Spooky times in Portsmouth

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there’s been an awful lot of publicity surrounding this year’s Portsmouth Halloween Parade. I hardly remember hearing anything about it last year, but already this year, I’ve heard about at least a half dozen different fundraisers for the big event. And the parade’s public relations army is just getting started. There are a ton of events scheduled over the next week or so, leading up to the downtown parade at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
It all starts tonight with Undead Beat Night at the Press Room, from 7 to 9. Word is that Tristan will be manning the taps upstairs. We’re told Undead Beat Night will follow a similar format to the Beat Nights held on the third Thursday of each month at the PR. The difference is that the readings will have a “decidedly spookier bent.” Donations collected at the event will benefit the parade.

Here’s a list of some more upcoming Halloween Parade related events in the city:

The Great Pumpkin Smash
Smash a pumpkin, win a prize! Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Portsmouth Farmers’ Market, 1 Junkins Ave.

Hateful Little Benefit
Featuring Hateful Little Cakes, Breakfast Song and Audrey Ryan. Friday, Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. at the Press Room, 77 Daniel St., $5.

Hush Hush Sweet Harlot Benefit Music Night
Featuring Horchata, Nate Laban, Salt Pine Telegraph (formally Penhallow). Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m., Red Door, 107 State St., $5. Come in costume, get in free.

Flatbread Community Night
Need another reason to eat great pizza? Percentage of the evening’s flatbread sales donated to the Halloween Parade, plus raffle! Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 9 p.m., Flatbread Company, 138 Congress St.

– Mr. X