Walk with the dead with the 6th annual Zombie Walk. Courtesy photo
When October and Friday the 13th converge in Corpus Christi, expect nights filled with terrifying creatures, blood-curdling screams and frightful fun in a city that loves to be scared. Even community theater gets in on the act with performances of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Events listed below are not for the weak of heart. Careful when reading — even the descriptions are enough to raise goosebumps.
Fright Night Haunted House
This 100-year-old, 13-room haunted hotel offers two all-new haunts, including a never-before-seen 4D attraction. Enter the Penitentiary of Pain or the Twisted Chaos to scare yourself silly. ’Tis the season to be afraid — very afraid.
Fright Night Haunted House is open nightly from 7 p.m. to midnight through Oct. 31 (except for Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25). The Haunted House is located at 615 Mesquite St. Visit frightnighthauntedhouse.com.
USS Lexington: Haunting on the Blue Ghost
Already haunted by a ghost sailor every day of the week, year-round, the USS Lexington serves as the largest haunted house in South Texas with two floors, 85 rooms and over 100 monsters a night. Now in its sixth year, The Haunting of the Blue Ghost donates $1 from each ticket sold to help fund research to cure prostrate and breast cancers and to the Wounded Warriors Project. Tickets cost $20 at the door. VIP tickets are $30. (Haunt is not wheelchair-accessible.)
The Haunting on the Blue Ghost is open seven days only: Oct. 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 and Oct. 31. Pick a date and join the event from 7-10:30 p.m. on the USS Lexington at 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Nightmares on Swantner Street
Enter a haunted house of horrors hosted by the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department. Admission is $3. An adult must accompany children ages 9 and younger.
Nightmares on Swantner Street is open 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 20-21 and 27-28. Carnival games included Saturday, Oct. 28. It is located in the Lindale Recreation Center, 3133 Swantner Drive in Corpus Christi.
6th annual Zombie Walk
The more gruesome the costume, the better: Clothes should be torn, dirty and covered in blood. Bonus points for bite marks, black eyes, rotting skin and other gruesome features.
Walk with the dead for only $10. Zombies ages 15 and younger walk for free with a paid adult. Features face painting (for a small fee), costume contest and prizes. The event raises money for the Child Advocacy Center in the Coastal Bend.
The Zombie Walk starts at 1 p.m. at the House of Rock, 511 Starr St. Visit texashouseofrock.com for tickets.
11th Hour Escape
The 11th Hour Escape locks you in a room with strangers where you must decipher a series of clues, puzzles and riddles to escape. Choose between three escape options: Pirate Captives, The Jungle or Cottage Chaos.
Each escape is terrifying in its own way, and you have just 60 minutes to solve the puzzles. Visitors can choose from three levels of difficulty, depending on experience and skill. But beware: Even experts only have a 10 percent chance of escape!
The 11th Hour Escape is located at 4455 South Padre Island Drive, #105 in Corpus Christi. Visit 11thhourescape.com or call (361) 429-2424 for more information.
Aurora Theater ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’
In what has become a Corpus Christi Halloween tradition, the Aurora Theatre tells the tale of mad scientist Frank N. Furter’s strange castle and insane laboratory. “The Rocky Horror Show” opens Sept. 29 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays until Oct. 31.
The Aurora Theatre is located at 5635 Everhart Road in Corpus Christi. For tickets and more information, visit auroraartstheatre.com or call (361) 851-9700.
Harbor Playhouse ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’
The killer comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” shows the funny side of homicide at the Harbor Playhouse on Sept. 29 with performances on weekends through Oct. 22.
Harbor Playhouse is located at 1802 N. Chaparral, Building 2 in Corpus Christi. For tickets and information, call (361) 888-7469 (SHOW) or visit harborplayhouse.com.
