BRADENTON – Halloween is right around the corner, but the creepy fun has already begun. Get over to the Crosley Mansion for their House of Horrors, a theatrical spin on the Haunted House. Get dressed up and go downtown where you can hang out with the undead at Zombie Fest 4, or break out your props and head over to the Manatee Players Theater for their annual Rocky Horror Picture Show presentation. If you're a scaredy cat, you can still catch the biggest local football game in years this Friday night at Hawkins Stadium. Jump on your broomstick and grab your Jack-o-lantern, it's time for a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!
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The big game is here! Manatee and Palmetto are both undefeated and heading toward possible state title runs, but this week, someone's 0 has got to go! The 'Canes and Tigers lock up Friday night in the biggest game ever between these local rivalries (full preview). Manatee is the favorite, ranked No. 1 in the nation, by all three polls.
The Tigers might be underdogs, but Manatee will have their hands full with Coach Marino's explosive offense and stingy D. If ever there were the makings for an upset, it would be Friday night. No matter who wins, it's sure to be one heck of a game that will have local fans talking for years. Get out to Hawkins Stadium, so you can say you were there!
High School Football
Friday: 7:30 p.m.
Palmetto @ Manatee
Largo @ Lakewood Ranch
DeSoto @ Bayshore
Hardee @ Southeast
Bradenton Christian @ Calvary
St. Stephens @ Community School of Naples
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It's opening weekend for the Crosley House of Horrors. Explore the ghastly and ghostly in the perfect atmosphere for Halloween fun. Creep through the Crosley Cemetery and tour the House of Horrors. Squirm through terrifying performances of Poe’s hauntingly horrible tales in the Carriage House Theater. Forget theme parks and gimmicks, the Crosley presents a truly original way to get your fix of Halloween horror!
The Crosley carriage house has been converted to 13 unlucky rooms, each representing a Poe masterpiece like The Tell Tale Heart, The Oval Portrait and The Mask of the Red Death. Every 30 minutes a theatrical performance of one of the stories is put on in the mansion, giving guests a chance to tour the ghoulish grounds between shows. This thoroughly original Halloween experience is fun for the whole family that you don't want to miss.
Crosley House of Horrors
October 23, 24, 25, 30 & 31; November 2, 3 & 4
7-11 p.m.
Powel Crosley Estate
One Seagate Drive
8374 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota
Admission $10.00
Seniors and Students $8.00
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The undead return to downtown Bradenton this Saturday for their annual party. The Fourth Annual Zombie Fest is scheduled for 5-10 p.m. on Old Main Street (12th Street West). The historic downtown street will close to vehicular traffic at 2:30 p.m. between Manatee to Third avenues. Open alcohol consumption is permitted on Old Main Street when the barricades are in place, but alcohol must be purchased from one of the bars or restaurants on Old Main Street and glass bottles are prohibited on the street.
Motorists should also be aware that Old Main Street will be closed to traffic from 2:30 p.m. until about 11 p.m. If you drive to Zombie Fest, please park in one of the downtown parking garages, the public parking lot at 3rd Avenue West and Old Main Street, along Barcarrota Boulevard or other downtown parking not located within the designated areas of the party. Public parking is free on the weekends.
Feel free to dress up in a Halloween costume or stop by Classic Ink, 306 Old Main St., where professional artists will be decorating guests in zombie makeup for a $20 donation. Classic Ink’s “Zombification Station” opens at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Zombie Fest will not have vendors or live music on the street this year but plenty of food, drink and entertainment can be found inside Old Main Street’s bars, restaurants and coffee shops. You must be 21 to get inside the bars. Music will be provided by DJ Odi Diaz, an artist at Classic Ink.
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Celebrate Halloween weekend with the Manatee Players and THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!
The Manatee Players will have two special showings of the cult movie classic THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW on Friday October 26 and Saturday October 27 at 11 p.m. The movie will be shown at the Manatee Players, 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. Admission is $8 and tickets are available online at www.manateeplayers.com or at the box office by calling 941-748-5875.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the 1975 film adaptation of the British rock musical stage play, The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O'Brien. The film is a parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. The film introduces Tim Curry and features Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick.
"Props" will be available for purchase at the theater. Costumes and partissssssipation are encouraged! This will be a great way to celebrate Halloween weekend!
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Manatee Players Theater
102 Old Main Street
Bradenton
$8
Friday and Saturday at 11 p.m.