FILLING YOUR DREAMS TO THE BRIM WITH FRIGHT >>>

Time to give them something fun
they'll talk about for years to come,
let's have a cheer from everyone.
It's time to party.
Making Christmas. Making Christmas.
Snakes and mice get wrapped up so nice with spider legs and pretty bows.
It's ours this time.
All together, that and this with all our tricks we're making Christmastime. - "Making Christmas" from Nightmare Before Christmas

When you think of holiday art shows, what usually comes to mind? Traditionally, if you wanted to gaze at art that contemplates anything deeper than a Norman Rockwell scene, or experience anything more visually challenging than a tinsel-hung tree, you were stuck with the artistic equivalent of a lump of coal.

Jooley Heaps, owner of Box Top Vintage in downtown Tacoma, will add a little Halloween to Christmas when she hosts "Frightmare Before Christmas" art and crafts bazaar in her store Sunday afternoon.

"It's been two years since I opened this store and I never had a grand opening party," says Heaps. "Well, Frightmare before Christmas will be my grand opening - a party with tons of vendors selling the darker side of Christmas."

Do you prefer to fill your stockings with severed feet? Picture Santa as a voyeuristic psychopath? If you prefer your eggnog with a splash of blood, then this holiday bazaar is for you.

The store will be re-arranged to house vendor tables loaded with goods from South Sound and Seattle artists and businesses. Creepy holiday decorations, Gothic art, spooky gifts, crafts, curios and hilarious stocking stuffers will fill Box Top Vintage, which sells true vintage clothing for men and women, as well as accessories and gifts.

A mini bar and Punk Rock Santa will add a little party to the bazaar. Proceeds from the bar will go toward fighting lymphoma in Pierce County.

Every Halloween, you shell out between $20 and $100 bucks on the perfect costume, only to wear it for one night. Well, why not drag that orange jumpsuit and Bernie Madoff mask out for Frightmare?

"I encourage everyone to dress up," says Heaps. "Why not drink cheesy holiday drinks and enjoy DJs Aaron Mack and Melodica dressed as a creepy elf?"

If Sunday's event doesn't send you screaming back into the arms of Santa, well, welcome to the dark side my friend. Or the weird side.

[Box Top Vintage, Sunday, Dec. 18, noon to 6 p.m., all ages, no admission fee, 907 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.304-1874]

LINK: Santa Says Blog