It may not have well-known carols or organized sing-alongs, but Halloween is a holiday filled with music: Haunted houses use spooky songs to help set the mood, and beloved anthems like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" are played over and over on the radio. There are also many great music festivals this time of year; they range from family-friendly events to adults-only affairs. So if you've already got your costume together but are still looking for something to do this Halloween weekend, consider one of these exciting events. Some are scary; some are not. But they are all sure to be filled with fantastic music.The Voodoo Music Experience - New Orleans, Louisiana
For three days, the City Park area of New Orleans is taken over by the Voodoo Music Experience. For years, the annual music festival has been drawing gigantic crowds to several main stages and a variety of other tents. Traditionally, the festival grounds--located adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art--are divided into three sections: "Le Ritual" features world-famous acts on two main stages, "Flambeau" is dedicated to celebrating New Orleans' unique music culture (be sure to check out the local and international acts in the Preservation Hall tent and on the WWOZ stage) and "Le Carnival" highlights the city's underground arts. Blink-182, Snoop Dogg, Soundgarden, Girl Talk, My Chemical Romance, and other major headliners make this the largest Halloween music festival in the country.
Moogfest - Asheville, North Carolina
An annual ode to all things electronic music, Moogfest continues to grow bigger and bigger each year. This Halloween weekend, the line-up will be truly impressive: the Flaming Lips, Passion Pit, TV on the Radio, Chromeo, Moby, Tangerine Dream, Crystal Castles and more make this three-day concert's tickets the hottest in town. Along with multiple stages and a variety of vendors, this year's Moogfest will be featuring an innovative art installation: 77 Million Paintings by Brian Eno, widely considered the godfather of modern ambient music. Originally conceived as "visual music," the multi-media configurations will be shown in the YMI Cultural Center in downtown Asheville.
The Hangtown Halloween Ball - Placerville, California
The El Dorado County Fairgrounds will soon be magically transformed into a spooky, Halloween-themed world. Visitors are invited to set up camp (literally!) and enjoy great food, beer, wine--and live music. Railroad Earth will be performing for two nights, and other internationally acclaimed acts will be hitting the stage as well. The line-up for 2011 includes Ozomatli, the Funky Meters, 7 Walkers, Elephant Revival, and more. Another highlight of the three-day festival is the Epic late-night hall that can accommodate up to 2,000 partiers--in costume, of course!
HARD Haunted Mansion - Los Angeles, California
It may not really be haunted and it may not really be held in a mansion, but HARD is definitely one of the country's biggest Halloween parties. This year, the music festival will be held in the Shrine Expo Hall in downtown L.A. and it will feature the musical stylings of Fatboy Slim, Major Lazer, Rusko, and other world-famous DJ's and bands. Halloween costumes are not required; however, if you opt out, you will surely be in the minority.
The Great Harvestival - Chico, California
The picturesque Concow Campgrounds are actually located about 30 minutes from the city, against the stunning Sierra Nevada Mountains. This year, the environment will act as the setting for the Great Harvestival, a new event formed to take the place of two festivals on hiatus this year: Bobolink and Las Tortugas. The Great Harvestival will combine elements from both events and feature fantastic live music (by the likes of Hot Buttered Rum, New Monsoon, and Isabella) in a family-friendly atmosphere. The music festival will also have themed camps (including Margaritaville) as well as costume parties, workshops, food and drink vendors, and even free late-night shows.
No matter which part of the country you're in, you are sure to find fun things to do this Halloween. And as 2011 eventually comes to a close, there are bound to be fantastic holiday-themed music festivals near you! Keep checking back in with us here at HillTop Records, as we do our best to keep you updated and in-the-know!
