Spook-tacular parties fill the area Saturday

For the record, Halloween is so much cooler when it falls on a Saturday than when it happens on a Tuesday.

Let’s be honest. Halloween parties on Oct. 26 just aren’t as spooky as ones that happen on the real deal, Oct. 31.

Check out the local bars and taverns who are getting into the “spirit” of things:

• The Nightmare on Elm Street Halloween Bash returns to the north end taverns, Cartier Lounge, Tom Thumb Tavern and Miller’s Tavern. Miller’s will feature No Identity, Tom Thumb will spotlight Rory Connelly and IKE from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Cartier will be doling out a cash prize for best costume. There will be spooky outfits, tons of drink specials and more. For more information, call the Thumb at 765-452-2695, Miller’s at 765-457-4576 or Cartier at 765-434-4181.

• Denim and Lace will spice things up from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, 1221 E. Lincoln Road, For the skinny, call 765-457-2142.

• Blind Boy and the CNI Dawgs will get things going from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at The Elbow Room, 1004 N. Washington St. As always, there is no cover. For more info, call 765-457-9940.

• Josh Mast will bring his signature sound to Mulligan’s Sports Pub, where there will be a sick costume contest where the winner walks away with a gift certificates. The music runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 1134 Home Ave. There’s no cover charge, either. For more info, call 765-868-8230.

• Tail-Gators will get rowdy with a Halloween party featuring a costume contest and live DJ. Things kick off at 10 p.m., and the contest will take place after midnight. Best costume takes home $50 in cold, hard cash. The bar is located at 1833 S. Plate St. For more information, call (765) 452-8300. There is no cover charge.

• They know how to do it up in Galveston, and [friday] expects Halloween to be no exception. Rendition will play Halloween night at Johnson’s Tavern, 306 E. Jackson St., Galveston. For the skinny, call 574-699-7909.

• Cousin Brucie will host a Halloween costume party with door prizes and more at the Buckhorn Pub, 102 N. Independence St., Windfall. There is no cover. For details, call 765-945-7360.

• And families can join in the fun as well. The annual Solidarity Kids Halloween Party will be from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kokomo Event Center. Admission is free and there will be candy, costume contest and more. For more information, call Diana Tenbrook at Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union, 765-453-4020.



Holiday Walk returns Sunday

The 37th annual Psi Iota Xi Holiday Walk will return Sunday, allowing spectators to tour four homes decorated for the season by area florists and decorators. The walk will be 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and tickets are $10 per person and available at Banner Flowers, Jefferson House of Flowers, Bowden Flowers, Hallmark shops, Brumbaugh Greenhouse and Solutions. For more information, call 765-864-0588.



Piano prodigy comes to Kokomo Community Concerts

Come hear the sounds of piano virtuoso Rudolf Budginas as he fills Kokomo High School Auditorium with music at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Kokomo Community Concerts says Budginas debuted with the Lithuanian National Symphony at age 9, trained at Moscow Conservatory and rose to international fame performing solo concerts. After moving to the U.S. in 1994, he discovered his true passion — giving classical music a broader audience appeal. He shows how classical music has influenced contemporary artists by breaking down how Billy Joel might have drawn on Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody” to get “Piano Man.” Budginas will also perform in a student outreach concert on at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Single tickets are $20, season tickets are $40, and children and students are admitted free but must have a student ticket. For more information, call 765-210-0686 or visit www.KokomoCommunityConcerts.org.



Eastern Howard presents children’s show

The Eastern Howard Performing Arts Center is set to present “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday. The show is intended for grades 3 through 8. Tickets to the show are just $6. For details, call 765-628-4025 or visit www.ehpas.org.