Last Minute FreakNight Prep: Everything You Need For Halloweekend

Only a few more days until we gather for yet another FreakNight, as the Halloween extravaganza makes its triumphant return to WaMu Theater!

Not only will we be reuniting in the venue we consider home for all USC events, but the usual two-day festival will actually be condensing all of our freaky madness into one, unforgettable night. What does this mean for us? Well, there is only one real way to find out.

Here are a few things to ponder in while the rave day clock ticks down.

1. Costumes

The general consensus over the years has been: bring two costumes, one for each night. This may be due to the fact that our dark, gloomy, Seattle souls are filled to the brim with Halloween spirit. Or, we stumbled upon the conclusion that our costumes were completely destroyed by the end of the first night.

FreakNight becoming a one-day event this year, allows us to put forth all of our creative energy into one, spectacular costume. To sweeten the deal even further, we’ll no longer be faced with the fear of ‘going too hard’ on the first night! Let’s not forget the sweet song of victory our wallets are chanting, either.

If you’re anything like we are, you’re probably still scrambling around to find a costume. It’s too late for online orders, the costume stores are all sold out, what’s next? Well, everyone loves a home-made costume. Get creative! Between your local thrift and fabric stores, you can easily find the supplies to throw a great costume together. A dirty, white lab coat with some creative face paint will rank you a top-tier freak in no time!

2. Where to go once the party’s over

Freaknight at the Tacoma Dome the last couple years introduced a few issues… Should we call it a night when the show ends and head back to the hotel? Do we spend way too much on an Uber back to Seattle? Is it worth it to maintain sobriety for the night in order to safely drive home for the after party?

Thankfully, none of these are issues this year for us Seattle folk. Stay in the loop! Make the most of your Halloweekend and check out our official guide to Freaknight afterparties! 

Yes, we know! Friday couldn’t come any sooner. This leads us to another topic which is always worth discussion: Harm reduction.

3. Staying safe

We strongly encourage everyone to check out The Message on the USC Event’s website a thorough read through at some point this week.

Thousands of people dancing in elaborate costumes introduces a whole new dynamic to the concept of ‘rave safe’. It’s easier to lose sight of your friends, it’s more difficult to determine whether or not someone needs help, and all of our fancy water holding devices may not fit the theme of our costume.

Here is our plan: Establish buddy systems with friends and designate meeting places before charting through the sea of people to different stages.

Accountability! Group standards for hydration can go a long way. Make sure no one in the squad is reliant on another friend for water. Everyone should come prepared to keep themselves hydrated throughout the night. Make use of the many free water refill stations! If you haven’t peed by midnight, use this as a mental trigger to reevaluate your current state of hydration. Remember, hydration is sexy!

4. Your soundtrack to get hyped

Alright, we covered all the bases. Now, time for the freak hype!  We put together a 50-track playlist of some of the best songs from this year’s lineup, including Malaa, Bear Grillz, and Benny Benassi. This lineup, although containing a few USC vets, definitely has brought in some unfamiliar faces, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store. Who is your most anticipated set this Friday?

We would love if you could leave a Halloween costume suggestion in the comments below! See you there, ya freaks!