Halloween is extra serious business thisyear. 

Unless you've been hibernating in a cave, you KNOW it's on a FRIDAY this year. Friday is the holy grail of the days of the week for any holiday, but especially Halloween. For the 21+ crowd, it's going to be especially glorious.

So it's time to break out the costume and do it up right, South Sounders. And speaking of costumes, wanna bit of edge and a ghoulish hand up? We can tell you right now that there are going to be lots of fabulous costume contests out there, some with hard core cash prizes, so any ol' costume simply will NOT do. Here's a little down and dirty info about the 2014 trends, according to a Halloween poll conducted by Goodwill (Yes, really. They are serious business when it comes to Halloween; heck, the largest Goodwill store in the COUNTRY is in Spanaway).

Okay, so what are the most popular trends this year? Funny will get you everywhere; minimalist (simple attire; think wearing a rubber squirrel head mask with your regular street clothes); and unique/creative costumes round out the top three.

Gory or risqué costumes? Two words for 2014: played out.

Costume ready now? Then join us as we jump on the highway to hell to check out the coolest parties, shows and adult holiday activities from the south in Unholy Oly to the north in Scary Seattle and half way in Terrifying Tacoma. And for those with the kiddos in tow, don't worry. The calendar at Weeklyvolcano.com will list Halloween events for family fun.

Unholy Oly

OLYMPIA FILM SOCIETY (OFS) NIGHT OF THE LIVING TRIBUTE BANDS

Friday, Oct. 31, doors open 8 p.m.  $10 general admission, $8 OFS members.

Break out the nostalgia, creeps, goblins and ghouls, and get ready to rock to the reincarnations of Weezer, Hole, The Cult, Neil Diamond, Garbage, Hall & Oates and Bon Jovi. Enjoy the 21+ lounge for libations and sustenance. A costume contest is also in the house that night. Warning: this sucker sells out quick, so get on it, witches. 206 Fifth Ave. S.E., Olympia, 360.754.6670.

HALLOWEEN BALL THE BROTHERHOOD LOUNGE

Friday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. $5 admission

Hip-hop hooray! DJ Fir$t Lady will be spinning old-school hip-hop and other funky grooves all night! Costumes encouraged (please, of course you are wearing a costume). Five bucks gets you in the door (plus 50 percent of proceeds benefits Planned Parenthood). 119 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.352.4153.

OLY FREAKDOWN FEST 2014

Thursday, Oct. 23 to Saturday Oct. 25, $12 for full access to ALL events during the festival ($8 per day, entry fee otherwise).

Three days of LOTS of killer bands in what is noted as Olympia's loudest Halloween party! Pre-funk at the before-show party and post-funk at the 21+ after parties while your eardrums bleed. Grab a chance to win $100 in the costume contest. Locations vary; visit the Facebook page for venues and the full lineup of bands.

O'BLARNEY'S IRISH PUB: Reggae band Unified Culture in the house with a costume contest and cash prizes and drink specials. 9:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 4411 Martin Way E., Olympia

Terrifying Tacoma/Putrid Puyallup

FIFTH ELEMENT HALLOWEEN PARTY WITH DJ BRET LAW AT THE MIX

Friday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. $5 cover

The Mix is serving up its 2014 Fifth Element themed Halloween party along with some great beats (so bring your wicked dancing shoes). Staff will be dressed as your favorite Fifth Element characters. Those wearing costumes get $1 off wells and drafts (uh, hello costume motivation). 635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.4327.

TACOMA HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL

Saturday, Oct. 25, doors open at 6:30 p.m. $20

The historic Temple Theater and the Crimestoppers organization play host to a great Halloween party for a great cause. Dance to live music (including a special appearance from DJ Charlie, the Dinosaur) as well as enjoying an auction, raffle and rad costume contest. But that's not the best part; proceeds from this event will go toward making sure kids in need have warm coats for the winter. 47 St. Helens, Tacoma, 253.330.3400.

ROCKOWEEN PRESENTED BY NWCZ RADIO AND STONEGATE PIZZA AND RUM BAR

Friday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. $10 advance tickets, $14 at the door

Vincent Drambuie serves as your party and show host for this 21+ event. Enjoy adult beverages while shakin' your hips and tappin' your toes to the live rockabilly musical styling of four great bands. Don't forget your costume - there are prizes to be had, Daddy-O! 5419 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.473.2255.

