Pabst Theater Group Staff Guide: Spooky Season Picks

Spooky season is here, and the Pabst Theater Group team has plenty of recommendations to make the most of it! From Halloween events around Milwaukee to scary reads to favorite horror movies and nostalgic Halloween classics, we asked our staff to share their go to picks for the season.

Whether you're looking for your next book to keep you up at night, a local event to add to your October calendar, or the perfect movie for a night in, our team has you covered. Check out their spooky season picks below!

Amber Solheim, Booking Manager

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

I love a good spooky movie, pumpkin picking at Bower's Produce in East Troy, and apple picking at the Apple Barn!

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

The Black Lagoon pop-up at the Lost Whale! I went fort he first time last year and it was phenomenal. Great cocktails, great ambiance, & overall a great time!

What's your favorite Halloween, thriller, or horror book?

I don't have a favorite, but I am currently reading "Don't Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology." This book is a compilation of 26 short horror stories from Indigenous authors and has been a fantastic read for the season!

What’s your favorite Halloween or horror movie?

I may not be a horror film fan, but I am a nostalgic Halloween fan through and through. I will always watch Halloweentown at least once a year to get into the spirit.

Gracie Pionek, Graphic Designer

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

Make halloween crafts, watch movies, go to halloween parties!

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

Seeing spooky movies at the Oriental and Downer Theater! They do special showings of movies that are on theme :) 

What's your favorite Halloween, thriller, or horror book?

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito! Just read that a little while ago at it was so good.  Highly recommend listening to horror audiobooks because you WILL sh*t your pants.

What’s your favorite Halloween or horror movie?

Ugh all of them but I love Coraline, ParaNorman, Beetlejuice and The Craft. 

Brittany Einberger, Director of Marketing

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

If there is a Halloween-themed treat or drink in my vicinity, I'm getting it. I also strictly read horror in October.

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

I love Washington Heights trick or treating because it's at night, they shut down the streets and the neighborhood goes all out with decorating. Some streets even go in together on a theme like zombie disco (personal fav).

What's your favorite Halloween, thriller, or horror book?

Incidents Around The House by Josh Malerman is hands down the scariest book I've ever read and I read a lot of horror. It will stay with you for a long time. It's told from the perspective of a child and well...I don't want to say more and ruin it.

What’s your favorite Halloween or horror movie?

It is mandatory to watch Hocus Pocus once a year. Also, not a movie but I recommend any Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House.

Abby Dambeck, Graphic Designer

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

Go get a pumpkin coffee with my friends and go halloween decor shopping!

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

The Hill Has Eyes has always been my favorite Halloween activity!

What's your favorite Halloween, thriller, or horror book?

Misery or The Hacienda

What’s your favorite Halloween or horror movie?

Us or Smile 2

Megan Jones, Marketing Manager

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

I got married on Halloween, so probably that!

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

Any late-night movie at Downer, Oriental, Rosebud, etc, I'm all in.

What's your favorite Halloween, thriller, or horror book?

Incidents Around The House by Josh Malerman is the only book I've ever screamed while reading (cat jumped on the bed, but still).

Ben Perlstein, Production Manager

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

Putting the coronavirus mirrorball back out on the front porch and getting ready for Donatoween.

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

The annual Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Halloween spooktacular, now in our 4th year!

What's your favorite Halloween, thriller, or horror book?

My favorite Halloween thriller is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

What’s your favorite Halloween or horror movie?

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Other spooky season recommendations:

The Grateful Dead gave a dynamic 3-set performance at Radio City Music Hall on 10/31/80 that I’d highly recommend you find on YouTube. 

Emily Kurszewski, Digital Content Coordinator

What's your favorite way to celebrate spooky season?

Getting ANYTHING pumpkin flavored, getting cozy, and watching movies, or of couse making cute Halloween themed crafts with friends.

What’s your favorite Halloween activity or event in Milwaukee?

I love visiting pumpkin farms and taking cute pictures! I always make it a point to visit Buffalo Bill’s in Franklin, especially because they have a pet day and I can bring my cat along LOL!

What’s your favorite Halloween or horror movie?

I'm a huge scaredy cat, so I tend to steer clear of anything that could possibly scare me. But Hocus Pocus is always on my must watch list! Bonus points if I can find somewhere doing trivia for it! 

From Halloween classics and creepy reads to local Milwaukee traditions, our team has plenty of ways to make October a little more festive and frightening. Pick a recommendation, plan a spooky outing, and make the most of the season!

Happy Halloween from Pabst Theater Group!