The over-the-top HighBall Halloween extravaganza this year marks its 10th anniversary with a wild two-day party that takes place in the middle of High Street in downtown Columbus. What started as a single-night fashion show in 2008 has grown into a weekend that boldly celebrates the power of Columbus' signature fashion, style, diversity and energy. Produced by the Short North Alliance, HighBall Halloween takes place Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21 in the Short North Arts District. Gates open at 6 p.m. each night and the party runs until 1 a.m. Details and event tickets are available now at HighballColumbus.org.

This celebration of the fabulous side of Halloween and the fine art of masquerade is blended with high fashion and extraordinary design on a dazzling 60-foot outdoor runway down the middle of buzzy High Street. The party takes place under the iconic lighted Short North arches with glittering chandeliers strung overhead.

With its outlandish costumes and dynamic live performances, HighBall Halloween draws more than 30,000 revelers from around the globe to a block party unlike any other. This year, visitors can dig deep into their creativity to compete in a high-stakes costume contest. Acrobats perform overhead, top food trucks serve up fare that's uniquely Columbus and local breweries pour on the craft libations.

Friday is HighBall on the Rocks, featuring two stages with local bands playing mixed sets of original songs and covers performing as iconic artists. For example, The Floorwalkers perform as Bob Dylan, Damn The Witch Siren as Madonna and Liberty Deep Down as *NSYNC.

Saturday night is HighBall High Fashion, where designers will recreate the past nine winning HighBall Halloween costumes before the crowd watches 10 design teams compete in The Battelle Costume Couture Fashion Show. A high-fashion public costume contest lets the masses join the couture costume craziness.

Also on Saturday, the HighBall Halloween Night Castle VIP Party and the 10th Anniversary Ball will take place. The Night Castle VIP party includes an up-close view of the main stage and runway, White Castle catering, private bars, special cocktails and indoor restrooms. The Anniversary Ball, held inside the Convention Center's North Atrium and Short North Ballroom, also features upgraded views of the runway, Costume Couture Fashion Show and the 10th Anniversary Runway Show, along with a meet and greet with designers, silent auction and complimentary parking, food and drinks. In honor of HighBall's 10th anniversary, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is giving away 10,000 pints of ice cream.