🎃 Your insider’s guide to October in Madison

🫶 Area volunteers Join Hurricane Relief Efforts

• Three American Red Cross volunteers from Wisconsin headed south Sunday afternoon to assist people affected by Hurricane Helene. Over 100 people died across six states as a result of the storm, and hundreds of roads are closed, especially in the Carolinas.
• Verona native Bonnie Tiedt is being deployed to North Carolina to help with the relief efforts there, while Louise and Kevin Johnson from Stevens Point are headed to Tennessee.
• You can donate here to the American Red Cross’ efforts to help people impacted by the hurricane. [WMTV, American Red Cross]

🗳️ Trump Will Campaign in Waunakee Today

• Fresh off a weekend rally in Prairie du Chien, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign announced that the former president will be campaigning in Waunakee on Tuesday.
• Trump will appear at Dane Manufacturing at 1 p.m., where he is expected to talk about the economy and agriculture. He is planning another campaign stop at Discovery World in Milwaukee later Tuesday as well. [WMTV]

🍴Dubai Restaurant, Brothers Three Close Down

• Dubai Restaurant on State Street closed last week after six years in business. The Mediterranean restaurant, which offers cuisine from countries like Syria and Lebanon was vandalized and defaced with anti-Islamist graffiti last December.
• Brothers Three Bar & Grill on Fair Oaks Ave. also closed down on Sunday, although owner Matthew Stebbins said on Facebook that the shutdown is temporary. He is hoping to make “positive changes” to the restaurant and reopen later this year. [InBusiness, Cap Times]

Boo! Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Actually, I did, since we’ve officially entered the “spooky season” of October! That means a “frightening” number of fall events and activities in and around Madison. This October Guide should help you get started on what there is to see and do.

Aw, Freak Out!

Freakfest, the sometimes organized (and sometimes VERY disorganized) event that used to take place on State Street, is just a memory. But there’s plenty more spooky stuff to do in town leading up to Halloween.

But there are still plenty of ways to get into the spirit besides visiting Spirit Halloween. For families, Downtown Madison will host Family Halloween on State Street and all around the Capitol Square on Oct. 30. Trick or treat and local business in the afternoon, take a hayride around the square, and stay for a screening of “Hotel Transylvania” at the top of State Street.

Henry Vilas Zoo will host “Boo at the Zoo 2024” Oct. 17 to Oct. 20. Kids can dress up and trick-or-treat, take part in pumpkin-carving contests and other activities, and see all their favorite animals at night.

If you’re looking to rock out in your costume, go see the “Armchair Boograss Ball” at the Majestic Theatre, on Oct. 25, or “Emo Halloween” at the Majestic at Oct. 26. Also on Oct. 26 is the annual “Freakin’ Halloweekend” show at the High Noon Saloon, a tradition where local musicians dress up as their favorite bands like ELO and Metallica and play tribute sets.

Horror movies are bigger than ever, and all the big theaters around town like Flix Brewhouse and Marcus Point are playing classic chillers all month long. The Bartell Theatre is getting into the act with its own new film series, including “Hocus Pocus” and the director’s cut of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” on Oct. 26.

Read and Learn!

The Wisconsin Book Festival returns Oct. 17 to Oct. 20, a free four-day festival that brings authors to town, including Rachel Kushner, Neal Stephenson and Jeff Kinney for a celebration of reading.

Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Science Festival takes place from Oct. 14 to 20 with events in Madison and all over Wisconsin. The week is full of fun hands-on demonstrations and lectures to satisfy your curiosity in all sorts of areas, from botany to astronomy to the science of bowling.

Meet Stella! This 14-year-old pup is a gentle senior dog looking for a quiet home to spend her golden years. While she is shy about new people and new places, she warms up quickly. She doesn’t need much attention, and just likes being near her humans. She enjoys gentle pets, trots happily on walks, and sleeps in her dog bed when left at home alone. She’s very chill and sleeps much of the day. She seems to be hard of hearing, but her foster says she responds well to hand signals.