Planning your nightmare

Why is it that so many holidays
 have strict dress codes?

Wear green on St. Patty’s Day or you’ll get pinched, show your patriotic colors on the 4th of July, don a tacky red-and-green snowflake sweater for Christmas (or is that just us?). We like Halloween because it’s a free-for-all. There are no rules and we can wear whatever we choose – which, we admit, can sometimes be a frightening prospect even when it’s not Halloween.

Even if you don’t like to dress up to celebrate, it’s fun to go out on Halloween just to see what the rest of the crazies are wearing. And you know they’ll be out in full force in Orlando this week, what with the onslaught of costume parties, big-money costume contests, haunted houses, eerily themed walks in the woods and over-the-top gory attractions.

Below we’ve highlighted events where all your bloodthirsty fetishes can be satisfied – or where you can at least get a glimpse of others satisfying theirs. Costume contests, haunted houses and frightfest highlights are on this page, but there are plenty more listings in our calendar. If you’re looking for spooky theater shows, kid-friendly events, trick-or-treating or zombie art shows, browse the calendar listings at calendar.orlandoweekly.com

Thursday, Oct. 28

A Petrified Forest Walk through a haunted village path filled with interactive backwoods frights. 7:30 pm Thursday-Sunday; A Petrified Forest, 1360 State Road 436, Altamonte Springs; $1-$13; 407-468-6600; 
www.apetrifiedforest.com.

Electralloween with Blood Eagle, Silicium, MannyMays. 10 pm Thursday; Escape Ultra Lounge, 8421 S. Orange Blossom Trail; free-$3; 407-854-4200.

Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear This elaborate scarefest inundates guests with monsters and maniacs. 6:30 pm Thursday-Sunday; Universal Studios at Universal Orlando, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza; $39.99-$64.99; 407-363-8000; www.halloweenhorrornights.com.

Halloween Velvet Sessions with Eddie Money. 6:30 pm; Velvet Bar, Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando; $25-$30; 407-351-7625.

Inappropriate Costume Party 10 pm Thursday; The Peacock Room, 1321 N. Mills Ave.; free-$5; 407-228-0048.

Longwood Haunt Halloween-themed fundraiser with two haunted houses, zombie paintball, food and entertainment to support Habitat for Humanity. 7-11 pm Thursday-Saturday; Big Tree Storage Complex, 754 Fleet Financial Court, Longwood; $10; 407-301-1115.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary

Halloween Party

Dress up in your Halloween costume and trick-or-treat around the Magic Kingdom. 7 pm Thursday-Monday; Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista; $53.95-$59.95; 407-934-7639; www.disneyworld.com.

Scaryoke Costume Party 9 pm Thursday; Stardust Lounge, 431 E. Central Blvd.; $5; 407-839-0080.

Friday, Oct. 29

Adonis/Aphrodite 
Halloween Party with Dante and Bob Lee. 10 pm Friday; The Peacock Room, 1321 N. Mills Ave.; $7; 407-228-0048.

> Email Aimee Shea