HALLOWEEN BASH AT THE EQC I-5 SHOWROOM

Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 p.m., no cover 

If you are still alive after Oct. 31, you may want to consider breaking out that costume one more time. The Emerald Queen Casino (EQC) along with STAR 101.5 radio is putting on a Halloween party with some serious cash prizes and giveaways for the most creative costumes ($1,750 in prizes plus a weekend getaway - ka-ching!). Live music rounds out the night. I-5 Tacoma Showroom, EQC, 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma, 253.594.7777.

TIDES TAVERN HALLOWEEN BASH

Friday, Oct. 31, Costume judging begins at 9 p.m.

Trek across the Ghost of Galloping Gertie (a.k.a. the Narrows Bridge) and visit Gig Harbor's iconic Tides Tavern for a little seaside Halloween bash. The theme for this Halloween - it's a secret (the staff is going to be dressed as said theme and it's a surprise!). Costume contest features a $250 Tides gift certificate and a $100 Tides gift certificate, for first and second prizes, respectively. 2925 Harborview Drive., Gig Harbor, 253.858.3982

DORKY'S ARCADE HALLOWEEN 2014

Friday, Oct. 31, time TBD

Okay, truth be told, my sweet pumpkins, we weren't able to get the full scoop in time from this groovy little joint of an arcade - video game and pinball madness in downtown Tacoma. BUT, we've heard a really delicious little rumor that there may be a top prize featuring a shitload of quarters to play the new Walking Dead machines to your lil' ol' rotten heart's content. 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156. 

HELL'S GATEWAY HAUNTED HOUSE (REAL FEAR 18+)

Various dates (see calendar here) 8 p.m. to midnight before Halloween, reservation only, $25

Let's see: when a haunted house warns you in advance that this is so scary that there is a SAFE word that can be used to get out, and NOT to wear your good clothes (in fact, they tell you to plan to throw them out, IF you happen to make it out), you're probably in for one helluva damnation ride. One and a half hours of gore, frights and screams. Not for the squeamish. 2302 Faucet Ave. (near the alley), Tacoma, 206.743.5620. Read Rev. Adam McKinney's reviews of Hell's Gateway.

EL GAUCHO: Oh you fancy scary face! The fine-dining steakhouse offers live lounge piano music, drink specials, "Gaucho Bites," Glass Vodka VIP Booths ($400) and Private Gaucho Mezzanine with Deschutes Brewery ($800). 7:30 p.m. VIP, 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 2119 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $40, $50 VIP entrance

ENCORE BOUTQIUE NIGHTCLUB: DJ Pedro will spin at this fancy nightclub featuring a costume contest with big prize money. 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 1025 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, cover charge

JAZZBONES: Randy Oxford Band will provide the live soundtrack for a costume contest with cash prize. Oct. 31, 8 p.m., 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, $9.99.

MASA: The Sixth Avenue Mexican restaurant turned dance club at night hosts two Halloween parties: DJ Niros and a costume contest Oct. 30, and another costume contest and DJ Sessions upstairs and DJ Derdee downstairs Halloween night. Cash prizes for best costumes and drink specials are on the dockets. 10 p.m., Oct. 30-31, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, cover charge

NARROWS BREWING CO.: The new Coffee Cardamom Stout will be on tap, Ice Cream Social in the house, food trucks outside, a costume contest with a $100 gift card prize and more beer. Read Pappi swarner's full featur eon the party here. Dusk, Friday, Oct. 31, 9007 S. 19th St., Tacoma, no cover

STEEL CREEK AMERICAN WHISKEY COMPANY: Halloween Bash with country/rock DJs, costume contest with big cash prizes and drink specials every 30 minutes. 8:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 1114 Broadway, Tacoma, free cover before 9:30 p.m.

T&J BAR AND GRILL: Halloween party with costume contest, cash prizes and the Tim Hall Band. 9 p.m., 6008 Mt. Tacoma Dr. SW, Lakewood, $5

TWISTED KILT IRISH PUB: Halloween Harvest Party featuring DJs, drink specials, games, prizes, costume contests and giveaways. 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 109 S. Meridian, Puyallup

WAYNE'S INN: An early Halloween party featuring costume contest with cash prizes, Jello shots, Fireballs, special beer buckets. 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, 1902 E. Main, Puyallup

WINGMAN BREWERS: Comeback Sports hosts a Halloween party at Wingman featuring a dance party with DJ, costume contest with prizes, food truck outside, pumpkin beer and cider and, well, more beer. 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31, 509 ½ Puyallup Ave., Tacoma.

