Fresno Famous

Call me un-spirited, but I haven’t had a really great Halloween since the year I saw the Cramps at the Fillmore and Lux Interior swung from the rafters and cut himself with a broken wine bottle.

Still, you can’t escape the appeal of a whole day when it’s OK, encouraged even, to be weird. Tricks AND treats, please.

So, here’s some ideas on how to make a festive Halloween.

Make your own costume

Sure, you can spend a load of money and buy a totally kick-ass costume — the Halo Master Chief Collector’s Costume, at $630, is a nerd’s dream come true — but where’s the fun in that? After all, Halloween is all about getting those creative juices flowing (a slutty pirate, anyone?).

Here’s a couple of quick ideas from www.costumeideazone.com.

Chia Pet: Wrap yourself in duct tape, sticky part facing out, and roll around on the lawn. It gets points for simplicity, though it might not be temperature appropriate and taking it off is going to hurt.

Ceiling Fan: Write “go ceilings” on the front of a white T-shirt. Then go out and cheer. Pompoms and big foam finger are optional. It’s dumb, yes, but it’s also Halloween and if you don’t have a costume idea by now, you can’t be choosy.

Or, you can always grab a John McCain mask and go as Skeletor (that was a cheap shot. And so close to the election, too).

For more tips visits: www.fresnofamous.com/homemade_horror

Drink up

We’ve always believed there is a beer for every occasion. Halloween is no exception. Here’s the deal: Pumpkins look great all carved and lit up. But they also can make beer — sweet, spiced, delicious beer. Take a trip to BevMo (or Whole Foods Market), grab a six pack (or two) and enjoy.

Stay home

Aside from having to deal with all the little kids knock-knocking at the door, spending All Hallow’s Eve at home isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Call it an early night and curl up for a little horror-movie marathon. We suggest the “Halloween” series, as cliche as it might be. Just be sure to stick with the Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) story arc — “Halloween”, “Halloween 2” and “Halloween: H20.”

Classics like “The Exorcist,” the original “Night of the Living Dead” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” are always good — the remakes, not so much.

Or go out

Not everyone is as cool with being a grandpa as we are. No worries. There is plenty to do if you want to go out.

Fresno Filmworks is showing “Shaun of the Dead,” at the Tower Theatre. It’s a midnight showing, which means technically, it isn’t on Halloween, but we’ll let that slide, cause the movie is a cult classic (is there any other kind of zombie flick?) that plenty of us missed on the big screen the first time around.

If you’re into real-life frights, try Haunted Fresno, at 665 Fulton St. It’s three haunted attractions in one. And, it’s downtown, so you know it’s scary (www.hauntedfresno.com).

But perhaps the most festive choice is Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show,” at the California Arts Academy. This is the classic rock and roll musical, not lip syncing to the movie, so be ready for a live six-piece rock band and some of the best singers, actors, musicians and dancers in town. Leave the rice and toilet paper at home. Get tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/44019