Consider a throwback Halloween party: guests in masks and Roaring Twenties attire. Spirits and wine flowing in a Jazz Age-like speakeasy.
From out of the shadows, behind a 28-foot, curved mahogany bar, a character from an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel emerges: Nick Carraway.
Carraway conjures the spirit behind “Great Gatsby Halloween at Fedora,” a two-day celebration of classic cocktails, jazz music and 1920s-era costumes in the basement lounge of the Aztec Theater.
The Great Gatsby idea, according to Aztec building owner Sam Panchevre, is to recreate a silent film era vibe in a space that once welcomed late-night revelers nearly 100 years ago.
In 1929, Ethel Brown brought the Old South Cafe to the basement of the Aztec Theater, serving guests before and after shows in the cinema above.
“We’re bringing it all back,” Panchevre said. “We’re looking for people to come in with attitudes from the ‘20s and ‘30s. We’ll have great swing music and give people an experience surrounded by a vibe that is 100 years old, one that creates the feel of being transported in time.”
Costumes are optional. Cocktail attire is required. The Halloween party begins Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m. at Zenita, the rooftop restaurant and bar, and winds its way down to the Fedora Lounge in the basement, where the celebration ends at 1 a.m.
The 21+ event features $13 cocktail specials and $40 champagne bottles. It also features layered mystery and stories bordering on dark speculation, befitting the Halloween theme.
Take the connection to Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone. Fedora’s mahogany bar once belonged to The County Line at a since-closed location on the far North Side. Panchevre recalls seeing a plaque attached to the bar in the early 1980s.
The plaque connected the bar to the Lexington Hotel, a historic property in Chicago that served as Capone’s headquarters in the late 1920s.
Did Capone drink from the bar now serving guests in the Fedora Lounge? “It’s very possible,” Panchevre said, explaining he has no hard evidence yet to make an authentic connection.
So that local lore — and others — are presented at the lounge as “historical tradition.” Welcome to Halloween in a venue that turned 100 on June 4.
A host of other venues are celebrating Halloween. Below is a sample listing:
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Halloween in broad daylight? That’s the idea behind Tricks and Treats, a kid-friendly event that runs throughout Saturday until 5 p.m.
Tricks and Treats features a costume contest, seasonal drinks and candy, fall-flavored snacks and family rides — billed as “All Fun. No Fear.”
Once the sun sets, though, the park transitions to Fright Fest, a horror experience designed for teens and adults. Scare actors emerge from “Scare Zones,” and haunted houses open around the park.
Admission for Tricks and Treats requires a day pass, starting at $49, plus taxes and a processing fee up to $9.99.
Fright Fest activities require a bundle package, starting at $84.
Alamo Beer Company
The Texas Brewery Running Series will host its fifth annual Boos & Brews Halloween 5K on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Alamo Beer Company.
The event, which starts and finishes beneath the historic Hays Street Bridge, combines an untimed run or walk, costumes and craft beer with an opportunity to support the San Antonio Food Bank.
Individual and group costume contests will be held but are not required for participation.
The entry fee is $35 per person. For $53, entrants receive a T-shirt. Discounts of 10-25% are available for individuals who register in groups, from 5-6 people to 16-30.
Registration includes one craft beer or non-alcoholic beverage, a collector’s pint glass or Brewery Running Series swag item, and entry into the post-run prize raffle. Finish-line festivities include music, games and vendors.
A portion of proceeds benefits the San Antonio Food Bank.
The Rock at La Cantera
A Halloween Spooktacular featuring trunk-or-treating, a costume contest, a live DJ and a petting zoo will be held at The Rock at La Cantera on Saturday from 6-10 p.m.
Admission is free and open to all ages. Guests, however, are encouraged to obtain digital tickets in advance. The Halloween celebration will include interactive activities and festive food and drink specials.
Natural Bridge Caverns
A Cavern Batfest will be held Saturday at Natural Bridge Caverns with free trick-or-treating from 3-5 p.m.
Other no-cost activities include a bat scavenger hunt, admission to the AMAZEn’ Ranch Round-Up, live music from local musicians, a mini hay maze, yard games, activity stations and dress-a-scarecrow.
Tickets for cavern tours and other attractions may be purchased online in advance or on site.
The batfest includes a costume dress code. For details, click here. Parking is $10.
SeaWorld San Antonio
A not-so-scary experience for children unfolds during SeaWorld’s daytime Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Activities include trick-or-treating, kid-friendly Halloween shows, creative costumes and a maze featuring Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
Tickets for single day admission start at $53.99 and include Halloween festivities.
The DoSeum
An “All Treats, No Tricks, No Worries” Halloween event will be held Saturday at The DoSeum from 5:30-8 p.m.
Activities include a build-your-own-treat-bag station and photo opportunities with roaming costumed characters.
A live DJ will provide music. Children will enjoy bubble foam and an end-of-day dance party. Costumes are encouraged.
Tickets are $20 for children, $15 for adults. To purchase tickets, click here.
