The room dedicated to serial killer Lady Bathory in the Death Becomes Us PUB (Photo by Jeff Martin courtesy of Drink Company)

By DCist contributor Lenore T. Adkins

Whether it’s bathing in the blood of virgins, making out with the devil, celebrating Day of the Dead with your kids or boozing it up with a star from the “Jersey Shore,” we’ve got you covered this Halloween and beyond.

If you’re a true crime fanatic with a hankering for cocktails …
The cocktail and world-building wizards of Drink Company are back, this time with Brightest Young Things for another edgy Halloween pop-up bar. (Meanwhile, one third of the space is reserved for Drink Company’s ongoing GWAR bar.) As part of BYT’s true crime festival, the Death Becomes Us PUB devotes three rooms and multiple cocktails to three of the most notorious murders in history. There’s a room for Elizabeth Bathory, the 16th century Hungarian noblewoman and serial killer who supposedly bathed in the blood of virgins to stay young; another room pays homage to the unsolved 1947 Black Dahlia murder, and the final room is devoted to the infamous Salem Witch Trials from the 1690s in colonial Massachusetts. The PUB team’s usual large-scale designs abound: You’ll find a bloody clawfoot bathtub in Lady Bathory’s Victorian dungeon-like lair, and go ahead and get in line to pose in the Instagrammable two-headed stockade. Cocktails include the Covered in Honey, inspired by one of Lady Bathory’s more heinous crimes, which mixes gin, fino sherry, fig honey grenadine, bitters and Perrier. Entry is free, but to visit the PUB on Halloween, grab timed entry tickets for $10: Proceeds benefit the blood cancer nonprofit DKMS. (Death Becomes Us PUB, 1843 7th St. NW, runs through Nov. 4. Open Sunday-Thursday 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Cocktails $12 to $14 each)

If you want to turn up with Vinny from Jersey Shore …
What’s Halloween without the Nightmare on M Street bar crawl in Dupont Circle? For its 20th year, Vinny Guadagnino, now starring on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, gets in on the party as host of the creepy crawl. Start at any bar along the trail, and you’ll hit as many as 16 spots, including Decades, Barcode, and Rewind. Watch out for drink specials (including $3 beers and $4 rail cocktails), costume contests, prizes, and cover-free admission. (Various locations Oct. 27, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Tickets $15-$45)

If you’re into a fright (and an open bar) at the museum …
Throw on your scariest costume and join revelers at the Newseum for a night of frights. The party includes live music, cocktails, bites from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, makeovers from GLAMSQUAD, tarot readings, curated tours of the museum, a photo booth and a costume contest. If you do dress up, leave your weapons, replicas of weapons and balloons at home. (Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Oct. 26, 8:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets $50-$60)

If you’re all about Mexican food (and drinks) …
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana from chef and humanitarian José Andres kicked off its Day of the Day Festival with a sold-out launch party Monday and is following it up with two five-course dinners. The first, on Oct. 30, pairs every dish with crafted cocktails. The second (Nov. 1) pairs a special release beer from 3 Stars Brewing Company with every course. Can’t make it to the dinners? The restaurant is serving up specialty dishes tied to the holiday through Nov. 4. (Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, 401 7th St NW. Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on their respective days. Tickets $75)

If you want to sing some gory showtunes …
Audrey II and the rest of the crew from Little Shop of Horrors are taking over the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre for a limited run. The musical, part of the center’s stripped-down Broadway Center Stage series, stars Radnor as lovesick flower shop employee Seymour; Tony Award nominee Megan Hilty as Audrey, the girl he’s in love with; and Michael James Leslie as Audrey II, the plant he names after her, and who turns out to have quite a taste for human blood. The run is nearly sold out, so we recommend buying tickets and memorizing the soundtrack quick. (John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW, Oct. 24-28 Tickets $89-$215)

If you want to check out a spooky circus …
Dirty Habit restaurant and bar will throw a free Halloween night circus party on its city block-sized courtyard patio. You’ll enjoy an evening of beats from DJ CYD, homemade absinthe cotton candy, and live circus entertainment, including a fire breather and a contortionist. Between acts, guests can munch on truffle fries, crispy calamari, and fried chicken wings. (Dirty Habit, 555 8th St NW, Oct. 27, 8 p.m.-11 p.m., free entry)

(Photo by ted eytan)

If you want to watch a race, but only have 10 minutes …
Not exactly Halloween-themed, but a Halloween tradition nonetheless: Each year on the Tuesday before the holiday, costumed drag queens will make a run for it (for about 0.1 miles) in Dupont Circle in the annual 17th Street High Heel Race. This year, the city is taking over permitting and logistics from Dave Perruzza, now owner of Pitchers in Adams Morgan. Come to watch it happen, and celebrate at a pre-race happy hour. (17th Street between R and P streets, Oct. 30, pre-race happy hour atLevel One/ Cobalt 5 p.m., parade 7 p.m., race 9 p.m., FREE with registration)

