Not a lot of this towns party people work the nine-to-five grind and for those in the service industry, the traditional New Years Eve marks the highest point of tourisms high season.
Translation: you and most of your friends are probably working.
But Halloween is a different story. October bears the tag "the dead season" for a reason. The tops of the mountains are dusted with a hint of the snow to come but theres not enough to do anything in it yet. It starts to get damn cold and summer pursuits fade like the hours of daylight.
Bars, clubs, restaurants and cafés take advantage of the reduced crowds to do renovations and regroup for the winter onslaught.
The result of less going on: theres more time to dedicate to things like Halloween costumes.
Now, theres nothing sadder than being all dressed up with nowhere to go. But with the wealth of Halloween events Whistler has to offer next weekend it will be easy to make sure that doesnt happen. Theres more than enough wildness and whimsy to go around...
What: Hellish Halloween Bash
Where: Spruce Grove Field House
When: Friday, Oct. 29
This ones for high school students only. The Whistler Youth Centres event next Friday runs 9 p.m. to midnight with mocktails and a snackbar. Costumes are mandatory! Admission: $12. Ph: 604-935-8187.
What: Pornoween Party featuring Slow Nerve Action
Where: Boot Pub
When: Saturday, Oct. 30
The Boot is throwing two Halloween parties next weekend. Saturday night check out Whistlers notorious sexaholic rockers throw down their infamous, high-energy, gutter-mind funk jams. Prizes for best costumes. Tickets: $10. Ph: 604-932-3338.
What: Halloween Costume Party
Where: Savage Beagle
When: Saturday, Oct. 30
Best costume takes home a prize next Saturday night with The Beagles bass-ment beatmaster DJ Seanski on the decks. Ph: 604-938-3337.
What: Halloween Freak Show
Where: Longhorn Saloon
When: Saturday, Oct. 30
Prizes for the best and least dressed, plus scary bar games and for the ski-freaks, an encore presentation of local new school ski crew Jib Cultures first film Disturbing the Piste . Ph: 604-932-5999.
What: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Party
Where: Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC)
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
Local artist couple KLC Nash and Chili Thom are celebrated around these parts for their wild and whimsical decorating-and-DJ extravaganzas. Last years Heaven & Hell party featured a two-tier angel/demon DJ set-up and Good vs. Evil entryways. This year, the dynamic duo is converting the GLC into a dark forest and they encourage partygoers to transform themselves into either nubile tree nymphs or evil woodland trolls. On the decks: DJs Ace-zilla, Mr. Fister and Vinyl Ritchie. Tickets: $25. Doors at 9 p.m. Ph: 604-905-9841.
Who: Halloween Party featuring Sweatshop Union
Where: Garfinkels
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
The West Coast rap collective has a lot of fans in Whistler and those looking for a hip-hop Halloween will want to check out their show at Garfinkels next Sunday night. The JnB Productions event also features local DJ Rob Banks, creepy decor and prizes for best male, female and group costumes. Tickets: $15/first 200, $20 after that, available in advance at the Electric Daisy Internet Cafe. The club is giving away a V.I.P. package for the party that includes two platinum passes valid for any show at Garfinkels for the entire 2004/05 season. Ask at the club for contest details. Ph: 604-932-2323.
What: The Punk Night Halloween featuring Denim Demons, The Antithesis and Savanah
Where: Boot Pub
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
The Punk Night gets into the Halloween spirit with Denim Demons a tribute to fetish leather-clad Norwegian hardcore metal maniacs Turbo Negro. Also on the bill, local heavy metal band The Antithesis, playing their last show ever before traveling plans scatter the band members throughout the world, and Punk Night regulars Savanah from Vancouver a personal favourite of Punk Night organizer/party girl Lindsay Shedden. Ph: 604-932-3338.
What: Soul Kitchen Hallows Groove
Where: Tommy Africas
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
Renowned OM Records DJ John Howard (New York, San Francisco) and local favourite Scotty Arkwell are on the decks for a special Halloween edition of the long-running Soul Kitchen Sunday club night. Funk, breaks and house party beats and Halloween go-go gals. $1,000 worth of bar tab prizes for best costumes. All for $5 cover. www.tommyafricas.com.
What: 6 th Annual Halloween Freak Show
Where: Moe Joes
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
The popular bar is giving away a $500 prize for best costume at their annual Halloween bash on Sunday, Oct. 31. Theyre also encouraging people to party in costume on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30. Ph: 604-935-1152.
What: Nightmare on Bills Street
Where: Buffalo Bills
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
Best costume takes home $500 at Bills annual Halloween bash. Ph: 604-932-6613.
What: Halloween Sunday Night
Where: Crab Shack
When: Sunday, Oct. 31
The Shacks scary Sunday night house band Leth Dodis takes the stage for Halloween. Best costume gets their bar tab taken care of for the night. Ph: 604-932-4451.
And dont forget about the 3 rd Annual Heavy Hitting Films B-Grade Horrorfest Whistlers infamous DIY blood and guts film extravaganza coming at you in all its gory glory in the MY (Millennium) Place theatre on Oct. 30.
Tickets for this one sell out fast so call the box office at 604-935-8410 to get yours.
By the time you read this, they may very well be already gone. If thats the case, go see your friendly neighbourhood scalper.
Just be there at all costs...