‘Back From The Dead’ fest brings chills to downtown Rock Island

Rock Island is getting into the season of ghouls and creepy critters with a new event that has attractions all over downtown.

The Rock Island Downtown Alliance is hosting a new event, Back from the Dead , on October 12-13. It promotes the variety of attractions that will happen during the days leading up to Halloween. Free trolley rides will let the public visit spooky and not-so-spooky places throughout downtown and enjoy activities like haunted houses and tours, tarot card readings, retail vendor markets and more. Trolleys run 4 – 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 – 10 p.m. on Sundays.

“The spooky season is an exciting time for a lot of our businesses that celebrate Halloween and host holiday-themed events,” said Jack Cullen, Executive Director of the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. “Back from the Dead aims to give people an opportunity to get into the spooky-season spirit and discover some of the great amenities and attractions in downtown Rock Island.”

Spooky season in downtown Rock Island officially began in early September when “Addams Family” opened at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse. Terror at Skellington Manor and Shock House Haunted House at the QCCA Expo Center open on Friday, September 27. The Haunted Rock Island Roadhouse Paracon returns bigger and better this year on Saturday, October 5 to the Dan Vinar Furniture Co. building, 500 20 ^th Street.

Back from the Dead has something for everyone over the two days, including:

Saturday, Oct. 12

• BOOtique Bash at Brick and Motor Boutique, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free spooky gift bag with any in-store purchase
• Wake Brewing 7-Year Anniversary and Harvest Fest, 2-8 p.m. Live Mexican-style lucha libre wrestling, beer releases, a food truck, live screen printing, music and giveaways
• Free tarot card readings at Spellbound, 4-7 p.m.
• Art Exhibition, “It’s Fine. Everything is Fine.” at Quad City Arts, 5-8 p.m. There will be a reception celebrating the opening of a group art exhibition
• QC Haunts & History Tours at Second Avenue and 19th Street, every 30 minutes between 6-8 p.m. Take a mini ghost tour and hear stories about dearly departed residents. Each tour will be 30 minutes long. Tours are free but online RSVP required; click here to register.
• “Addams Family” at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse; 5:45 p.m. dinner; 7:30 p.m. show. Click here for tickets.
• 100 Laughs Improv Comedy Show at The Speakeasy. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. The show is for those 21+, call (309) 786-7733 x2 for tickets.
• OUTLET Programme Presents: Maria Chavez + Bob Bucko, Jr. at ROZZ-TOX. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Buy tickets in advance here or at the door (cash only, slight fee increase). Maria Chávez is best known as an abstract turntablist, sound artist and DJ who was born in Lima, Peru and is based in NYC. She is the only abstract turntablist in the world who performs with a rare needle known as the RAKE Double Needle. This special device contains two needles on one head, allowing it to read two different segments of a single record at the same time. BB Jr will explore the textures of the bass clarinet using contact mics.
• Shock House Haunted House at QCCA Expo Center, 7-11 p.m. Shock House is a one of a kind, top rated dark haunted attraction.
• Terror at Skellington Manor, 7 p.m.-12 a.m. Experience “Theatre of the Macabre,” where fear and fun collide in a most exhilarating haunted manor experience.

Sunday, Oct. 13

• Rock Island Artists’ Market at Skeleton Key Art & Antiques, 12-5 p.m. Shoppers can find dozens of local artists, makers, food vendors, live music and more. Admission is free.
• Eerie Emporium at Bent River Brewing Company, 12-4 p.m. The Eerie Emporium is a new Halloween/horror-themed vendor market in Bent River Brewing’s Uncommon Room. Shoppers can find original art, vintage items, spooky stuff and Halloween-related items. They can try tarot readings, a tattoo contest, the Death Mobile, a massage therapist, wandering ghouls for photo ops, sweet treats and a taco truck. Admission is free.
• $5 Bloody Marys with Beer Sidecar at Wake Brewing, 12-8 p.m.
• $0.75 Wings and NFL football at Rooster’s Sports Bar & Grill, 12-10 p.m.
• Free tarot card readings at Spellbound, 2-5 p.m.
• “Addams Family” at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse. Dinner is at 3:45 p.m. and the show starts at 5:30 p.m. Click here for advance tickets.
• QC Haunts & History Tours at Second Avenue and 19th Street, every 30 minutes between 6-8 p.m. Free, but online RSVP required; click here to register.
• Shock House Haunted House at QCCA Expo Center, 7-10 p.m.
• Terror at Skellington Manor, 7-10 p.m.

For more information, click here .

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