thePULSEBy Josh Lyford
So, Halloween is nearly upon us once again. Oct. 31 is one of, if not the most, involved holidays in Central Massachusetts. We may not give it the wordy title of “All Hallow’s Eve” anymore, but the history of Halloween is interesting enough to be celebrated some 200-plus years later. While the date has its roots buried in harvest season, ending in celebration, it has always been synonymous with dressing up in costumes designed to ward off spirits.
Halloween has become ingrained in our culture, and the early evening is given to children’s trick-or-treating activities. Later, the evening belongs to different kinds of tricks and treats, however, and it is always an excuse for a uniquely good time.
Sure, it would be easy enough to stay at home, paint your face like the Crimson Ghost and slam pumpkin beers with some friends while watching the entirety of the Halloween series, but you could be missing out on a lot of great fun. Not that anyone is here to tell you not to enjoy your pumpkin carving or Shipyard ale ~ far from it. In fact, bring your flaming pumpkins out from under the covered bridge and into the nightlife. There is nothing quite as fun as getting the creeps with some friends.
The best part about Halloween in Central Massachusetts is that you never really have to decide what type of bizarre Halloween fun you would like to have. Worcester and its surrounding towns have it all, from the wholesome to the extreme.
Did you know that one of the most fabled Halloween events in the Northeast is held right here in Worcester? It’s true, The Great Pumpkin Fest is a much-lauded, family-friendly event held at our very own Ecotarium, located at 222 Harrington Way. Yep, this mecca for outdoor exploration in the heart of the commonwealth changes things up a bit from its usual animal and wilderness activities to celebrate the art of the pumpkin carving. Running from noon-9 p.m. Oct. 19, the event holds a full day of pumpkin appreciation. Featuring hundreds of lit, meticulously carved pumpkins, free hay rides, planetarium shows, spooky science programs, a Halloween maze and more, it is always a day to remember. 
AppleFest, held at Wachusett Mountain Ski Resort, is one of the most anticipated fall festivals in the area. Taking place Oct. 19-20, it truly has “something for everyone.” While you might not have your Tinkerbell costume blown off in terror, it makes up for the fear factor in a multitude of other ways. For starters, the event in general is full of fantastically good times. You can enjoy skyrides to the summit, barbecue, craft fair and farmers’ market booths, chainsaw carving, hay rides and magicians. There will also be a giant pumpkin weigh-off, an apple pie-eating contest, a 5K run, tons of live music and a lumberjack show. Don’t worry, the event is also tied in with the mountain’s Oktoberfest Celebration and will have a large variety of beer in the beer garden.
Looking for something a bit more rock n’ roll? That’s cool; luckily Worcester has rock nailed down pretty well. Not that this is season-specific for the region ~ Massachusetts has always been home to plenty of headbanging good times, but around October, the rock is usually provided by sick freaks in zombie costumes.
Ralph’s Diner will host its second annual Heavy Metal Halloween Covers Weekend, which is absolutely going to be the sort of time you are looking for if you are in the mood for something wild. Unless the taps have changed, there won’t be a whole lot of Halloween-themed beer, but you can still enjoy some riffage with a ghoulish ’Gansett. The bar will play host to awesome cover bands running from Thursday, Oct. 31-Saturday, Nov. 2. Look for bands ripping through awesome sets inspired by Spinal Tap, Manowar, Black Sabbath, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone, Body Count, Danzig (as well as Samhain and the Misfits), Slayer and Type O Negative. Definitely not an evening to miss.
If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional, there are tons of haunted houses and spooky hayrides to get into. You can check out Haunted Higgins on Oct. 26 at the Higgins Armory, featuring trick-or-treating, storytelling and some spooky surprises. Or give the Haunt for Hunger a try in Blackstone, also on Oct. 26. The event features a terrifying haunted walking trail, a craft fair and a trick-or-treat trail for kids. The best part is that 100 percent of the money raised goes to help the hungry.
No matter what you get into, you are going to have a good time. Worcester really comes alive this time of year, and it’s nice to get weird with an entire community. Be sure to check out the Halloween Outlet, as well, which is filled with all of your Halloween needs as well as some pretty electrifying terror of its own. Regardless of what you end up doing, be sure to enjoy yourself and be safe. Dressing up like a 7-foot-tall demon and cranking cinnamon- and pumpkin-flavored booze always seems like a good idea until you wander into the wrong cemetery.
