click to enlarge PHOTO BY STEVE TRUESDELL

The Central West End Halloween party is always one of the best in town.

It's definitely not too early to start making plans for Halloween. Because the holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, a whole lot of fun kicks off this weekend.

Whether you’re looking for some pre-holiday chills or planning ahead to win a big costume prize, our list includes all of this year’s highlights.

click to enlarge PHOTO BY STEVE TRUESDELL

Go sexy or go silly — we won't judge.

click to enlarge PHOTO BY STEVE TRUESDELL

Various costume contests offer prizes into the thousands of dollars.

click to enlarge PHOTO BY STEVE TRUESDELL

During American Murder Song’s debut year, Terrance Zdunich and Saar Hendelman led audiences back in time to 1816, to the infamous inn that served as the hunting ground for America’s first female serial killer, pretty Lavinia Fisher. Now, inspired by 1960s television spook shows, they have imagined the one and only true retelling of the Donner Party experience via the lens of their own, fictional Twilight Zone-style show:. Come check out a historical, musical reenactment of cannibalistic proportions at The Donner Party Reunion Tour.Arika Parr’s fifth annual Costumes & Cocktails Halloween Parrty is at the Jewel Event Center (formerly Yakovelli’s in Florissant). Enjoy complimentary Remy Martin cocktails the first hour, not to mention prizes, surprises and a chance for you to create who you want to be. Proceeds help benefit the nonprofit Notes for Life Art & Technology.Boo Bash is a Halloween extravaganza. Join in the party in Strauss Park with the Cardinals Nation food truck, a bounce house, kid-friendly activities and, most importantly, trick-or-treating. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Wear your scariest costume and get ready to say “boo!”Set in the vibrant and cosmopolitan Central West End, the annual Halloween in the CWE is the can’t-miss celebration of the season. Festivities kick off with fun daytime activities for the whole family. Then, as the sun sets, the party continues with an adults-only bash and costume contest, featuring $6,000 in cash and prizes. Attendees must be at least eighteen to participate in the costume contest.Swing by the Collinsville Library on Halloween for a marathon of classic horror movies. Whether you want to drop by for one or catch the complete lineup, there will be free candy to get you through the frights. 9 a.m.:(1932), 10:30 a.m.:(1959), noon:(1941), 1:30 p.m.:(1932), 3 p.m.:(1931), 4:30 p.m.:(1932), 6:30 p.m.:(1948).St. Louis’ most terrifying haunted house returns for another Halloween season. All scanners, props, animations and FX are new this year, as is the interactive Horror Escape Room and Zombie Laser Tag (every Thursday).Celebrate the season at Six Flags.This fun-filled event, presented by the St. Peters Figure Skating Association, offers ice skating, games, prizes, candy and a costume contest. Some costume restrictions apply, including no masks or facial coverings that may restrict your vision, no costumes or accessories that drag below your feet, no inappropriate or controversial costumes that may offend other guests, and no costumes that may prohibit the movement of your arms or legs. All participants must wear skates on the ice.Planet Score Records is celebrating its second anniversary in Maplewood Oct 30. Since it coincides with Halloween, the store makes a spooky fun time of it, with free Schlafly beer and treats for kids and adults plus an array of discounts and prizes on its wheel of deals.You are the detective in two live adventures at St. Jordan Creek Winery after dark. The first adventure is a haunted mystery maze. You look for clues in the corn maze to discover which pirate kidnapped the lovely maiden Buttercup, with what weapon and on what island in a sea of corn. The second adventure is a short escape game. You enter the Pirate’s Lair to find enough evidence to bring the kidnapper to justice before your time runs out because Dead Men Tell No Tales. A stout heart, sturdy shoes, keen observation and a flashlight are required. Free parking.This is a short film screening of films perfect for Halloween as well as creepy photographic work., with costumes/cosplay encouraged. Screenings will be held in the Mini Moolah Lounge where there is comfy couch seating and bar access.Are you ready for one of the spookiest nights of the year? Mollyween is coming. Freaky drink specials, dance parties, shot girls, decorations of monstrous manifestations and a $1,000 cash costume contest., What goes bump in the night? Awesome people dancing in great costumes. No cover charge.The Tivoli Theatre’s annual Halloween screening offeatures a live shadow cast (the Samurai Electricians).3 Girls in the Dark Presents Slashed!, its third annual Halloween party. $10 gets you door prizes, one house drink ticket, costume contest, appetizers, drink specials and more. Tarot card readings are available by Eva Gehlert. Come as your favorite horror icon or dress to impress for the costume contest and dance your life away at Mad Art Gallery in Soulard.The last (and our favorite) Yappy Hour of the year is coming up. Get out your best costume for Spooky Pooches. There will be prizes for best dog costumes, tastings of dog treats, drink specials and more. Help raise funds for Soulard’s Frenchtown Dog Park Association; 20 percent of every Yappy Hour goes to them.This family-friendly celebration of Missouri’s nocturnal animals lets you behind the scenes at a professional wildlife rehabilitation facility, visit with wild costumed characters on the nature trail, have an up-close critter encounter with a reptile ambassador, and relax and chat at the campfire with the volunteers and staff of the Wildlife Rescue Center.Three Sixty’s Halloween party will include digital decorating and production, roaming performers, and other tricks and surprises. Providing the music will be DJ Steve Meier and DJ Jwin, with a $500 costume contest. VIP table packages are available.Run/walk for your favorite charity the Friday night before Halloween. Dress up with the family, zombie walk or run and enjoy the night time Halloween Dusk Run. Creep your way through the route with your Halloween attire or run with your comfy fitness clothes. Either way, be prepared for the Halloween after-party at Big Daddy’s Soulard or the Landing.Every weekend in October, come to the Boom Boom Room for a show hosted by LuLu LaToosh. Feel free to dress in costume; there will shimmying, booty shaking and high kicks too. Now all they need is you.Special Halloween costume contest with live music from The Groove and DJ Ace in the Green Room. First prize is a VIP pass to the Tin Roof good for 20 people and an overnight stay for two at the Westin downtown. Second prize is two free St. Louis Blues tickets and a $50 post-game tab at the Tin Roof.The Webster Film series screens George Romero and Stephen King’s 1982 film, which was their tribute to the EC horror comics of the 1950s. Presented by Planet Score Records and Schlafly Bottleworks. WJohnnie Brock’s Dungeon and Ballpark Village co-host this massive, magic-themed Halloween party that includes access to four restaurants and bars, video DJ entertainment, wizarding characters, specialty drinks and a costume contest with a $7,500 prize package.Halloween dance party/costume contest ($1,000 in prize money), music by DJ Mahf & DJ VTHOM, drink specials and photo booth.The RiffTrax team — Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy — rebroadcast their 2013 takedown of George Romero’s 1968 classic