This year Halloween falls on a Thursday, which means it’s as far away from the nearest previous weekend as possible. So all the adult parties are going to happen early.

Some stuff gets publicized out the wazoo, so they don’t need me plugging their events, but there are a few hidden gems out there that you might want to know about.

Thursday

Thursday from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Davis Fine Arts Building at West Virginia State University they’re holding the reception for the “Weird Sisters” art show, which includes the work of four of the area’s top female artists.

The art exhibition features artists Ashley Hoey, Jamie Miller, Debra Rayhill, and Elizabeth Turner. “Weird Sisters” is a mixed media exhibition by a group of outstanding women artists from the Charleston area. The paintings, drawings, and mixed media works you see feature/celebrate the essence of women in ways unique to each artist’s vision. The grouping of artworks reads like one collective voice while simultaneously emphasizing uniqueness and individuality.

Weird Sisters is on view until November 8, but this is a chance to mingle with the artists and see the work with other folks who enjoy the arts.

Friday

Frdiay evening from 6 PM to 7PM, Taylor Books will present professional storyteller, writer, poet and ballad-singer Susanna “Granny Sue” Holstein is from Jackson County, WV. Her storytelling performances include Appalachian stories and ballads, family heritage, and tales from West Virginia’s weird and wonderful history. Ghost stories, especially West Virginia ghost stories that have been documented in books, newspapers and other media, or from oral history, are a focus of her storytelling. She often travels to the site of these stories as part of her research, and this might lead her into haunted hotels, graveyards, abandoned houses and other out-of-the way places. As she travels across West Virginia sharing her stories she collects new tales from people she meets along the way.

Granny Sue has produced four storytelling CD’s and is a founding member of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild. In 2015 Holstein was named a West Virginia History Hero.

Friday from 6 PM to 9 PM, “Field of Screams” is happening at the Bigley Avenue Little League Field.

We go to their event page for details: “Field of Screams – Save the Date: Oct 26, 2019 @ 6 pm – Come join us to Zombie Walk the Bases and Trick or Treat along the way. A family friendly Halloween Movie will follow. Bring blankets and chairs. And of course Dress up in a costume.”

Sounds like a fun, family-friendly event. Bigley Avenue Little League Field is located at 1409 Bigley Ave, Charleston.

Friday at 9 PM, The Swivel Rockers return to Sam’s Uptown Cafe for their Halloween Party. Boone County’s Swivel Rockers recently reunited with members of their original line-up, and I owe their lead singer a phone call because he was one of the many people who called my cell while my battery was dead. If I can get over this nagging cold I’m fighting, I may make it up to see them Friday. If I don’t make it, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check out some of West Virgina’s best homegrown bluesy rock ‘n’ roll.

At 9:30 Friday, the Empty Glass has managed to separate their Halloween Hootenanny from the HallowEast drunken street party, which takes place Saturday this year. A killer line-up includes The Fabulous Brothers Steele, The Mediogres, Red Audio and Embracer, and there will be contests and prizs. This is the 21st year for the Hootenanny, and it’s cool to see it back on its own night again.

 

Saturday

Aside from the aforementioned HallowEast drunken street party, there’s plenty of other stuff happening in Charleston Saturday evening.

From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Independent State will perform at Taylor Books. There will be snacks and Halloween fun, and as always at Taylors, no cover charge.

 

Satruday at 10:30 Deadfacedown will reunite for one night only with special guests Crown the Witch and Messenger Vessel for a night of brutality and debauchery, in keeping with the holiday spirit.