Partygoers should come early to Club Z's Halloween Party Saturday night because the place is going to be packed.
"It's a crazy night," co-owner Dale Wagner said. "With New Year's and Mardi Gras, it's one of the three biggest nights of the year. We usually have a line half way down the block waiting."
This is the seventh year for the event, which draws Halloween enthusiasts from all over the area.
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"I have people coming in from Phillipsburg, from Ohio," co-owner Michael Orrico said. "They come in every year - some rent a limo and drive down. It's a big deal."
The show officially begins at 11 p.m. and will feature a costume contest. Entrants will stroll across the stage, showing off their creative best in hopes of winning a cash prize.
Prizes will be given in several categories, including for the scariest, funniest and most original costumes.
Since they began hosting the party, Wagner and Orrico have seen some funny and creative costumes.
"We've seen ones dressed like Cruella De Vil, the kid from Mad Magazine as a crossdresser on steroids, Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss ... we've seen a lot of vampires, and one kid, unfortunately, even came as a burn victim," Orrico said.
"The costumes tend to be very elaborate," Wagner said. "Most of the people make their own - some of them are outrageous."
Sometimes the owners get in on the action themselves.
"One year I did Peter Pan and Mike came as Michael Myers," Wagner said.
The bar itself transforms into a ghoulish haven for the party as well.
"We decorate more for Halloween than any other holiday," Wagner said. "We have cauldrons with flames coming out and skeletons hanging from ceilings ... we go crazy on Halloween."
Besides the costume judging, the event also will feature performances by Poison and Blaize.
"Poison and Blaize are both excellent," he said. "Poison's from Harrisburg."
Wagner said the club likes to shake things up every year by changing the lineup of performers.
"We switch them out a lot," Wagner said. "We get different shows for Halloween to keep it fresh."
Wagner thinks that the Halloween Party is so popular because it allows people to get artistic with reinventing themselves.
"It's the most creative holiday," he said. "Everyone gets a chance to not be themselves, to be whatever they want to be."
The cover charge for the party will be $5.
As a warm up to the big shingdig Saturday, the club will present "Scaryoke," a special version of its weekly karaoke event with Keith Engler from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday.
Halloween events around the city:
Uptown Music Collective presents "Night With the Living Dead: 27 Club" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St.
"Terror at Bowman" from 6 until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Historic Bowman Field, 1700 W. Fourth St.
The Lycoming County Visitors Bureau presents "The Great Pumpkin Express" at 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Trip leaves from behind Burger King at 50 Maynard St.
"October Friday Fright Festival" featuring "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" at midnight Friday at the Cinema Center, 300 W. Fourth St.
Lumpy Gravy's Halloween Party at 10 p.m. Monday at Kimball's Pub, 972 Second St.
Faith Wesleyan Youth Group presents "Lite Up the Nite" Halloween party at 6 p.m. Monday at 1033 Tucker St.
Children's Halloween Costume Party at 3 p.m. Saturday at Treasure Castle Playland, South Williamsport.
Spooktacular Halloween Dance at 5 p.m. Friday at the Roads to Freedom, Center for Independent Living, 24 E. Third St.
Downtown Halloween
celebration featuring Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster in "The Munsters" and a Grandpa Munster look-a-like, at 5 p.m. Friday at City Hall, 245 W. Fourth St. Downtown Merchants' Parade of Costumes and Trick or Treat at 6 p.m.
"Psycho" at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Cinema Center, 300 W. Fourth St.
Rumrunner's Halloween Party featuring Mel Mounds and the Get Down Sounds at 10 p.m. Saturday at Rumrunner's Pub and Eatery, 341 Market St.
Exter vs. Kimock Halloween Show at 7 p.m. Monday at the Bullfrog Brewery, 229 W. Fourth St.
Zombie Pub Lurch at 5 p.m. Saturday, beginning at the Planet, 326 Court St.
Random Axe Halloween Party at 9 p.m. at the Williamsport Moose Family Center 145, 1219 W. Southern Ave., South Williamsport.
