Cancer:  Día de los Muertos

October 31 to November 2

Día de los Muertos (also, Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday to honor loved ones who are no longer with us.  As October 31 is turning into November, the celebrations start at midnight with Día de los Angelitos, the following day is Día De Los Difuntos, and finally, the full Día De Los Muertos.  However, despite the somber names, this holiday is anything but dreary.  Day of the Dead is about celebrating the lives of the dear departed with grand parties and events!  Celebratory festivals take place all over Mexico (and in areas all over the world), but by far the grandest celebrations takes place in Oaxaca, Mexico.  The entire city is decorated with vibrant orange marigolds (the Flor de Muerto) and extravagant decorations.  Most celebrations take place at night — and sometimes in a cemetery — and it is said the spirits of loved ones return each night at midnight to join the festivities!

Traditional events include admiring the beautiful private altars (ofrendas) which are placed in their homes, in public gathering places, or near the tombs or on the gravestones of loved ones — so make sure to schedule some nocturnal visits to local cemeteries, but check that they welcome tourists, first!  Of course, add watching city parades like the Magna Comparsa — or the Grand Parade of singers, dancers, and musicians — to your October 31 schedule to ring in the start of the holiday. You can also catch other, smaller parades and fireworks throughout the city in the following days.  Markets and shopping stalls will be open throughout the city, selling art made in Oaxaca and throughout the rest of Mexico.

Unfortunately, the festival doesn’t have a website that lists all its events in advance.  But take heart — the best ways to experience the Day of the Dead are by a guided tour or just by exploring the historic downtown district on your own!  Day of the Dead tours are run by locals, which is a major plus for you since there’s no one who knows the city better!  Again, most don’t have websites, so you’ll want to book through a reputable agency (there are many, like National Geographic, TourRadar, or Mexico Vacation Tours) — or talk to your Airbnb host, your hotel’s concierge, or the manager at your hostel for recommendations. 

Scorpio:  Suwannee Hulaween

October 27 to October 30

We know how much you adore spooky season, Scorpio, but sometimes all the Halloween parties and events can get pretty arduous.  Sometimes, you just need to get away for a little while for some needed personal recharging, which makes Suwannee Hulaween the ideal celebration for you — it has carefully crafted smaller areas to help party-goers take a break from the bigger crowds.

The festival takes place at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida, an 800 acre campground located on the banks of the Suwannee River.  You can purchase either a three or four-day pass that include Primitive Camping passes, although you’ll need to purchase a car or RV pass separately if you need to bring them onto the grounds.  You aren’t required to camp on site to attend the festival, but we know how much you love to rejuvenate by communing with nature!

With bands like Portugal, The Man, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and The String Cheese Incident, who also host the event, this killer lineup is set to entertain you all weekend long.  You can check out the full, four-day schedule on their website —   When you’re looking for a break from the party scene, you can try more athletic adventures like canoeing, fishing, disc golf, or even the Arcade Game Room!  These double as the perfect break rooms for when you need breathing space from the crowd.  You can check out the Bat House (which holds about half a million bats), or opt for the Bird Sanctuary in the Rees Lake area while you’re exploring the spooky forest. 

The theme this year is Suwanee Horror Disco Show!  Retro 1970s color and shine with a spooky horror twist!  We already know what you’re thinking… vibing out with your closest friends on a campground surrounded by a spooky — explorable — forest for the entirety of Halloween weekend?!  “Sign me up!”

Pisces:  Shaqtoberfest

September 29 to October 31 (Select nights)

This year, Long Beach, California, will host the first-ever Shaqtoberfest!  Located right next to the beach itself, this festival takes place in the shadow of the historic Queen Mary — the most haunted ship in the world, beating the Winchester Mystery House and the Tower of London (Amityville, N.Y., “Top 10 Haunted Places,” Time Magazine, October 30, 2008)!

Ticketholders can explore six haunting attractions:  The 1920s-inspired Lost City Boardwalk, which is nestled under the gangways of the Queen Mary.  You can meander through Shaq Diesel’s Pumpkin Patch for a kid-friendly experience and sweet treats during the day — or an expansive light show paired with enthralling EDM music at night.  Or how about Pirates Cove, where you can navigate through a small fishing village overrun by pirates on the hunt for buried treasure!  You’ll discover “Captain Shaq’s Hideaway” where you can indulge in a delectable rum punch — and even fire a cannon!  For general fun, check out Midway Madness — a street carnival with all the charisma and excitement you would expect — and for the very brave, a “clown-invested fun house”!  For a tamer trek, visit the Shipwreck Graveyard where many a seafaring soul will rise, undead, from their briny graves.  If you survive, head over the Deadman’s Warf.  Giant tentacled sea creatures await you!  Children are “protected” by the local lighthouse keeper and fisherman friends — who are handing out candy to the young’uns. 

Each area is narrated with voiceovers from the legendary Shaquille O’Neil, who produced the event.  During the day, the festival is a family-friendly affair where you can trick or treat through the various attractions.  However, after 8 pm the spooky adult experience begins!  Unsavory characters stalk the streets and hide themselves in every nook and cranny they can find, just waiting for you.  Everyone is fair game for a good scare once the sun goes down, but the unpredictability is half the fun! 

As the Shaqtoberfest website warns:  “After the witching hour… all bets are off!”