This is the fifth year for HallowEast, and it continues to drive itself deeper into the heart of Charleston’s Historic East End. This year a new event has been added, and the returning events are bigger than ever. Let’s look at what this Halloween Week will bring us…

ArtMares

The area’s only horror-themed art show is back for the fifth year and bigger than ever! The opening of ArtMares 2013 will feature over 40 talented local artists displaying twisted and horrifying art through various mediums and will last over three days of HallowEast. 50% of all proceeds from art sales benefit further East End business district revitalization efforts.

The exhibit happens at Contemporary Galleries, 3rd Floor Showroom (1210 Smith Street). Opening night is Wednesday, October 23, from 6 PM to 9 PM. The show will be open Thursday, October 24 from 6 PM to 9 PM, and on Friday a special reception with live music from the incredible Sean Sydnor, plus there will be beer, wine and food in addition to the frightening art on display.

This is my fifth year as a contributor to this event, and it’s an honor to be included among so many great artists. I have five pieces in this year’s event, and some of them are actually priced low enough to sell. Check out the event graphics to the right.

Murder Mystery Party: Dinner at the End of the World

Do you enjoy your fine dining served with a side dish of MURDER? Well, then, this is the event for you. It’s a Halloween party with great food and with MURDER! Have no worries as the No Pants Players, West Virginia’s premiere improv comedy troupe, will be there to help get you through the terror with plenty of laughs.

On this night, the members of the troupe have each been at different Halloween parties but at each one, a basic “End of the World” event has happened! Fearing for their lives, the NPP members meet up at the Charleston Woman’s Club where YOU are also having a Halloween party.

They have survived apocalyptic terrors only to find out that someone at your party is a KILLER! There is no safe place! Who will make it out alive? Who is the killer? It’s up you to help the NPP and the rest of the party goers survive the night! So, put on your best costume and join East End Main Street and the NPP for a fantastic night of laughs, mystery, murder, mayhem and plenty of fun! RATED PG-13.

It all takes place Thursday, October 24 at the Woman’s Club of Charleston (1600 Virginia Street, E.). Doors open at 6 PM, the show starts half an hour later. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door, and that includes an awesome dinner. Food will be provided by the following fine folks…

Bluegrass Kitchen
Delicious assorted finger sandwiches
Hummus with Antipasti

Frutcake
Delicious assorted desserts direct from the bakery

Little India
Chicken Tikka Masala
Veggie Pakora
Veggie Korma
Steamed Rice
Delicious Indian Desserts

Main Kwong
Coconut Shrimp
General Tso Chicken
Vegetable Fried Rice
Roast Pork Lo Mein
Beef Mixed Vegetables
Terriyaki Chicken
Assorted Desserts

Paterno’s at the Park
Polenta & Meatballs

Umami Sushi Bar & Hibachi Grill
Delicious Original Specialty Sushi Rolls

Nothing pumps up your appetite more than MURDER, so come on out, stuff your face, laugh your butt off and solve a mystery.

Zombie Walk

The 4th Annual East End Zombie Walk, Charleston’s signature and not-so-traditional “street parade,” will kick off in the Moxxee Coffee parking lot (corner of Lee and Morris Streets) at 6:30 PM on Saturday, October 26. Anything goes as the walking dead take control of the streets of the historic East End. We’ll have a few make-up artists on hand if your look requires minor touch ups or a little more blood. Get into character and stay there as we lurch down Quarrier Street and come in direct contact with the runner of the Run Like Hell HallowEast Zombie 5K Run/Walk. The RFC crew will be on hand to capture the mayhem on video.

Zombies will begin to gather at 5:45 PM. The Walk starts at 6:30, and is intended to collide with the Run Like Hell HallowEast Zombie 5K Run/Walk before spilling into the HallowEast Costume Crawl at 7 PM.

Check out the Zombie Walk route…

…and watch this video of last year’s Zombie Walk…

Run Like Hell Zombie 5K Run/Walk

Charleston’s first-ever Zombie 5K is set to plague the streets of Charleston’s Historic East End on Saturday evening, October 26, 2013 at 7:00 PM. A part of East End Main Street’s HallowEast 5, the Run Like Hell Zombie 5K Run/Walk is a unique after dark road race that is sure to be the most thrilling 5K experience of your life.

Packets include Run Like Hell race T-shirt, $10 off ticket to the HallowEast Costume Pub Crawl (immediately following), racing bib and time chip. Runners who registered on or before October 17 are guaranteed a T-shirt in their packet.

Humans run from zombies. Zombies run after humans. Complicated, right? Human contestants may choose to wear a belt containing a few “life flags.” At several intervals on the course (called Attack Zones), zombies participating in the 4th Annual East End Zombie Walk will chase humans in an attempt to take those “life flags.” So contestants will be racing against the clock and running for their lives…and some of them in costume! Human contestants are encouraged to dress in costume, because running in costume with hundreds of other zombie apocalypse survivors is way more fun than running on a treadmill in your fancy sneakers with a heart monitor. Or maybe that heart monitor will come in handy, who knows?

At the finish line, prizes will be awarded to the runner with the best time, the runner with the best time who kept the most life flags, the zombie who took the most life flags from human contestants, and more.

I’m hearing that all available Zombie spots are gone, or nearly gone. General Registration up to October 26 is $30 for an individual, with Group rates (4+ persons) of $25 per runner/walker. Check-in and on-site registration begins at 4:00 PM at University of Charleston Stadium (200 Elizabeth Street). The plan is for the run to end right where the Zombie Walk ends, for added fun and insanity.

HallowEast Costume Crawl

It’s a pub crawl and street party in costume. Featuring live music on the FestivALL Fall Stage, horror films and adult beverages, party on Elizabeth Street and visit 5 local bars/restaurants for drink specials and additional entertainment. Bluegrass Kitchen, Tricky Fish, The Red Carpet Lounge , Little India Lounge and The Empty Glass will participate in the event. There will be great prizes and the Costume Crawl Instagram Costume Contest! All proceeds from ticket sales go toward further East End business district revitalization.

Saturday at 6:30 PM you can register at Frutcake. The crawl begins at 7 PM The Crawler pass is $20 (with discounts to Zombie Run/Walk participants. Your pass includes access to VIP beer lounge, drink and food specials at each pub, and chance to win Costume Contest prizes.