Fright nights: Suburban bars, restaurants start the Halloween parties this weekend

Halloween may not be until next Thursday, but that isn't stopping suburban bars and restaurants from celebrating early this weekend with spooky parties and, of course, outrageous costume contests. Why not extend the fun? Better to get more use out of that unique costume, especially if it might net you some cash or prizes.

Here's where you can have a hauntingly good time this weekend and next week.

Alumni Club

1540 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 519-7555 or alumniclub.pub/halloween.php.

Boos & Brews: DJ and dancing until 3 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25. This costume contest could net you thousands in cash and prizes, including $150 cash for best costume. Plus, there are prizes for all semifinalists. Free.

Cheers for Fears: Party until 3 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Go all out for this costume contest as the winner takes home $300 cash for best costume. Prizes for all costume contest semifinalists, too. DJ and dancing until close. Free.

BaseCamp Pub

5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle, (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com/.

Haunted Experience: If you dare, make your way through an outdoor haunted maze and indoor decorated scene with live performers from 8 to 10 p.m. (general) and 10 p.m. to midnight (extreme) Thursday, Oct. 24, through Saturday, Nov. 2. There will be live music and DJs nightly and a waiting area inside BaseCamp offering a full bar and full menu service. $10 ages 15 and older; $5 kids 14 and younger; $5 extra to skip the line. Buy tickets at ticketweb.com/.

Masquerade Ball: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Wear a creative mask for a chance to win the $100 prize. Don't have a mask? BaseCamp will be giving some out at the door. DJs include Bobby De Maria, DJ Akib, Brvthers Keeper and DJ Nautic. The best part? It's free.

$1,000 Costume Contest: Doors open at 7 p.m., with the 21-and-older show starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Put your best effort into your costume for a chance to win big bucks. Headliners include Yours Truly, Rise and Niki Loveley Band. The party goes until 2 a.m. Admission: $10.

Zombee Bomb: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Three stages of music, games, giveaways and more. It's 18 and older to enter. $20 for 21 and older and $30 for 18-20. Buy tickets at wealthyhabitsent.ticketleap.com/zombee-bomb-2019/.

Broken Oar

614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington, (847) 639-9468 or brokenoar.com/.

Halloweekend: 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 25-27. Creativity counts at Broken Oar's costume contests on Friday and Saturday. Take in the Weekend Music Fest featuring headliners Cinful on Friday, Rumor Hazit on Saturday and Friction on Sunday in the heated tent.

Cairo Pizza and Grill

2009 Franciscan Way, West Chicago, (630) 876-9600, cairoalehouse.com/ or 630productions.yapsody.com.

Swamp-O-Ween: 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Besides a costume contest, raffles and giveaways, head to Cairo for music from VCTRE, Black Carl!, UHNK, Impasta and WxstedFxntxsy. Must be at least 18 to enter and 21 to drink.

Zombie Prom: 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Jam to Invictus and 13 Angels and DJ Butl3r. And take advantage of drink specials such as $6 Dirty Surely, $7 Haunted Martinis, and $3 PBR and Malort. 18 and older. It's $10 at the door or $5 in advance. Buy tickets at cairozombieprom.brownpapertickets.com/.

Crawl-O-Ween

Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont, rosemont.com/thepark/events/crawl-o-ween-2019/.

Crawl-O-Ween: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Are you up for visiting seven bars in one night? Get dressed up in a unique Halloween costume, grab some friends and head to Rosemont for the annual Crawl-O-Ween. Participating bars include Adobe Gila's, Bub City, Five Roses, Hofbräuhaus Chicago, Kings Bowl, Park Tavern and Sugar Factory. Tickets, which cost $10 in advance or $15 the day of, include access to the bar crawl, two tickets to Zanies Comedy Club, drink specials and a chance to win the mystery grand prize. Drink specials include $3 draft beers, $4 vodka mixers and $5 specialty drinks. Hofbrauhaus also will be serving $6 half liter and $7 select appetizers. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com/.

