The Weekend: Halloween!

It’s all about Halloween this weekend. The spooky holiday is on Monday this year, but you can start the festivities tonight. Be sure to check out Barista Kids’ comprehensive Halloween events list here. From Gardens Aglow to Stadium of Screams, there is Halloween fun for all ages. Here are some other Halloween highlights you don’t want to miss:

Halloween makes me think of chocolate, so I think a Chocolate and Cheese Pairing sounds delicious.

Dark chocolate expert Susan Fine of The Chocolate Path and Cheese aficionado Sherri De Luca of Affinage Cheese Shop will be sharing excellent selections of their finest products. It will be a  delectable soirée of taste bud delights:

• Creamy fresh Chevre with chocolate salt caramels
• Blue Cheese with dark truffle fudge
• Port Salut with a dark milk mocha chocolate
• Reserve cheddar with a 65-70% chocolate bar with beans from the Caribbean
• Vasterbotton with 70% Ecuadorian chocolate

Those who attend will receive a $25 gift certificate to Affinage too!

Chocolate and Cheese Pairing
Thursday, October 27 from 7 pm – 8:30 pm
Affinage Cheese Shop , 244 US 46 East, Fairfield, NJ
$10 to attend, but will be put towards purchase. RSVP at (973) 227-2046 or email here.

The folks at Maplewood’s Studio B are holding a Halloween themed Story Slam. They want you to share your scariest ghost story. What is Story Slam?  An open-to-the-public writing contest where brave scribes bring their best 5-minute story, put their name in a hat, and hope to be called.  Three literary agents will listen, chuckle, tear, or snooze – depending on delivery. And at the end of the night a winner will be announced. Bragging rights and a prize will be claimed. You don’t have to tell a story, you can go and listen to get into the Halloween spirit. But Studio B warns, “Word of caution: any story about (or mention of) BACKYARD CHICKENS means automatic disqualification. Got it? No chicken talk.” There will also be live music from alt country band The Rhythm Methodists.

Ghost Story Story Slam
Friday, October 28 at 8 pm
Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Rd, Maplewood, NJ
Free. RSVPs are highly recommended: email

Strut Your Mutt will be rescheduled for Saturday, November 5th. Times and Locations remain the same. On Saturday morning bring your adorable costumed-doggie to Brookdale Park for the annual Essex County Halloween Costume Parade and Contest. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places in a variety of categories for all kinds of breeds.

Strut Your Mutt
Saturday, October 29 at 10 am
Brookdale Park, Bloomfield, NJ
Free

(“The Township of Maplewood and Springfield Avenue Partnership regret to announce that HARVESTFEST 2011 scheduled for Saturday, October 29, 2011 has been CANCELLED due to predicted inclement weather conditions. There will be no rescheduled date.”) After you delight in the costumed dogs, head over to Maplewood for the Springfield Avenue Harvestfest. There will be classic car shows (Sandy would love this!), performances, music for all ages, food, and Halloween fun. Local stores will have great offers to get your holiday shopping started.

Springfield Avenue HarvestFest
Saturday, October 29 from 11 am – 3 pm
Festivities take place on the grounds of the Maplewood Memorial Library Hilton Branch, 1688 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ
Free

Or check out Montclair State University’s Annual Homecoming and Family Day. Families, alumni, friends, students, and the entire community are invited for a day of fun, food, music, and more. Activities include the annual parade of student performances, a carnival, a children’s Halloween costume parade, the traditional homecoming football game, and more. See the schedule of events here. Parking on campus will be free.

MSU Homecoming
Saturday, October 29 from 10 am – 3 pm
MSU, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ
Free

Saturday night is all about the Booo-ristanet Halloween Ball. Sure, there are other Halloween parties like the 2nd Annual DLV Lounge Rock & Roll Halloween Dance Bash in Montclair or Bar Cara’s 2nd Annual Halloween Party in Bloomfield, but we know you really want to be with your Baristanet peeps. Where else can you enjoy Holly’s cocktails, Rollerena, tarot card readers, great dance music spun by a DJ, more than $1000 of gift certificates to your favorite local restaurants, spas and stores and sharing a dance floor with your favorite Barista ladies? No where, that’s where. You can order your tickets here or buy them at the door. See you on Saturday night!

Booo-ristanet Halloween Ball
Saturday, October 29 at 8 pm
Montclair Station, 275 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043
21 and older. $10 in advance, $15 at the door

For all other events, check Barista Kids Halloween guide and our calendar.

Happy Halloween Baristaville!

(Featured photo: Studio B FB page)
(Dog Photo: Flickr)