Halloween week is here, and Anchorage has plenty of ways to get into the spooky spirit! From downtown trick-or-treating and costume contests to late-night dance parties, there's something for everyone.

Not feeling the Halloween vibes? We've also got live music, a new bookstore in Spenard, and a fresh EP from a local artist.

In the Roundup this week:

Here’s what’s happening around town 👇

🎃 Trick or Treat Street — 4th Ave & C St (Sat, 12–4 PM)
Downtown Anchorage is turning into a trick-or-treater's paradise! Dress up the whole family and head to 4th Avenue for an afternoon of candy stops at local businesses, a block party, costume contests, and more. There's even a pet costume contest, so bring your four-legged friends along! Free and open to everyone.

🌼 Día de Muertos at the Garden — Alaska Botanical Garden (Sat, 11 AM; Sun, 3 PM)
Celebrate Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) with two days of family-friendly activities! Explore the traditions of this meaningful Mexican holiday through colorful crafts, storytelling, a scavenger hunt, and creating a community ofrenda (altar of remembrance). Sunday's session even includes a taste of pan de muerto, a traditional sweet bread. Sign up for one or both days!

🪕 Bandits on the Run — Discovery Theatre (Fri, 7:30 PM)
Brooklyn-based trio Bandits on the Run is bringing its playful mix of indie folk, pop, and Americana to Anchorage! With three lead singers swapping instruments, rich harmonies, and everything from cello to suitcase drums, this talented group delivers a lively, theatrical performance full of unexpected musical surprises.

🧙‍♀️ Season of the Witch Halloween Party — Bear Tooth Theatrepub (Fri, 8 PM)
Grab your coven and get ready to dance! Bear Tooth and Showdown are teaming up for a Halloween dance party featuring DJ GRE and Lloyd Van Ham spinning dance floor favorites, plus tarot card readings, aura photography, specialty cocktails, and more. Costumes are highly encouraged! Ages 21+ only.

👻 Dub of the Dead ft. Hi! I'm Ghost — Koot's (Fri, 9 PM)
Get ready for a Halloween takeover at Koot's! Huycke Entertainment is bringing back Dub of the Dead with headliner Hi! I'm Ghost and a stacked lineup of local DJs. Heavy bass in the Ice Bar and a full goth dance party hosted by Terrorwave in the Russian Room. Two rooms, two vibes, one spooky night!

🗳️ Election Day Is Almost Here

Alaska's general election is next Tuesday, November 3, and early voting is already underway! More than 28,000 Alaskans have cast their ballots so far. Whether you're voting early or heading to the polls on Election Day, take a few minutes to check your polling location and make a plan to vote.

Find voting locations and election information: Alaska Division of Elections

🔦 Lighting Outages on Trails Around Anchorage
If you're hitting the trails after dark, keep an eye out! Several sections of Anchorage's trail system have lost lighting due to damaged or missing electrical wiring, including areas along Chester Creek Trail and near Russian Jack Springs Park. With daylight getting shorter, bring a headlamp or flashlight, wear something reflective, and watch for wildlife along unlit stretches.

🚢 Port of Alaska Wraps Up Construction Season
Crews are wrapping up another season of work on the $2.7 billion modernization project at the Port of Alaska, which will replace aging cargo terminals and improve earthquake resilience. Construction was slowed in part by beluga whales swimming near the work zone, but the first new cargo terminal is still on track for completion in August 2028.

📚 Betti's Bookstore — Now Open
Betti's is an independent bookstore in the heart of Spenard, specializing in children's books from board books to young adult favorites, with plenty of reads for grown-ups too. Founded by a third-generation Alaskan and her dog, Betti, the shop is all about bringing the community together through books, events, and local creatives.
📍 3956 Spenard Road
📞 (907) 644-3992
🕒 Fri–Tue • 11 AM–6 PM
📱 @betti.s_alaska
🌐 bettisalaska.com

🎶 Rosie Rush — New EP: Evelyn
Anchorage singer-songwriter Rosie Rush released her debut EP, Evelyn, on October 16! Featuring five original songs, the 15-minute collection blends warm vocals and heartfelt storytelling with a gentle, melodic sound.
🎤 Catch it Live: Thu, 7 PM at Anchorage Museum (Free)
💿 Evelyn on Spotify

💬 Know about a new business, product, or project in Anchorage? Submit it here.

Browse 50+ events over the next seven days, filter by category, and discover what’s happening around Anchorage. You’ll still find my Top Picks in the newsletter, while the full calendar is available online.

👉 View the Events Calendar

Whether you're dressing up, hitting the dance floor, or buying a book from Betti’s, I hope you find something fun to do this week!

If you enjoyed this week's Roundup, share it with a friend who's had their Halloween costume planned since July.

— Klynt
Publisher, The Anchorage Local

P.S. Have something happening in Anchorage? Send it my way.

The Anchorage Local is supported by local businesses and organizations that believe in helping people experience more of Anchorage.