Scary Seattle

UNITED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS PRESENTS FREAKNIGHT

Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. 18+ and special packages available for the 21+ crowd (prices vary for tickets, visit here: freaknightfestival.com/tickets)

One word: EPIC. Considered the longest running Halloween dance and music festival in the nation. Set at the WaMu theater in Seattle, live music is punctuated by circus and sideshow acts, acrobats and weird creatures roaming about (don't worry - there are plenty of bars on site to drown your fears). The costume contest is beyond off the hook (register here). WaMu Theater, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle.

12TH ANNUAL PULSE THE ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN BASH EMP

Friday, Oct. 31, doors open at 8 p.m. General admission is $39, VIP admission is $125

The EMP Museum at the Seattle Center plays host to one fabulous Halloween party! Brand X and DJ Funkdaddy provide the beats, and the cocktails will be flowing all night long. Best overall costume scores a grand; other categories get prize money, too (they are giving more than $4K away in costume prize money). Batty! 325 5th Ave. N., Seattle, contact@halloweenseattle.com.

SEATTLE HALLOWEEN HEMPFEST TOKER'S BOWL AND MASQUERADE GALA & FACTORY LUXE

Saturday, Nov. 1, 6 p.m., free for members (membership starts at $15)

Seattle Hempfest takes over the old Rainier Brewery and has quite a night planned. Win "hemptastic" prizes in the costume and pumpkin carving contests. They will have dinner and even a chocolate fountain (uh, they better, right - hee, hee). Gotta join Seattle Hempfest to party like a pot star, though (their catchphrase, not ours). You can do that here. 3100 Airport Way S., Seattle.

THE CAN CAN PRESENTS THIS IS HALLOWEEN AT THE TRIPLE DOOR

Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., $30 advance, $35 at the door, $40 VIP

Inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, this show combines music, burlesque and cabaret goodness. Video, art, 3D effects and the rad Can Can dancers add the great extras to tell the ghoulish story. All performances noted above are for the 21+ crowd. 216 Union St., Seattle, (206) 838-4333.

THE FIRST ANNUAL INTERGALACTIC HALLOWEEN BALL

Friday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. regular admission $22, VIP admission $40 (tickets available online here)

Geek and nerd out, 21+ crowd! Sci-Fi, fantasy, comic and steampunk lovers can come out in their Halloween finest to enjoy cosmic cocktails, live music, DJ and dancing. Costume contest and prizes to be had. VIP's can go crazy in the exclusive video gaming section and snap pics in the photo booth. FRED Wildlife Refuge, 127 Boylston Ave E, Seattle, 206.588.6959.

RISQUE A SEXIER HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE

Friday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. general admission $29, VIP $65

Party in a titillating fashion with a bunch of like-minded folks at the Showbox at the Market. The Eye Candy GoGo Girls will be on the prowl. DJ's, music and a photo booth will be there to capture the moments. Even visit with a psychic - you know you've got to. Costume contest, too. (1426 1st Ave., Seattle, 206.628.3151.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN PARTY CRUISE SEATTLE LAKES CRUISES

Friday, Oct. 31, board at 8:30 p.m. $49 general admission, $44 military rate

Ready to get on Dracula's water lair for a little spooky water fun? Don your costume (there's a contest for that and a pumpkin decorating party) and come aboard. Three hours of cruising fun with drinks, food, sweet treats and great music. Maybe you'll see a real pirate. Ahoy! 2441 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, 206.223.2060.

PLATINUM SPANDEX HALLOWEEN BASH HARD ROCK CAFÉ SEATTLE

Friday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. $20 presale, $25 at the door

This Halloween party is all 80s in the most hardcore way possible. The music covers all the 80s genres in their entirety. Plus, the stage and the music are all old-school style (no auto tuners and fancy pants stuff). The real deal. 80s costumes are encouraged (duh). 116 Pike St., Seattle, 206.204.2233.

BOLLYWOOD SCREAM

Friday, Oct. 31, doors open 10 p.m., $8 in advance, more at the door

Bollywood DJ RDX spins at Acquabar, so dance the night away. Costume contest for cash prizes commences at midnight. Enjoy great eats and drinks; plus they are giving away free masks and free candy all wicked night long. 305 Bell St., Seattle, 206.409.9019.

ADULT FUNPLEX HAUNTED EDITION

Friday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m., free

Three rooms of beats and horrors at Neumos, Barboza and Moe Bar - three eclectic and iconic venues (our fave band names featured are Jack the Sipper and Bloody Mary). Featuring the 8th annual costume contest to boot. Enjoy the ghosts of all the kickass famous bands that have played on that soil. 1425 10th Ave., Seattle, 206.709.9951.