun tiki mug to go with it. For glass-based photography and “Scream” fans, Ghostface’s Phoenician Scream is a favorite, with both pumpkin and spice notes in the ice, but La Crime dei Malty, with its raisin box garnish and fruity, nutty aroma, was also popular.
“Halloween night is always special, but this year it’s definitely going to be even more exciting since it’s on a Friday,” Zimmerman said. “While costumes are not required, we expect patrons and staff alike to wear special Halloween regalia.”
The same is true for Halloween for the folks at Thornton Park’s Reindeer Room, whose versatile bar is now called The Nightmare Before the Reindeer Room (facebook.com/reindeerroomorlando).
They’ll be attending the Thornton Park District Halloween Street Party (see details below), but if you want to drop everything and get there now, the Halloween theme has already started.
“Our Halloween bar is a hit with our customers,” says owner Wendy Conner. “We feature themed drinks, Halloween decorations, and Halloween movies to immerse people in the holiday. Outside of trick-or-treating, Halloween is truly a grown-up holiday, and we find that our guests love celebrating all things scary.”
Patrons tend to dress up to match the bar’s theme (themes increase as the year progresses, from St. Patrick’s Day to Mardi Gras, and more), but on Halloween they go all out, just like the bar staff.
Popular cocktails this season include the Peanut Butter Poltergeist (with peanut butter whiskey and crème de cacao), the American Psycho (with honey whiskey and peach liqueur), and the Grateful Dead (Long Island Iced Tea with black raspberry liqueur) with a souvenir skull cup.
Twisted traditions are in fashion during twist season. A great example of this is the addition of ube to several items on Raglan’s menu, including the Spooky Spud cocktail.
“Ube is a type of purple yam ‘spud,’ and it’s a fun and weirdly perfect ingredient to feature in Irish spots,” says Conroy.
Potatoes are an iconic element of Irish cuisine, so using Filipino ube is our way of honoring tradition with a twist. ”
America’s Halloween tradition is firmly rooted, but it can also be described as a twist on tradition.
“It evolved into the massive celebration we know today,” Conroy says. “But at its core, Halloween remains a Celtic spirit that celebrates mystery, mischief, and the changing of the seasons.”
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram @amydroo or the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, and for more foodie fun, join our Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
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More ideas for last minute Halloween hijinx
Boxi Park: Their 21+ Halloween party will be held from 6pm to midnight with DJ John Campisano and music from ’80s thriller band Fancy Reagan. Dress up in your scariest costume and enjoy a night of music, drinks, and dancing with your friends, along with a Beetlejuice photo shoot. A welcome drink is included in the $13.32 ticket price. More information: eventbrite.com/e/halloween-night-21-party-at-boxi-park-tickets-1787690663899
The Courtesy Bar/Nightmare on Orange: Until November 2nd, experience the spooky and epic theme of Nightmare on Orange at The Courtesy. Reservations inside are sold out as of press time (there are cancellations, but walk-ins are always welcome), but spooky cocktails will also be served in the courtyard each night. More information: thecourtesybar.com/nightmareonorange
Eden Bar Halloween Party: Dress up in your best costume and party with friends until the lights go out. Tickets ($10) include admission to Enzian Theater’s carnival-themed party, costume contest, and plenty of memorable scares. Food and drinks are available for purchase. The party begins at 8 p.m. and the evening ends with a screening of John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) at 11:59 p.m. Movie tickets are sold separately. More information: enzian.org/films/special-programs/eden-bars-halloween-party
IceBar Orlando: Nights of Fright at IceBar will be held throughout Halloween weekend (October 31-November 1) and will feature hauntingly fun, moving music and spooky-themed cocktails. Expect $6 syringe Jell-O shots and a costume contest roster. Doors open at 5 p.m. Live DJ starts at 9pm. VIP Reservations, Tickets and Event Information: 407-426-7555; Icebarorlando.com/buy-tickets
Oviedo Mall Sip or Treat: Witch’s Ball: This popular shopping mall event is in its fourth year. The question is, “What if trick-or-treating was for adults?!” On Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., adults can trade their bags of candy for wine glasses to drink, shop, and stroll. There will also be a Halloween Marketplace featuring local artisan sellers, with plenty of food and wine samples (and special discounts on shopping). If you’re 21 or older, check in at the north entrance of the mall to get a wristband to pour free beer and wine. A non-alcoholic menu is also available. Admission and parking are free. Oviedo Mall is located at 1700 Oviedo Mall Blvd. In Oviedo.
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant: Special menu and spooky-themed dance show runs until October 31st. More information: raglanroad.com
Thornton Park Halloween Block Party: This is the 12th annual “Be Bad on Washington Street” soiree. Street performers, drink specials outside the bar, costume contests and more. From 8pm on October 31st to 2am on November 1st. Advance tickets are $23.18, or at the door $33.85. More information: eventbrite.com/e/thornton-parks-halloween-block-party-tickets-1648381285799
Zymarium Meadery: Their Dark Ritual Halloween Celebration is held monthly in Orlando’s Mills 50 District and continues through the end of October with spooky decorations, seasonal releases, and other holiday-themed fun. More information: zymarium.com
