Where to Celebrate Halloween 2014 in Portland

by Karen Locke in Roundups

Adults in Portland often dress up. It’s fairly normal to see a grown man dressed as a bumblebee in March or a man in a chicken suit exit the 72 bus line. It’s usually to express themselves or make a statement — not for the sake of making change as they pose with other people’s children as it happens in other cities. As you can probably imagine the antics of Halloween in Portland ensue for more than one day but Halloween is pretty fun too.

Here are our top five picks for Halloween fun in Portland on Halloween and the Day of the Dead too.

October 10 - November 1
BeerQuest’s Halloween Haunted Pub Tour
Sign up for this two and a half hour tour with beer tastings from Kells Irish Brewing and Old Town Brewing. Get a little buzzed and learn about Portland’s dark past. Listen to stories of people getting shanghaied in Portland and the brothels, drug dens, and speakeasies located in the Shanghai Tunnels. Tickets are $45 for Monday-Thursday tours and $49 for Friday and Saturday tours.

October 31
Night of the Living Ales
Burnside Brewing Co.
6 PM–12 AM
There’s a lot of shimmying and shaking at the adult-only Halloween-themed dance and beer party at Burnside Brewing. It’s $20 to get in, but you get two drink tickets, each good for a full beer. The party takes place under a warm tent with a full liquor bar sponsored by Jim Beam (we’re really good at making tent parties look classy here in Portland). In addition to rare craft selections there will be costume contests, a lasso artist, music from Wanderlust Circus and DJ Pippin and many more entertainers. (701 E Burnside)

Halloween Happenings
Kennedy School
12:30 PM–11 PM
Halloween comes to the Kennedy School in a big way. Headlining the event is Willamette Radio Workshop presenting American Gothic: Halloween Tales from the Heartland and the Garcia Birthday Band. Head to the lobby for tastings of Whiskey Widow Porter from 2013 and 2014, and of course there will be halloween movies and Trick-or-Treating for the kids. (5736 NE 33rd Ave.)

Halloween Dance Party with Orchestre L’Pow!
Edgefield’s Blackberry Hall
8 PM–11 PM
Climb into costume and dance to live music from Orchestre L’Pow!, the group that combines rock, jazz, soul, and pop, for a super-danceable night. Come up with the best costume Blackberry Hall has seen and you'll win the costume contest. Tickets are available now for $10 or get them at the door for $13. (2126 SW Halsey St.)

November 1
Day of the Living Ales
Burnside Brewing Co.
11 AM–6 PM
Activities may get a little tamer by November 1 (if you're still alive). The taps will still be flowing for Day of the Living Ales. Beer-wise, expect a diverse list of obscure pumpkin ales and other fall styles. Bring the kids for pumpkin pie in the pub, live bluegrass tunes and activities like face painting and a coloring contest (adults can attempt to color between the lines too). (701 E Burnside)