Fright Night: A Spoken Word Spectacle (Halloween Open Mic)

Dare to share… if you’re brave enough.

Join us for a chilling night of storytelling at the Hugo House where the ghosts come out and make their presence known, disembodied wailings echo from a distance, and the lights flicker just a little too long. Whether you're spinning tales of haunted houses, eerie encounters, or creatures that go bump in the night, this is your moment to grab the mic and send shivers down our spines.

📅 Date: October 29th

🕖 Time: 6-9 PM

📍 Location: Lapis Theater of the Hugo House

🎟️ Free & Open to the Public

What to Expect:

• Sharing your best ghost or paranormal stories will be encouraged!
• Reading is open to all! This is a welcoming environment for readers and guests of all skill levels and literary experience. We especially encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and other marginalized voices to take the mic!
• You don’t have to read. Guests and audience members are encouraged to attend!
• Sign-up for reading begins on-site when doors open at 6 pm and continues until the open mic begins at 7 pm.
• Sign up will be first come, first serve!
• Only one sign-up per person.
• The order for the 20 reading slots will be randomly assigned. You will be notified prior to the reading of your slot.
• 5 minute slots for 18 readers or storytellers. Be mindful of your excerpt length, and practice beforehand if you can!
• Two 10 minute slots will be set aside for two longer stories, please note that you will be sharing a 10 minute long story on the signup sheet. You will be reading after the 18 five minute readers are done.
• Original or retold scary stories welcome, or any other kind of literary craft and storytelling crafts.
• Read your scariest work—poetry, fiction, essays, memoirs, plays, music, comedy, and more. Just note what you will be reading on the signup sheet.
• Costumes encouraged (but not required)
• Warm drinks, spooky vibes, and a microphone on the stage waiting for your tale
• Arrive early to sign up to be a reader—if you dare.

Our open mic series is sustained through suggested donations from attendees. Please consider making a donation to Hugo House and the open mic program when you register. Thank you!

🎃✨ Meet the Vendors of Fright Night! ✨🎃

Join us for an unforgettable evening and check out these amazing local artists and vendors bringing the magic, mystery, and macabre to life:

• Haunted Burrow Books – Dive into chilling tales and eerie reads with their hand-picked selection of horror-themed books. Perfect for your October reads!
• Ink by Bailee – Stop by the Portrait Station where Bailee will create hauntingly beautiful portraits of YOU. Cute, creepy, or somewhere in between, you choose!
• Our wonderful Hugo House Instructor, Elise McHugh will be seated in our Salon and will be able to tell you more about her upcoming class for winter quarter, Creative Portals: Tarot and Oracle Cards for Writers. Get a glimpse into your future with our tarot card library in our Salon area. Instructional cards will be provided so you can learn how to read the cards! What do the cards have in store for you?
• One of our other Hugo House instructors, Samar Abulhassan, will be providing 10 minute tarot readings from 7-9 PM in the Salon! To sign up for a reading, you must join the waitlist. The form will be located at the front desk.
• Friday Afternoon Teas – Sip on the strange and delightful with their spooky-themed tea blends.

The House bar will be open to serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.