If want to practice your corpse pose …
DJ Thunder Bunny spins for a funky hip-hop Halloween yoga class at the Crystal City Sports Pub that’ll get you into plenty of twisted postures in no time. Erin Sonn, owner of Eat.Yoga.Drink is teaching the costume-optional class, where prizes will be awarded for the most creative designs. Your ticket includes yoga and a Halloween cocktail following class. (Crystal City Sport Pub, 529 23rd Street South, Arlington, Oct.. 30, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Tickets $25- $30. Bring your own mat.)

If you want to bring the kids …
The Petworth Arts Collaborative is throwing a Día de los Muertos celebration all around the neighborhood on two weekends. The Oct. 27 installment offers altar making workshops at Walls of Books. The day ends with a screening of Coco at Powell Elementary School starting at 6 p.m. Celebrate Nov. 2 with a student art show from students at Bruce Monroe Elementary at Park View, skull-like face painting and a flower crown workshop at Qualia Coffee. The main event is the grand street procession starting at 6 p.m. from Walls of Books that treks north along Georgia Avenue with live performances from Mariachi El Rey and ends with a Ballet Folklorico show from the Cultural Dance Center. (Various locations in Petworth, Oct 27 and Nov. 2, free entry, register here)

If you’re dying to know what’s in the cards …
Come for the spiritual tarot readings, stay for the cocktails and classic horror flicks. At its Halloween bash, Slash Run in Petworth is hosting 15-minute individual readings starting at 8 p.m., before rolling out Dracula, Frankenstein, Hack-O-Lantern and other scary movies from back in the day. (Slash Run, 201 Upshur St NW, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation for readings, food and drinks a la carte)

From left, the El Alebrije, the La Llorona, and the El Beso del Diablo from Buena Vida (Photo courtesy of Buena Vida)

If you’ve ever been curious about Satan’s kisses …
New Mexican restaurant Buena Vida in Silver Spring is getting in on the Día de los Muertos celebration with three specialty cocktails it launched to coincide with the Mexican holiday, including one that channels the devil. El Beso del Diablo (devil’s kiss) is concocted from tequila blanco, agave syrup, lime and sour mix, then garnished with spicy peppers. The El Alebrije, made with mezcal, tequila, Amaro, blackberries, and grapefruit cordial, comes in a skull glass, and the La Llorona is a potion of tequila, hibiscus syrup and lime juice.
(Buena Vida, 8407 Ramsey Ave., Silver Spring. Cocktails available Oct. 29-Nov. 2, $9 each)

If you’re not ready to give up on rooftop season …
The Watergate Hotel is hosting its annual Halloween costume party at Top of the Gate, the rooftop bar that offers sweeping views. Revelers in costume get a complimentary glass of champagne. (Watergate Hotel, 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, 8 p.m.-11 p.m., $20, table/lounge reservations available with $50 minimum per person)

If you like scary movies …
Suns Cinema, the small, arthouse movie theater that makes you feel like you’re sitting in your weird uncle’s living room, has devoted the entire month of October to scary movies. Sadly, “The Shining” has already sold out, but tickets are still available for “Eraserhead,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2,” “I Saw the Devil,” “Possession,” and others. As always, like the owners say, drinks are available at every screening. You’re welcome. (Suns Cinema, 3107 Mt. Pleasant Blvd. NW. Tickets $5-$10)

If nerding out is your thing …
Put your random spooky knowledge to the test at the Halloween-themed trivia at T.J. Stone’s Grill House & Tap Room. Top scorers will win prizes. (T.J. Stone’s, 608 Montgomery Street, Old Town, Alexandria, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. FREE with registration)

If you’re a teenager looking for a place to celebrate …
The Alexandria Health Department is throwing a free Halloween boo bash for all teens that promises a safe, supportive environment for LGBTQ youth, with a DJ, dancing, and music. Free HIV/STI testing is available. (Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Oct. 27, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. FREE with registration)

If you’re into scavenger hunts, history, and spirits …
The Heurich House Museum invites you to commune with ghosts. At this Halloween party, Mari Rodela, president of the District of Columbia Brewers Guild, will wander the grounds in character as Mrs. Warneke, a D.C. medium popular in the early 20th century. Guests will go on a scavenger hunt through the house in search of messages from the spirits that Warneke met in the past. Costumes are encouraged; period costumes are even better. Drinks will be available for purchase. (The Heurich House Museum, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Oct. 31, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., $20)