There are few things more hauntingly fun than getting dressed up and dancing like nobody’s watching. Especially at the best Halloween events and concerts! The holiday that was once about candy now symbolizes a night of transformation, terror, and spooky fun for everyone. And it’s even better when music is involved. From jam band extravaganzas and Broadway-style musicals to acrobats with a taste for blood, you’ll be plenty entertained at the best Halloween events. Check out the top 2024 picks from TicketSales:
Phish
Up first: Phish! And it’s one of many well-earned accolades from the biggest jam band of all time. The band’s “musical costume” tradition that they’ve adopted every Halloween season since the 1990s turns 30 in 2024, and we have no doubts they’ll be pulling out all the stops. What is this celebration, exactly? Let us explain.
The “musical costume” is a tradition where Phish sheds their skin and covers an entire album by another band. The first back in 1994 was the Beatles’ white Album, while the 2021 set (their first post-pandemic) adopted Get More Down by Sci-Fi Soldier. They’ve also covered David Bowie, Little Feat, and The Rolling Stones, among others, so what can we expect from 2024?
The short answer? Anything and everything. When you search “Halloween concerts near me” into Google, Phish’s name will surely come up. And there’s a very valid reason for that. The band has had an incredible year, touring the country and becoming one of the first groups to play the iconic MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. But even so, the Halloween shows will blow them all away…and you simply can’t miss out.
Sadly, there won’t be a Phish concert on Halloween night in 2024. However, they’ll be playing a full weekend of shows in Albany, NY, from October 25-27, which will likely have some spooky surprises. Get your three-day pass for these Phish concerts now, or pick a date to witness one of the best Halloween events for any music fan.
Duran Duran
Duran Duran? One of the top Halloween concerts near me? Believe it. The 80s new-wave icons are celebrating their sixteenth album, Danse Macabre, in a spooky new fashion. And this includes a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City that combines super-fun costumes with synth-pop hits for a night of nostalgia and macabre glamour.
“The song ‘Danse Macabre’ celebrates the joy and madness of Halloween,” says Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes. “The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on October 31st, 2022. We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event…the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humor was simply irresistible.” The result? One of the best Halloween events of the year, and Duran Duran is hardly done yet.
My Chemical Romance or Ghost they are not. But what Duran Duran lacks in terrifying costumes and dark lyrics, they make up for in sweet nostalgia and dance-worthy hits. Known for singles like “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Ordinary World,” and “Save a Prayer,” these seasonal shows will be a mix of old-meets-new, synth-meets-spooks, and all that fun stuff. Are you ready to party this October with Duran Duran? Get your tickets now for the 2024 tour.
Paranormal Cirque III
Paranormal Cirque III isn’t your average Cirque du Soleil show, and it has the R-rating and gallons of fake blood to prove it. Described as a “crazy yet fun fusion between circus, theatre, and cabaret,” this event transports you to a Clown castle filled with freaks, monsters, and more horrifyingly good fun than you could ever imagine.
Who knew that ghosts and vampires were so flexible? Paranormal Cirque III features aerialists performing death-defying stunts as they descend into the air, tie each other up, and brew up bendy poses that push the limits of both fear and gravity. Let’s just say that it’s where dreams and nightmares meet — a theatrical show that will have horror lovers clutching their stainless steel necklaces from the front row.
Those hoping for the upbeat soundtrack and colorful sets of Cirque du Soleil Ovo or Cirque du Soleil Kooza may be disappointed. But have no (or plenty of!) fear, as Paranormal Cirque III offers its own expedition of dark fantasies and magical stunts that keep the momentum going all through the spooky season. Are you ready to enter the scariest type of circus yet? Paranormal Cirque III tickets are now available in cities like Wrentham, MA, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Hagerstown, MD, and more.
Sweeney Todd
When discussing the best Halloween events, there’s none more fitting than a performance of the macabre musical Sweeney Todd. For decades, the tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street has been captivating audiences with its gothic storytelling and Stephen Sondheim’s haunting score. And after you’ve seen Todd wield his straight razor on stage to the tune of musical masterpieces, you’ll be left wanting more.
What makes Sweeney Todd so enticing? The dark humor, chilling revenge, and thrilling music certainly don’t hurt, especially around Halloween. Expect heart-pounding performances of songs like “The Worst Pies in London” and “Epiphany” paired with eerie set designs and atmospheric lighting that make the show feel like a gothic horror film come to life. Whether you’re a longtime musical theatre fan or new to the story, Sweeney Todd will leave you both thrilled and chilled to the bone.
Sweeney Todd is playing in several North American cities this season, including Portland, OR, Ottawa, ON, and Park City, UT. Get your tickets now to one of the best Halloween events for the theatrical!
Escape Halloween
Are you ready to dance until dawn at one of the EDM world’s best Halloween events? Held in San Bernadino, CA, for over a decade, Escape Halloween has become a haven for electronic music fans everywhere. It’s an excuse to pull out your most colorful costumes and enter a haunted wonderland of pulsating beats, striking visuals, and elaborate Halloween-themed stages. And that’s just the beginning of the fun for those obsessed with electronic music.
Escape Halloween attracts top DJs and EDM artists from around the world, and this year’s lineup will be nothing less than lit. In attendance will be Steve Aoki, Alison Wonderland, Adventure Club, and 40+ more, serving as a dance-worthy soundtrack to the rest of the Halloween-themed festivities. We’re talking mazes, themed areas, food trucks and beyond!
Speaking of Halloween and electronic traditions alike, costumes are not only encouraged but have become a festival tradition. In true EDM style, attendees pull out every color of the rainbow to put a prismatic spin on spooky season…causing the San Bernadino festival grounds to light up like the ever-present glow sticks in the air.
Believe it or not, even this description hardly does justice to one of the best Halloween shows, that’s half music festival, and half haunted house. Get your Escape Halloween tickets now!
Rob Zombie
Few artists capture the spirit of Halloween better than Rob Zombie, the metal icon and horror filmmaker whose name is forever attached to the holiday. He’s had a fun few years touring alongside Alice Cooper (another spooky icon) on multiple legs of the Freaks on Parade tour. And while he’s taking a bit of a backseat from the road in the coming months, there are still a couple of chances to come face-to-face with the macabre metal icon this season.
Zombie’s name may not come up when you search “Halloween concerts near me” into Google, but his shows are a hidden gem that you’ll reminisce on for countless Octobers to come. What can you expect? An over-the-top stage production that combines Zombie’s passions for music and movies, resulting in a spine-tingling sensory overload from start to finish. These include shocking costumes, 20-foot-tall monsters, heart-pumping backdrops and more.
We can’t give too much away, but let’s just say, a Rob Zombie concert is one of the best Halloween events for any horror fanatic. He’ll be present at the Riot Fest in Chicago, IL, on September 22nd, and also make an appearance at Sonic Temple in May 2025. Grab your tickets and keep and eye out for more Rob Zombie concerts as they come!
