Halloween us upon us again and Florence is ready with events, parties, and even a haunted house. Read on to make your plans for October 31 2011.
Every year by mid-October we see
more store windows sporting fake cobwebs and plastic pumpkins than in the
previous year. No longer limited to the stationers that sell these gadgets for
kids, many Florence retailers are getting into the spirit (pun intended) of the
holiday, albeit later than their American counterparts. Numerous theme and
costume parties are now offered (see the events listing), and there’s even a
haunted house in the city this year, permitting a certain amount of Anglo-style
revelry. Still, you’ll have to adapt certain traditions to life in Italy.
Trick-or-treating door-to-door is rare, although some areas or condominiums may
organize an official doling out of candies, strictly for the little ones.
Pumpkins for carving are hard to find and expensive, since the zucca grown here is best suited for
eating (see page 19 for an example). Small sized candy is not available at
every supermarket – try the discount stores instead – which makes for
disappointing leftovers after October 31. On the positive side, Italy offers a
bonus holiday on November 1, All Saints’ Day, so you can sleep off the effects
of Halloween night and then celebrate with the huge traditional lunch that
marks every statutory holiday in this country. We’re starting to think that
this Anglo-Italian combination of holidays provides an added magic to Florence…
can you feel it?
The best of halloween parties
Trick, treat or party! We’re especially excited
about Festa’s creation of an Anglo tradition right here in Florence – the
haunted house. And as they’re using Palazzo Corsini to set it up, we’re quite
sure it’s going to be awesome. Their celebration runs all weekend, Oct 29-31
from 8-10:30pm, and a percentage of the proceeds goes to the local charity for
children, Dynamo Camp. At a place that’s creepy year round, the La Specola
museum with its wax anatomies and taxidermies is open from 7pm to midnight.
Then head to one of the parties that are rocking the night of the dead – Switch
network’s ‘Trick or Beat’ at the Viper, the house tunes spun by DJ Fritz Kalkbrenner at Beat Club
in Sesto Fiorentino, the Yab house party featuring russian-anglo DJ Vadim or
the Snow White themed party organized by Stefano Bosia in Piazza del Carmine. For specifics see below.
Remember that November 1 is a holiday (Tutti
Santi) so everything is closed. Sleep in!
Halloween events listing – Monday October 31 2011
Beat Club halloween party
Organized by Tenax and Pink Cash, house music by DJ Fritz Kalkbrenner (Berlin Calling), Silvie Loto, Mass Prod; visuals by MUV Studio. Costumes welcome.from 10:30pm, 18€ includes 2 drinks, Beat Club, via Lucchese 84, Sesto Fiorentino, info Alessio T 335434484, info@finaxadv.com
Cena con delitto at Villa CarusoMystery murder multi-course dinner including wine in the beautiful Villa Caruso in the hills above Florence.69,90€ pp, Villa Caruso, menu info and reservation www.invitoacenacondelitto.com
Halloween at La Specola museumThis place is creepy during the day, let alone on halloween night! Check out the waxes and taxidermies at night. Dress up if you want!7pm to midnight, 2,50€ + entry ticket 3/6€, Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola”, Salone degli Scheletri, Via Romana 17
Halloween boogie nightA night of 70s, 80s, motown and classic tunes for halloween, costume obligatory of course.The Club House, Via de ‘Ginori 6r, www.theclubhouse.it
Halloween SpooktacularFlorence’s first ever Haunted House – ages 8 and up due to gory scariness. See top picks.8-10:30pm, suggested donation 5 euro, Scuderia di Palazzo Corsini, P.le di Porta al Prato 37, T 334 595 9639, info@festatheatre.com
Re Matto halloween party at Regina MargheritaIn Bagno a Ripoli, dinner a la carte upon reservation, two dance floors for commercial or trippy house. Adult public aged 28-40.from 11pm, Regina Margherita, via del Padule 25, Bagno a Ripoli, info and lists Simone T 347 2659882
Snow White and the Emperor theme party at NapoleonOrganized by Stefano Bosia, at Napoleone bar in Piazza del Carmine a relatively mature halloween party with the theme of Snow White. Drinks 10-15 euros include big buffet, but consumption is not obligatory.Napoleone, Piazza del Carmine, info Stefano Bosia T 3474238636
The House of Hell Pirates PartyPirate theme party with DJ Russel & The Denial TwinsLa Casa (Palazzo Giovane), vicolo SM Maggiore 1 (near Duomo), http://newslacasa.wordpress.com/
Vitalic & Dub FX and more Decibel events and Switch creative network present 8 hours of party on halloween night. No halloween theme or costumes, though surely if you appear in costume you won’t be turned away. Meanwhile, lots of live music by artists of an international level, including Vitalic (FR), Dub FX & Flower Fairy (australia), Uochi Toki (ita) and a showcase of the network’s ‘local heroes’. From electronica to dub step, hip hop and abstract electronics.9:30pm onward, 15 euro, Viper Club, Via Pistoiese/Via Lombardia T 055-2469353, organized by Switch www.switchproject.net
Yab Smoove Halloween party with DJ VadimAt the historic dance club downtown, start early with dinner (20€) or come in when the dance party starts at 11:30pm (15/10€).YAB, via Sassetti 5r, for info and reservations Marco Benifei T 3293627079
Rocky Horror Picture Show11:30pm, 5 euro, Cinema OdeonThe 1973 classic film is being screened at the Odeon
Rullanteclub halloween partyFrom 10pm, via cantagalli 1r (porta romana)Presentation of the new album by Danger Ego followed by Lenin DJ for the night, prize for best costume, photographers on hand to capture your outfit. See facebook invite.
Lochness LoungeFrom 10:30pm, Via de’ Benci 19Dia de los muertos record hop by Perfidia De Mon – a night of rock’n’roll, doo wop, surf tunes and more, costume suggested.
