Feel an autumnal chill in the air? Me neither. But it’s still October, and there’s still plenty of spooky good times to be had. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, the gang talks about what they’re most looking forward to this month, from Middleton transforming itself into a beloved ‘00s TV show, a Norwegian (!) food cart, and, of course, lots of emo.
Here’s a few more fun things to do this month, whether it’s warm out or chilly!
👻 Scary Stuff, Kids
Halloween is a time to curl up in the movie theater and watch a scary movie between your fingers. It seems like there’s a new horror flick in town every week – if you plan on catching them all, AMC Fitchburg is offering a “Slash Pass” where you can see six spooky movies for $66.66. Because 6 is the scariest number.
Closer to home, Flix Brewhouse has a different scary movie almost every night in October, including a “Brewfest” screening of “The Exorcist” (Oct. 14) with a three-beer curated menu, a family-friendly “Flix Jr.” screening of “Hotel Transylvania” (Oct. 18), and a “Fanfest” screening of “Ghostbusters” (Oct. 28) with a curated menu and a souvenir glass.
UW Cinematheque will be spending Halloween night on the open road with a rare 35mm print of 1985’s “The Hitcher” (Oct. 31). And while the Bartell Theatre is known for live stage productions, they’ve been booking more movies lately. Their spooky offerings include the Madison premiere of a new documentary about the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” called “Strange Journey” (Oct. 24) and a special horror/sci-fi themed edition of the Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Project (Oct. 25).
🔬 They Blinded Me With Science!
There’s nothing scary about science, Frankenstein excepted. The Wisconsin Science Festival aims to provoke curiosity rather than scares, returning Oct. 16-26, with over 50 events around Madison and another 200 statewide.
In Madison, the festival will kick off on the Capitol Square with a special edition of the Madison Night Market, Science on the Square (Oct. 16). Vendor tents and hands-on science demos will fill the square and the first four blocks of State Street.
Art and science will weave together in “Threading the Story of Earth’s Oldest Rocks” (Oct. 22) in the Wisconsin Discovery Building’s Deluca Forum, as three geoscientists collaborate with a textile artist for a story 4 billion years in the making. Speaking of rocks, the Why Sci Variety Show (Oct. 21) at the Majestic Theatre will mix science jokes and live music with a rock ‘n’ roll theme.
🎸 See Your Favorite Band (Sort Of)
On the podcast, executive producer Hayley Sperling professed her love of cover bands, and we’ve got a ton on their way in October. If you ever wanted to see Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, or Led Zeppelin play in a smaller venue (and for basically the same ticket prices they were charging in the ‘70s), these tribute bands have you covered.
At the Orpheum Theater, “Rumours of Fleetwood Mac” will provide the Mac attack on Oct. 21. At Atwood Music Hall, Madison’s own Jed & Company (Oct. 25) evokes the feel of a classic Grateful Dead show, while the Led Zeppelin Tribute band Zoso (Oct. 30) is celebrating 30 years of playing the music of a band that broke up 35 years ago.
At the Barrymore Theatre, “Folsom Prison Experience” (Oct. 4) will make you feel like you’re one of the inmates seeing Johnny Cash perform live, complete with prison guards roaming the aisles. “Mania” (Oct. 22) pays tribute to ABBA. But having them all beat may be “Beatles vs. Stones” (Oct. 21) which brings both iconic bands together for a mythical battle of the bands.
