Bars stir up spirits for Halloween fun
Halloween may fall on a Monday this year, but that just means the parties are going all weekend long.
These are just some of the Halloween bashes at area bars where you can show off your costume, sip a creepy cocktail and have plenty of spooky fun.
Claddagh's, 1702 Commons Drive, Geneva, (630) 208-0337: A party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, features a costume contest and live music from Mulligan Stew. Drink specials include $2 drafts and select shots.
The Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, (847) 541-4700: Darmata performs a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute at 10 p.m. Saturday. Cover is $5, or $3 if you're in costume.
Drink, 871 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, (847) 397-3100: The costume contest at the club's Naughty or Nice party Saturday doles out more than $8,000 in cash and prizes, including $1,000 for first place.
Docks Bar and Grill, 313 E. Liberty St, Wauconda, (847) 526-3625, docksbarandgrill.com: Spooktacular Weekend Friday and Saturday includes the group Sundance Friday and Kevin Purcell and the Nightburners performing Saturday from 8:45 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. There also will be a funniest and scariest costume contest each night with winners chosen at midnight.
Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine, (847) 358-9150: Cover bands Rock Candy and A Thousand Julys perform starting at 10 p.m. Saturday. The crowd votes for the best costume, with the winner receiving $500. Cover is $7.
Gather Bar, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, (847) 303-4100: The bar at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel serves themed cocktails like the Jack-O-Lantern, a blend of cognac, orange juice ginger ale and Grand Marnier, and the Arachnophobia, which features Midori, vodka, lemon juice and grenadine topped with a chocolate syrup spider web.
John Barleycorn, 1100 American Lane, Schaumburg, (847) 619-5540: The B96 Rave from The Grave from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday features a costume contest with a $1,000 grand prize. DJ Flipside spins. Cover is $10.
Medusa's, 209 E. Chicago St., Elgin, (847) 868-2582: An Amy Winehouse impersonator resurrects the singer-songwriter at a bash from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Dress up and you could win $500 in the club's costume contest. Cover is $10.
Mickey Finn's Brewery, 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, (847) 362-6688: The bar has decked out its upstairs private party room for a Saturday night bash. Get a drink from a zombie bartender and dance to music from cover band HenneBerry, which takes the stage at 10 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the sexiest, best and most original costumes. Cover is $5.
Prairie House, 2710 Main St., Buffalo Grove, (847) 415-2255: The Saturday bash features karaoke, drink specials and a costume contest with $125 for first place.
Ra Sushi, 310 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 627-6800: The restaurant's Boo Bash at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, features themed food and drink specials like lightly-battered spicy Vampire Shrimp and the grape vodka-based Grape Ghoulade cocktail. A DJ spins, and you can enter a costume contest for the chance to win restaurant gift certificates.
Tokio Pub, 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 278-5181: A costume party Friday features a competition for a $500 Tokio Pub gift certificate, with the winners announced at 11 p.m. Sip themed cocktails like the Scary Brew, a cocktail of Sauza Silver, blood orange liqueur and blood orange and pomegranate juices garnished with fangs. At 10 p.m. everyone gets free pork belly nachos.