Halloween in N16: Where to get freaky in Hackney and Stoke Newington for Halloween 2011

Whether you love it or hate it, Halloween is looming and there will be plenty of celebrations going on for kids and adults alike to mark the occasion. Here we've put together a few ideas to help you decide which haunts (...get it? Get it?) to head for if you're looking for something scary in Hackney...

Nothing quite beats a scary movie to get you in the mood for

a fright night, and there are plenty on offer this weekend. On Saturday our

favourite picture house, The Rio, is screening old-school classic The Evil Dead

at11.30pm, and Night of the Eagle and The Innocents on Sunday afternoon. On

Monday – Halloween itself – the Alibi will showing Dario Agento's Inferno with

free popcorn for you to throw all over the place during the jumpy bits (just

me?). And if you feel like facing your fears in honour of the occasion, then

they will also be running their regular, weekly Karaoke Night with a Halloween

twist and free shots and goody bags for anyone brave enough to take to the

stage.

If, on the other hand, you like to leave the music to the

professionals, The Macbeth in Hoxton will be hosting The Cureheads; the much –loved

Cure Tribute band, who will be heading up their Cherry Cola Halloween special

this Friday (28th). With a license to party until 4am it's the ideal

place to throw your scariest shapes until the wee small hours.

If you're all about the costumes come Halloween then The

Nest is the place to get freak-chic in Hackney this weekend. They're throwing a

proper party from 9.30pm on Saturday, with DJs including Mighty Mouse and

Orlando Boom, and a free drink for anyone in fancy dress.

Baby Bath House will also be showing us a wild time – with

gothic décor all year round, it's the ideal place to get freaky this season.

With prizes for best costume, plenty of cocktails, apple bobbing and a big dose of the

scare-factor, it's set to be a good'n.

And for the kids, the Tea Rooms on Church Street has devised

the perfect way to get them in the spooky spirit (and keep them entertained

over the half term). Starting tomorrow (25th), and finishing on

Friday, there will be classes held where they can carve pumpkins and make

Halloween masks, ready for the big day. For more details call or drop in.

There are plenty of other activities going on around Stoke Newington, so if you stumble across one of them that deserves a special Halloween shout-out then pop it in the box below. Now all you have to do is decide on the costume...

Photo courtesy of Hannah Horwarth at Flickr