By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Growing in popularity every year, Halloween, also known as dia das bruxas (witches’ day) in Brazil, will be celebrated in clubs, bars, and pubs located throughout Rio de Janeiro this weekend. While several celebrations have already taken place this month, many more are planned for this weekend beginning on Friday night.
In Lapa, Teatro Odisséia will host the Potter Party, Halloween edition. In addition to a costume contest, there will be decorations with bats, pumpkins, candles and all things Harry Potter. DJs will spin on two stages throughout the event.
Also in Lapa, the Lapa Irish Pub will continue its week-long celebrations with a costume contest and the band Made in Rock performing the best of classic rock, punk, and grunge live.
In Botago, Casa da Matirz will host a special Halloween edition of the popular indie party, Paranoid Android. There will be a costume contest with the first place contestant winning free entry to both the Paranoid Android and Propaganda parties for a year. Second place will win free entry to the Paranoid Android parties for a year and third place will win free entry to the next edition of the Paranoid Android party.
Also in Botafogo, the Cabaret Lounge will celebrate the holiday with the band Grecco performing live and DJ Francesca spining during the night. Additionally, there will be a costume contest with the winner taking home R$500 for best costume.
Meanwhile, Botafogo’s Saloon 79 will honor director Wes Craven by screening the best parts of “Scream,” “Nightmare on Elm Street”, and “Freddy x Jason” and DJs will spin the best of the 80s and Halloween-themed soundtracks during the night.
In Lagoa, the Miroir club will begin their celebrations of the holiday with the Halloween Miroir party. DJs Andrew Gracie and Joh Failly will spin the best of house throughout the night. In Gávea, the indoor/outdoor venue 00 (Zero Zero) will host the Full Moon party.
In Ipanema, the popular Shenanigan’s pub will celebrate Halloween on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with special promotions and costume contest. Also in Ipanema, the Praia Club with host a special Halloween edition of the Toler party on Friday with two-for-one specials until 1AM and DJs spinning throughout the night.
In Copacabana, Mud Bug will celebrate on Friday and Saturday with the Halloween Mud Bug event. Resident DJs will spin and there will be special holiday-themed drink promotions.
On Saturday, Halloween night, there will be even more celebrations. In Saúde, The Week will mashup two of its popular parties, Babylon and Wallpaper, to create the Halloweek Babylon party. There will be a live performance by Nikki and DJs spinning during the night.
In nearby Praça da Bandeira, Porto Pirata will host the second edition of Halloween-A-Billy. The free entry party will feature four bands playing rockabilly, psychobilly, garage, surf, punk, and more live pluw horror movies projected on the big screen and there will be a costume contest during the night.
In Botafogo, Espaço Rampa will celebrate both Halloween and the show Orange is the New Black as it hosts the Orange Party, Halloween in Litchfield edition. There will be decorations, black vodka shots, candy, “haunted” boat rides around Guanabara Bay and DJs spinning throughout the night.
Additionally in Botafogo, Saloon 79 will host Hell Angels Hell-oween with bands Monsterhead (Motorhead cover band), Commando (Ramones cover band), and Anestheisa (Metallica cover band) performing live and a Hell’s Burger supported costume contest with the winner receiving a Super Hambúrguer Colt 45, which serves up to seven people.
Botafogo’s Casa da Matriz will celebrate with the Trick-or-Treat party. The event will feature DJs spinning indie, Goth and EBM on two floors, the distribution of candy, and the projection of horror films throughout the night.
In Arpoador, the CAVE club will celebrate Halloween with a special “The witches go Black & Deep” edition of the Black and Deep party. DJs there will spin the best of house, trap, and hip hop throughout the night. Black costumes are recommended but not mandatory.
In the near by Fosfobox club in Copacabana, the Hit Me party will host a special Halloween edition with candy and treats including lollipops and gum and DJs spinning pop, EDM, hip hop and funk throughout the event. Also in Copacabana, American owned restuarant, Mab’s will celebrate the holiday tonight with a Halloween Party and a costume contest.
Mariuzinn in Copacabana will host the Trick or Treat Halloween Party with a a four-hour open bar, two DJs spinning throughout the night and makeup artists to help partygoers look as ghoulish and undead as possible.
In Gávea, 00 (Zero Zero) will host the Halloween party with DJ Andre Werneck spinning and in Leblon, the Mexican gourmet restaurant, La Calaca, will host the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) party. The event will feature music, gourmet cuisine and drink promotions.
In Lapa, Teatro Odisséia will host the GoParty Halloween. There will be decorations, distribution of candy, red beer for vampires, a zombie makeup stand, welcome shots of Jägermeister, and DJs spinning pop, rock, hip hop and more. Those who arrive in costume will pay a reduced entrance fee.
Lapa’s Fundição Progresso will celebrate the holiday tonight with a very special edition of the Chá da Anitta party entitled, Challoween. Brazilian pop star Anitta will perform live during the event.
Additionally in Lapa, Lapa Irish Pub’s week-long Halloween celebrations will draw to a close with a bang as the pub hosts the Halloween Party with band Evermind performing the best of rock live throughout the night.
For more information, addresses, event times, entrance fees, and additional events, see The Rio Times Nightlife Guide.