Halloween party Otis Keeble, 3 left and Elodie Keeble, 6. Photo/George Novak
It is not just Richie and the boys getting all dark this weekend - watch out for witches, bloody zombies and even Osama Bin Laden, who are all gathering today to mark Halloween.
Local adults are under the Halloween spell this year, alongside the lolly-fuelled children door-knocking for traditional trick or treat, with some Bay costume hire businesses experiencing their busiest year ever and having to extend opening hours to cope with demand.
In Otumoetai tonight, zombie brains made of Pad Thai will be served to a playlist of Nina Simone's I Put A Spell On You, and Frank Sinatra's Witchcraft at an adult Halloween-themed dress-up party for more than 20 people.
"I have wanted to be a zombie bride for some years now, so the only solution was to throw my own party," says party host Sarah Henderson, 32, who is decorating the house with cobwebs, Jack-O-Lanterns and ghosts.
"I tried to get a fog machine but they were all booked out."
Henderson planned her Pinterest-inspired outfit weeks in advance - a black velvet bridal dress decorated in cobwebs, "It had to have a bodice and jaggedy edges."
She hand-stitched a black veil to match, and this morning has booked a makeup artist to transform her face into a white complexion with black eyes.
Henderson says one guest is coming as "a bloodied nurse" and another as a leopard.
"I didn't think that sounded very Halloweenish but she was not that keen on dressing up, so all good."
Henderson couldn't talk her partner into dressing up as the zombie groom to her bride.
"Why? Well he is my partner of 12 years and hasn't taken me down the aisle yet, not even as a zombie," she jokes. "He says he is going as a scarecrow instead."
All the other guests will be surprises, says Henderson.
"I can't wait to see. I know some will go for the full impact."
At Bay Costume Hire on Cameron Road, it is mid-afternoon and owner Kathy McCaw (yes, she is a distant rellie of Richie) still hasn't had lunch.
"It has been flat out with people coming in for Halloween outfits. I have even had to open up the shop especially for some."
McCaw is mostly hiring out adult outfits, with a 50/50 split between traditional Halloween outfits - witches, wizards and ghosts - and people veering towards the more avant garde.
"Spanish and Mexican outfits are very popular, inspired by the Day of the Dead. As are zombie-like creations. People are going for that very grey, dead look. I've had a dead bride, a grey bride, a walking dead man and a headless man."
McCaw says her clients are inspired by television - definitely The Walking Dead.
Some locals are inspired by real-life terror, with one man requesting an Osama Bin Laden outfit.
Another craze is subverting a "good" storybook or film character, such as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, "and then using makeup to make her all ghoulish. Add a scar or a bit of blood or something and Dorothy becomes a bit scary."
Bethlehem makeup artist Ellis Kingsbury agrees there is a growing trend to use makeup to transform a traditional dress-up ensemble into something worthy of Halloween.
"You can combine a 'pure' costume like Alice in Wonderland or a cheerleader, but use face paint to create blood, or scary eyes."
Kingsbury - who has always dreamed of working in the special effects industry - agrees current Halloween trends are driven by television shows such as The Walking Dead, True Blood and Once Upon A Time. She is almost fully booked on Saturday, working in conjunction with 11th Avenue costume hire business, Wear It Out.
Wear It Out's owner Melarie Schuster says it is the first time the business, which has been open for 10 years, has brought in a makeup artist and it has been her busiest Halloween ever. Schuster has also had to extend her hours to cope with demand.
"A lot of people are having parties this year as Halloween falls on a Saturday."
By midweek she had almost run out of zombie costumes but says that adding the option of makeup gave people more options.
"You can go for a fairytale costume, add torn tights, coloured contacts and creative makeup and you have something really unique."
Her most original Halloween hire this week was a customer going as a bloodied zombie Elsa from Frozen.
"Hope it doesn't scare the kids," says Schuster.
At Bay barrister, Nicole Smith's, Mount home the kids are not easily scared. Smith is throwing a birthday party today for son Otis Keeble who is turning 4. Otis and his sister Elodie, 6, have been getting in the mood since Otis was born with a favourite family DVD, Spooky Wooky. However for the birthday boy's party outfit, Batman had the edge over his favourite Spooky Wooky character Mr Pumpkin.
Superheroes are a popular choice for children's Halloween outfits says Sarah Leaning, spokesperson for The Warehouse. Leaning says that Star Wars and Minions were trending themes in the costume department, as well as princesses and angels.
Smith is catering for about 10 children, serving platters of eyeballs, skeleton biscuits and jelly with bugs. Party games include Pin the Tail on the Black Cat, and What Time is It Mr Vampire?
Smith herself will be getting into the spirit as a witch. Her tax consultant husband is more reluctant. Smith says she will twist his arm. "I will get him a zombie mask."
