Celebrate Halloween in Aspen

Every Oct. 31, Halloween arrives with a bustle of kids and grown-ups in costumes, candy everywhere, and a good measure of spookiness sprinkled around. It’s a night when imaginations run wild — ghosts, witches, superheroes, and all sorts of creatures come out to play. 

From family fun to late-night parties, everyone can kick off the weekend in Aspen this Friday.

“Halloween falling on a weekend is one of the best parts,” Marketing Manager for W Aspen hotel Stephanie Kroll noted.

Halloween parties

W Aspen’s Halloween party kicks off at 9 p.m and continues strong until it closes at 2 a.m.

“It’s going to be a really fun party,” Kroll said of W Aspen, “with local DJ Naka spinning, a costume contest, and a full bar. So many people come out and keep it lively. And the great thing about hosting a party at a hotel is that if people find they need a room after, they can always book one.”

The Sterling Aspen nightclub and lounge is also throwing a high-spirited bash, details at thesterlingaspen.com. Over at another venue, Opiuo with Auracle takes the stage at 10 p.m. at Belly Up Aspen. And for an earlier twist, the MOLLIE Murder Mystery Party will run from 7-8:30 p.m. 

Halloween movies

For anyone who would rather stay indoors, here are some family-friendly Halloween movies recommended by The Aspen Times’ own A&E editor:

• “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (1966): A quintessential television show streaming on Apple+
• “Beetlejuice” (1988): Tim Burton’s spooky-comedy classic streaming on AppleTV, Google Play, and Amazon
• “Hocus Pocus” (1993): One of the ultimate Halloween comfort films streaming on Apple TV, Disney+, and Amazon
• “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993): A movie known for its iconic visuals and music streaming on Apple TV, Disney+, Amazon, and Google Play
• “Ghostbusters” (1984): A supernatural comedy so popular, it has a sequel that streams on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube
• “The Addams Family” (1991) or “Addams Family Values” (1993): A movie favored for monster laughs streaming on Apple TV, Hulu, and Amazon
• “Casper” (1995): A classic film known for being popular among millennials streaming on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Google Play
• “Halloweentown” (1998): One of Disney’s mainstays streaming on Disney+

For those looking for gory or scary movies that generally make you want to hide behind a blanket, here’s a few classics:

• “”Halloween” (1978): An iconic slasher fiim streaming on Apple TV and Amazon
• “Scream” (1996): A clever self-aware scary movie that revitalizes movie tropes streaming on Hulu, Paramount+, and Peacock Premium
• “Trick ‘r Treat” (2007): An inventive anthology that weaves together eerie tales streaming on Apple TV and Amazon
• “Friday the 13th” (1980) and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984): Two 1980s slasher classics streaming on Paramount+, Peacock Premium, Apple TV, and Amazon
• “The Exorcist” (1973): A genuinely terrifying and unsettling film streaming on Apple TV, Amazon, and Google Play
• “The Shining” (1980): A psychological horror featuring a haunting Colorado backdrop streaming on Apple TV, Amazon, and Google Play

Ghost tours

And don’t forget, Aspen’s Darkside Ghost Tour is having an extra spirited walk on Halloween night, with a standard tour at 7 p.m. and a special 8:30 p.m. walk on Oct. 31. Wearing a top hat, Host Dean Weiler will lead everyone through tales of Aspen’s haunted past.

“As for the stories themselves, I really try to put a true mix of darker history in there, along with the ghost stories that I’ve heard, so there’s enough real history that it’s a great experience for everyone, even the skeptics,” Weiler said.

Weiler, who began the company in 2007, said, “It’s great because everyone in Aspen is all in on Halloween, and you never know what is going to happen.” 

Although jump scares are not part of the tour, they have been known to happen. Weiler reveals guests often share their own haunted stories from Aspen. Reserve your spot at aspenwalkingtours.com/tours/darkside-tour.

Be bear aware

Just a spooky reminder to Aspenites: Bear activity has been lively this year, so keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and about in your costumes. We want your Halloween frights to come from your costumes — not Aspen’s furry neighbors! 

Read more about BearWise’s recommendations for reducing human-bear conflict at aspentimes.com/news/as-bears-remain-active-in-aspen-bearwise-highlights-human-responsibility.