BEFORE you take the kids trick-or-treating, why not treat yourself to some grown-up Halloween fun — complete with dancing zombies, scary stories, costumes and music — and help support the arts while you’re at it?

   That’s the idea behind Artworks’ first Monsters Ball, a Halloween-themed fundraiser at the organization’s facilities in Trenton Oct. 30. The festivities will include music, dancing, storytelling, art projects, a costume contest, and more.

   Michael Gumpert, Artworks’ executive director, says the event is designed to raise money during these difficult financial times in a way that fits Artworks’ personality.

   ”Everything we offer at Artworks is free to the public, except for our classes, and we realized we needed to add another funding stream to our repertoire, so to speak,” Mr. Gumpert says. “And we wanted to do something that would be appealing to the arts community. A golf outing or a black tie event, while they’re definitely worthwhile events, they didn’t quite fit our personality. So we tried to think of something that artists fit into, and Halloween was the obvious choice. It allows people to get creative and expressive, and it’s a lot of fun.”

   One of the evening’s highlights will be a performance by Thrill Trenton, a group that is part of a global event called Thrill The World. Each year, thousands of people from all over the world perform the famous dance from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. It was started a few years ago by Ine Marlekjevic, a dancer and choreographer in Toronto.

   ”The whole purpose was to unite the world in dance,” says Natalie Featherstone of Thrill Trenton. “To get people dancing, get people motivated. She put a lot of thought into what dance that would be and settled on ‘Thriller’ because it has global appeal.”

   Ms. Featherstone says Thrill Trenton’s members are far from professional dancers (just one had prior dance experience) and range in age from 15 to 66. Performing at Ellarslie Mansion, Thrill Trenton participated in Oct. 24’s worldwide event that set the record for people performing the dance simultaneously.

   When the zombies aren’t getting down, visitors will discover all sorts of frightening fun in Artworks’ galleries. The main gallery will be decorated with spooky creatures, smoke machines, black lights and strobe lighting. A DJ will be spinning records while movies like Nosferatu, Dracula and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will be screened on the gallery’s walls.

   Tunnels will lead partygoers to various rooms and activities. One classroom will feature craft making with art teachers Aylin Green and Ruthann Perry. The theme of the craft will be mad scientist’s laboratory. No matter what your artistic abilities are, Mr. Gumpert says, you’ll walk away with a scary craft.

   ”It’s an adult-oriented party but we wanted people to be able to create something while they’re there,” Mr. Gumpert says. “The teachers will lead them in some kind of scary art project, they can walk into the classroom, do it quickly, it will take five or 10 minutes, and show it to their friends.”

   Another classroom will host storytelling with Helen Wise, who will be sharing ghost stories with visitors. Food will be provided by Princeton University eating clubs, whose members are not only helping to prepare the dishes but also made a financial contribution to the Monsters Ball and assisted with the logistic of preparation and serving.

   Costumes aren’t necessary, but will add to the fun. Those who wear costumes will be eligible for prizes, including a $325 gift certificate to J. LaRue auto repair, free art classes at Artworks, gift certificates to area restaurants and tickets to a show at Passage Theatre.

   ”I think they can expect an atypical Halloween party,” Mr. Gumpert says. “If they’re thinking, ‘I don’t want to go to another typical party with skeletons that are lit up and cobwebs,’ that will be there but there’s going to be a lot of very unusual things.”

• 
  
  Artworks’ Halloween Monsters Ball will be held at Artworks, 19 Everett Alley at South Stockton Street, Trenton, Oct. 30, 8 p.m.-until the wolves howl. Admission costs $75 for food, drinks and two door prizes (costume optional), $45 for food, drinks and one door prize (costume optional), $10 for food and one drink (must wear a costume); must be 18 or older to attend; 609-394-9436; www.artworkstrenton.org