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There's Mischief Brewing in Newport News!

Because it’s that time of year for thrills and chills, the city is rolling out its creepiest red carpet for those earthly visitors who embrace the most ghastly (family-friendly) Halloween events!  Haunted experiences (and some that won’t scare the pants off your little ghost) abound in Newport News. Join us for the following … if you dare:

Night of the Living Museum

When: 5:30 to 8:30 pm Oct. 20-21 

Where: Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.

Admission: $10 for members or $15 for non-members (pre-sale). On the day of the event, members pay $18 and non-members pay $23 (no sales at the door)

Are you ready for a “wild” night of spooky animals, trail walks, pumpkin carving, pirates and princesses? In its 18th year, Night of the Living Museum is a non-scary Halloween event for families with children, ages12 and under. Dress as your favorite character or wild animal and trick-or-treat through the museum, filled with characters and themed decorations! Enjoy live animal shows featuring fierce and not-so-fierce Halloween critters, and then take a nighttime hike along the outdoor boardwalk!  www.thevlm.org

The Mystery of Irma Vep

When: 8 pm Oct. 20-21 and 2:30 pm Oct. 22

Where: Peninsula Community Theatre, 10251 Warwick Blvd.

Admission:  $18 for adults; $12 for students (age 22 and under); and $17 for seniors (age 60+), military, and military dependents.

Who or what is Irma Vep? A sympathetic werewolf, a vampire and an Egyptian princess brought to life when her tomb is opened. This definitive spoof of mystery, comedy and gothic melodramas, recently revived off-Broadway to raves, is a quick-change marathon in which two actors play all the roles. www.pctlive.org

Fright Light Laser Shows

When: Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 28

Where: Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. (Abbott Planetarium)

Admission: A 30-minute version of Fright Light Laser Shows will be offered at 6 pm, 6:45 pm, and 7:30 pm Oct. 20-21 at $2 for members and $4 for non-members (in addition to Night of the Living Museum admission).

  • The full version of Fright Light Laser Shows is offered at 8:30 pm Oct. 20-21 and at 5:30 pm, 7 pm, 8:30 pm and 10 pm Oct. 28 at $3 for members and $6 for non-members. Enjoy a howling good time with this frightfully awesome mix of terror-ific tunes! Wild and weird laser images accompany songs from Black Sabbath, Garbage, The Who and many more. Enjoy this laser spook-tacular!

Show Playlist:

  • Thriller by Michael Jackson
  • Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult
  • Monster Medley by Various Artists
  • Close Encounter of the Third Kind
  • Enter Sandman by Metallica
  • Men in Black by Will Smith
  • Your Brains by Jonathan Coulton
  • Firestarter by Prodigy
  • Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo
  • Iron Man by Black Sabbath
  • Horror Movie Medley by Various Artists
  • Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd
  • Push It by Garbage
  • Frankenstein by Edgar Winters Group
  • The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band
  • Feed my Frankenstein by Alice Cooper

Night at the Army Transportation Museum

When: 5 to 8 pm Oct. 23

Where: U.S. Army Transportation Museum, 300 Washington Blvd. at Fort Eustis

Admission: Free


See the museum’s exhibits come alive! Enjoy fun activities and come in costume to trick-or-treat through the museum. For children ages 12 and under. Call 878-1115 for details or visit their website.

Spooky Kooky Cabaret: Halloween-themed songs and fun

When: October 27-28 (8 pm)

Where: Peninsula Community Theatre, 10251 Warwick Blvd.

Admission: $18 for adults; $12 for students (age 22 and under); and $17 for seniors (age 60+), military, and military dependents.

Spooky Kooky Cabaret features Halloween music fun for all ages, performed by a talented group of ghouls and guys. Come dressed in your Halloween best for a chance to win our costume contest. Prizes awarded for best adult costume, best children's costume, and most creative costume (all costumes must be family-appropriate). www.pctlive.org

Dia de los Muertos: Day of the Dead Festival

When: 11 am to 2 pm Oct. 28

Where: Peninsula Fine Arts Center, 100 Museum Drive

Admission: Free; however, face painting is $8 for half-face and $10 for full-face.

Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican celebration of family and friends who have passed away. Loved ones are remembered with ofrendas, or altars, constructed in their honor and decorated with photos, favorite foods

and special mementos. Enjoy talks on the artistic traditions associated with the Day of the Dead, including the preparation of altars, decoration of sugar skulls and creation of cut paper garlands, called papel picado. Guests can participate create tributes to their loved ones with sidewalk chalk. Local artists will provide face painting to help visitors get the look of the calavera, an iconic image of a skeleton popularized in cartoons. www.pfac-va.org.