Drink Nightclub

871 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, (847) 397-3100 or drinknightclub.com/.

Freaky Friday: Doors open at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Don an awesome costume for the chance to win big, as Drink is giving away $500 in cash and prizes. Dance to music from Rich Ungos, Brian Boncher and Martin Stoy. Plus, there will be $3 top-shelf drinks until 10 p.m.

Executioner's Ball: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Your best costume could bring in a cool $500.

Latin Wednesday Halloween Costume Party: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. This year, experience Latin Night in costume. The best costume will net $400, while second place pays $200 and third pays $100. In the Main Room, DJ Anthrax and DJ Melo will spin bachata, salsa, merengue and cumbia, while in the Absolut Room, DJ Play and DJ Rich Ungos will be playing house, hip-hop, throwback, jams and reggaeton. Learn baccata at 8:30 p.m. and salsa at 9:15 p.m. Cover is $10.

Drink-O-Ween: 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. First prize in the costume contest is $500. Plus, dance the night away to DJ Spin, Rich Ungos and Dahmino.

The Aftermath: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Drink extends the Halloween fun with another costume contest with a $250 cash prize and hot DJ sounds.

Durty Nellie's

180 N. Smith St., Palatine, (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com/.

The Ghosts of Rock Icons Past: Doors open at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Come dressed as your favorite musician who's passed or wear whatever costume you want for Nellie's costume contest. They'll be giving away more than $500 in prizes to the winners. Plus, rock out to Modern Day Romeos. Tickets are $7. Buy them at durtynellies.com/.

Finn McCool's Irish Sports Pub

72 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, (815) 356-1155 or finnmccoolschicago.com/crystallake/halloween.

Interstellar Nightmare: Until 2 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Your best costume could win you $300 cash. Prizes for all semifinalists, too.

Enchanted Forest: Until 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Saturday's costume contest pays out $500 for first prize. Semifinalists also will go home with prizes.

Finn McCool's Irish Sports Pub

1941 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, (847) 303-5100 or finnmccoolschicago.com/schaumburg/.

Annual Anti-Halloween Bash: Until 3 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. No costumes! Come as you are, really. This is the place to be if you hate dressing up. Drink specials include $4 20-ounce jumbo domestic drafts, $6 flavored Long Island Iced Teas and $6 shots (ice cold Jager shots, Fireball, Jameson and Coconut Bombs).

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, (847) 793-0333 or flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/il/lincolnshire.

Halloween Candy & Wine Tasting: Halloween isn't just for kids, and Fleming's is going to prove it at its candy and wine pairing night starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Pairings include licorice and Rosé, candy corn and Moscato, peanut butter cups and Pinot Noir and more. Plus, there will be passed appetizers such as filet flatbread, prime meatballs, filet and chicken skewers and more to keep you sated. Tickets cost $45. Reservations are required; costumes are optional.

H.O.M.E. Bar

1227 N. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 577-4663 or homebarchicago.com.

Halloween Party: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Boy Band Review headlines, plus dress in your best costume for a chance to win $1,000 in cash giveaways (broken down into first, second and third places). This is a 21-and-older event. $10 cover.

Jimmy's Charhouse

1413 Peterson Road, Libertyville, (847) 549-9900, jimmyscharhouselibertyville.com/

Improv Playhouse: (847) 968-4529, improvplayhouse.com/

“The Case of the Spooky Séance”: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Do you love whodunits? Improv Playhouse has partnered with Jimmy's Charhouse in Libertyville for a Halloween-themed murder-mystery dinner where everyone is a suspect. This original whodunit story follows the death of famous psychic Madame Gaze whose diary seems to be missing. The dinner guests will solve the puzzle of the crime based on evidence and clues given throughout the performance. Guests are encouraged to come in costume. The event, which costs $62.50, is for adults and mature teens only. Reservations are required as seating is limited.

Joe's Live

5441 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 261-0392 or joesliverosemont.com/.

