By Alissa Yoon
Boston University News Service
October marks the start of the spooky season, with many choosing to curl up at home, watch horror movies and carve pumpkins. But Boston’s local businesses have much more to offer, as beyond the doors of cozy homes rests great fun in Halloween-themed events.
Time Out Market Boston’s Spooky Market Adventure
This free event will take place at Time Out Market Boston from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20. Planning with a Scorpio, which hosts pop-up markets and community events throughout the greater Boston area, will host the event.
This market features various LGBTQ makers and vendors, including Lexxbot, April’s Printed Garden, SwirlsnStones, Lynick Pottery Art, The Uncommon Marshmallow, Nootcreations, TheirArt, Sam Dawgies, Love Balungi LLC, Fibercat Yarns, Spark by Simone, Courtney Licata Designs, Ellis Doodles and Rye & Co.
Get to know the vendors:
Queer printmakers, like April’s Printed Garden, Sam Dawgies and Nootcreations, will be at the event selling a variety of items with their own unique designs. Each designer possesses a distinct artistic style, making it worthwhile to browse through the stalls as each one offers something unique.
The market will also include stalls with various accessories and stationery from The Uncommon Marshmallow, SwirlsnStones and Rye & Co. The Uncommon Marshmallow sells bandanas and badges for dogs, while Rye & Co. makes cat-inspired stickers, greeting cards, and stationery. SwirlsnStones creates hand-made earrings using coils of wire making shapes like ghosts and bats.
The market’s list also includesmakers like Fibercat Yarns and Lynick Pottery Art who showcase their special artistic skills through different mediums. Cat McCann, owner and maker of Fibercat Yarns, sells hand-dyed fibers solely with plants and herbs. Lynn Reznick creates intricate pottery designs in various shapes like trees, houses and even pumpkins.
Kristi Slocum, Marketing Manager at Time Out Boston, wrote in an email that the “Spooky Market will have live music from local singers.” After a browse through the various small businesses, attendees can satiate their hunger and thirst with a visit to the market’s delicious eateries, where their spooky-themed cocktails are a must-try.
Head Downtown to Spectate the Doggone Halloween Parade
Overload on doggy cuteness, Saturday, Oct. 26 from noon till 3 p.m., as dogs strut their stuff in Halloween costumes along Downtown Crossing for grand prizes in the following categories: Best Costume, Scariest Costume, Cutest Costume, Best Dog & Human Duo and Best Dog & Child Duo.
Join Downtown Boston as it hosts its tenth edition of the Doggone Halloween Parade, which is completely free. Last year, some notable sights were @the.bobabear, two shih-tzus dressed as mailwomen and @pennys_paparazzi, a ghostified one-eyed beagle.
Dance the night away in a “witchful” trance!
Also on Saturday, Oct. 26, Time Out Market Boston will host a free witch-themed Halloween party called the Bewitched Halloween Bash. From 9 p.m. to midnight, Meghan Murphy, Assistant General Manager at Time Out Market Boston, wrote in an email, attendees can look forward to witch-themed drinks and food specials, as well as a tarot card reader, an aura photographer, an airbrush tattoo artist, a 360-degree photobooth and a costume contest.
Time Out’s two bars will be contrastingly decorated — one side being “Good Witch” and the other being “Bad Witch” — with themed cocktails demonstrating both sides of the witch spectrum. After a drink or two, guests can boogie their way down to the dance floor as Time Out’s resident DJ will be spinning all night.
You cannot complete a witch-themed Halloween party without a special appearance from the Sanderson Sisters. Rest assured, Time Out Market plans to deliver with their resident drag queen, Big Atlas, and other surprise guests.
The costume contest will, of course, be witch-themed, and the best-dressed witch will be chosen at the end of the night. The winner will walk away with a gift card to Time Out Market.
