While children go trick-or-treating this Halloween, college students will look for other nightlife activities. From Amherst to South Buffalo, a large majority of bars will celebrate Halloween. Bars throughout the Queen City will be throwing parties consisting of special drink menus, costume contests, dancing and much more.
Average Joes
Located off Sweet Home Road, Average Joes is a prominent Buffalo bar where UB students regularly gather to relax and enjoy drinks. The bar has a special every night, including Halloween. Owner of Average Joes Chris Debanaris, 36, encourages everyone to come to the festivities.
"We have a costume contest that starts at 12 a.m. and a $300 cash prize," Debanaris said.
That's not the only prize, though. There will be Bills and Sabres tickets and a gift card to the bar.
In addition to prizes, Average Joe's will offer drink specials, like $2 pints of Labatt Blue Light and a variety of Pinnacle drinks for $2.50.
"There will also be orange and black drinks to make them look 'spooky,'" Debanaris said.
The party begins at 9 p.m. and don't worry about a ride. There will be a shuttle operating to and from the bar and North Campus that is convenient and safe.
Nietzsche's
Nietzsche's on Allen Street is throwing a Halloween bash this year titled "Saturday Night Not Live." Thirty-four-year-old Meghan Piret, a bartender at the historic Buffalo bar, is the event's organizer this year.
Starting at 10 p.m. with a $5 cover, Nietzsche's will open for its 8th annual Halloween party. At midnight, bar employees will perform a Halloween skit based on a Saturday Night Live skit called "Strip Tease." There will be a costume contest, as well, with chances to win prizes.
This year, the bar will have a solo act and two main shows for musical entertainment. Fragile Fantastic (formerly known as Dirty Couture), Beau Fleuzie and Randle and the Late Night Scandals will perform for patrons.
Pearl Street Grill & Brewery
Pearl Street Grill & Brewery is hosting "The Witch's Ball," but it's not at Pearl Street. Instead, the Halloween party will be held at Hotel @ Lafayette underneath the hotel's pub. The hotel itself is structured as if it was an old historic French Renaissance landmark.
"Most of our energy is focusing on making the Ball gigantic," said Roy Walterbackus, the manager of Pearl Street. "We had 1,200 people show up last year and our goal is 2,000 for this year."
To emphasize how "gigantic" the Witch's Ball will be, a slew of other restaurants and bars are joining Walterbackus in his mission, including Pan-American Brewing Company, Aqua Banquet, Mike A's Steakhouse and Butterwood Desserts. Newell Nussbaumer from Buffalo Rising will be hosting the ball.
The ball starts at 8 p.m. with presale tickets running for $25 and tickets at the door for $30.
email: arts@ubspectrum.com
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