Thriller Reggaeton Halloween Party: 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Billed as the ultimate Halloween party, there will be two levels of music featuring Latin, Top 40, bachata and hip-hop and a cash costume contest. $10 cover. 21 and older only.

Lucky Star

1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett, (630) 830-7200 or luckystarbar.com/halloween.

Wicked Weekend: 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. On Friday, best costume could net you $300 in prizes. While on Saturday, there will be prizes for best couple and individual costume. All semifinalists will win prizes, too. Get ready to dance as there will be a country DJ and dance lessons all night long.

Martini Room

161 E. Chicago St., Elgin, (847) 741-0349 or martiniroomelgin.com/.

Bootiful Halloween Costume Party: 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Get all dressed up in your Halloween best for Martini Room's costume contest. DJ Juicy will be spinning tunes all night. No cover.

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

1512 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 960-3915; 1915 Glacier Park Ave., Naperville, (331) 472-8740; 3050 E. Main, St. Charles, (630) 524-4870; 535 N. Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills, (224) 433-5450, ontheborder.com/.

Now through Nov. 3, guests can sip on the $5 Hallow'rita, which is a grande frozen margarita made with a splash of mango puree and a candy corn meltdown and garnished with a spider (ring, that is).

Pinstripes

1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323; 7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 575-8700; and 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 844-9300. pinstripes.com/.

Halloween Costume Contest: Judging for the kids' costume contest starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. The grand prize is a kids party package for 10. Everyone wins though, as all contestants will receive a complimentary hour of gaming valid for a future visit. Judging for the adult costume contest starts at 9 p.m. Friday. The best costume will net the winner Sunday brunch for eight. Even if you don't win, all participants will receive a $25 gift certificate for a future visit.

Skeleton Key Brewery

8102 Lemont Road, Suite 300, Woodridge, (630) 395-9033 or skeletonkeybrewery.com/.

Death's Shadow Social Halloween Party: 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Skeleton Key is hosting a skeleton-themed party featuring tarot card readings by Maz, an escape room challenge, a s'mores fire pit, skull face painting by RockYourBodyArt and more. Plus, sip on special tappings such as Chocolate Milk Stout on Nitro and Peach-Rosehip-Marigold Saison while listening to vinyl played by DJ Great Leader. Gnarly Knots stuffed pretzels will be there from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and Bricks on Wheels will be serving wood-fired pizza from 6 to 10 p.m. There's no cover for this 21-and-older party.

Tap In Pub

2155 CityGate Lane, Naperville, (331) 457-5798 or tapinpub.com/.

BOOs by Day: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Kids won't want to miss this Bloody Good Kids Party featuring a costume contest with prizes, trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and free food.

BOOze by Night: 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. For adults only, The Spirits Come Out After Dark Party includes a costume contest with prizes, spooky drink specials, a live DJ and, best of all, no cover.

Two Brothers Roundhouse

205 N. Broadway, Aurora, (630) 264-2739 or twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants/roundhouse/.

Halloween Dance Party: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. DJ Jayrock will be spinning tunes all night at this 21-and-older bash. Wear your best costume to win special Two Brothers giveaways. No cover.

Yard House

1880 Tower Drive, Glenview, (847) 729-9273, and 2301 Fountain Square Drive, Lombard, (630) 495-1912, or yardhouse.com/.

On Halloween, all-day Happy Hour features half-priced pizzas and select appetizers, plus $2 off draft beer, wine, spirits and cocktails from 3 to 6 p.m.

For the candy-filled holiday, Yard House's resident beer expert Michael Echeveste has drafted a list of unique beer and Halloween candy pairings, including strawberry Starburst and Angry Orchard Rosé Cider, Hot Tamale and Modelo, Snickers and Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Sour Patch Kids and Delirium Tremens, Milky Way Midnight and New Holland Dragon's Milk, Tropical Skittles and New Belgium Mural, Swedish Fish and Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher, Charleston Chew and North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Miller High Life, and candy corn and Founders Solid Gold Premium Lager.