Jay Leno, Rob Zombie, Dan Aykroyd hit up Las Vegas for Halloween weekend

By Melissa Arseniuk

Published Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 | 12:39 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 | 1:17 a.m.

Wow, what an action-packed Halloween weekend it was.

This weekend Las Vegas saw its share of Halloween hi-jinks, complete with zombies, vampires and, of course, sexy celebs.

Things got off to an early start on Thursday when ’80s pop star Debbie Gibson put in an appearance and gave a mini-performance at Tao. Dressed as a sexy devil, she had dinner at the main level Asian bistro before heading up to the club, where an ’80's-themed party was well underway.

Gibson performed “Shake Your Love,” and “Out of the Blue" for the retro-focused crowd, which included Twilight stars Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz, who were in town a little early for their hosting gig at Tao on Halloween night.

"Sorority Row" actress Briana Evigan also celebrated at Tao on Thursday evening, in advance of her paid appearance the following night at Lavo. Several family members joined her on Thursday -- including her brother, her mother, and her father, '80s sitcom star Greg Evigan of "My Two Dads" -- in a VIP sky box at Tao.

Meanwhile, "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Cheryl Burke had dinner with her beautiful boyfriend, Max Zagorski, at Lavo. The two shared the restaurant's ricotta meatball, lobster pizza and penne ala vodka, and washed it all down with a bottle of wine.

Also in the Lavo dining room on Thursday: "Fame” actor Walter Perez.

Dan Aykroyd got things started on Friday afternoon with a Halloween happy hour at Binion’s to promote his signature skull-shaped bottled vodka, Crystal Head.

The actor was also spotted the following day at the Four Seasons Hotel as he had lunch. On Friday night, Aykroyd joined Kingston, Ontario natives Tragically Hip onstage at House of Blues. He played harmonica on one of the encores, “Locked In The Trunk Of A Car,” and also introduced the band>

The Halloween weekend continued as Rob Zombie followed up Thursday night’s Pucifier show at the Palms with a Friday night concert of his own at the Pearl.

After his show the rocker hopped off the stage and into a stretched Hummer, then headed to Graceland Chapel where he and his wife renewed their wedding vows.

Meanwhile, back at the Palms, professional wrester “Nature Boy” Ric Flair dined at the bar at N9NE Steakhouse.

The resort hosted the Fangoria Trinity of Terrors film expo throughout the Halloween weekend, which saw a range of horror heavyweights cross the casino floor, including Bruce Campbell (star of the "Evil Dead" trilogy), filmmaker John Waters Jr. ("Hairspray," "A Dirty Shame"), Roger Corman (filmmaker/producer behind "Death Race 2000," and "The Wild Angels"), Corbin Bernsen (of "Dead Air," "Major League," and "LA Law" fame), George A. Romero ("Living Dead" series, as well as "Survival of the Dead" and "Creepshow"), Malcolm McDowell (the 2007 remake of "Halloween," as well as classics including "A Clockwork Orange" and "Cat People"), and William Forsythe ("The Devil's Rejects," "Masters of Horror," and the 2007 remake of "Halloween," as well).

Waters Jr. was spotted had an early dinner in the main dining room at N9NE Steakhouse on Saturday night. Arriving with three others around 6:30 p.m., he started with the house Caesar salad before digging into the organic salmon. Meanwhile, the filmmake reportedly shared sides of N9NE's so-called "skinny" fries, grilled artichokes, and creamed spinach with the others at the table.

Also on Friday night, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Taylor Dayne joined Palms showroom act Matt Goss onstage in the so-called "Gossy Room" and for a searing rendition of "Feelin’ Good.”

Also performing on Friday night was Mickey Avalon, who returned to Cherry at Red Rock Resort for the Fangbangers Ball.

And while they’re not scary, per se, the comedians on the marquee at the Mirage and Mandalay Bay were funny: Jay Leno performed his stand-up inside the Terry Fator Theatre on Friday and Saturday while Kathy Griffin took to the stage at Mandalay Bay on Friday evening.

Also at Mandalay Bay that night was Canada's famously-not-famous-outside-of-the-Great White-North rockers, The Tragically Hip. The group played House of Blues and was joined by their fellow Kingston, Ontario native, Dan Ackroyd.

The actor and vodka czar introduced the band, then joined them onstage during the encore, playing harmonica on "Locked In The Trunk Of A Car."

Throwback pop-rap sensation Vanilla Ice also performed on Friday night, and gave a special birthday concert at Studio 54 at MGM Grand. The '90s sensation, who turned 42 that night, sang his former hits, "Ice Ice Baby” and “Ninja Rap” before retiring to his VIP sky box.

Meanwhile, over at Tao, Las Vegas native and "True Blood" star Rutina Wesley had dinner with family and friends before heading up to one of the nightclub's VIP skyboxes.

Actress Briana Evigan continued her Vegas getaway on Friday with a belated birthday at Lavo. The actress turned 23 on Oct. 23.

Evigan and her guests had dinner in venue's main floor restaurant before heading upstairs to the nightclub, where the she held court and danced the night away at a VIP table in front of the DJ booth.

"Twilight" costars later joined the “Sorority Row” actress at the Palazzo: Kellan Lutz and his family spent the day at Tao beach, then joined Ashley Greene and her entourage for dinner at Lavo. The group later moved the party upstairs, where their mutual good friend, Brittany Snow, join the fun after arriving shortly after midnight.

Also at Lavo on Friday: Debbie Gibson and Dr. Rutledge Taylor, whose special diet led them to request not to be served anything with oil or sugar in it.

Also celebrating a birthday this weekend was ”90210” second generation actress AnnaLynne McCord, who, along with her sister Angel McCord, hosted her other sister, Rachel McCord’s, 21st birthday on Saturday at Tabu.

The ladies got the party started early on Saturday with an afternoon by the pool at Wet Republic, then dinner at Fiamma.

Also at MGM Grand on Saturday was “Peepshow” starlet Holly Madison, who hosted a special and super sexy Halloween party at Studio 54.

Meanwhile, two of the bloodsucking castmembers of “True Blood” marked Halloween at the Palazzo, first with a private dinner and then with a very public party, at Lavo. Costars Sam Trammell and Vegas' own Rutina Wesley hosted the first of two Veuve Cliquot Halloween parties that night, which Trammell declared "the best Halloween party in Las Vegas” before heading next door, to Tao, at around 3 a.m. to check out the competition.

The competition, as it was, was firece next door, as a raging Halloween party took over the venue.

“Twilight” costars Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz , who were dressed as a peacock and Robin from "Batman," respectively, oversaw the costume party after indulging on a massive Halloween feast in the restaurant's private dining room.

The actors' friend Brittany Snow joined them once again, this time dressed as Carmen San Diego, and the group lived it up in a VIP sky box after their meal.

Evigan was also at Tao on Saturday night, yet it was hard to tell: She was nearly unrecognizable thanks to a blond wig and gold lame outfit. The belated birthday girl continued her weekend-long party, though -- and incognito -- under the stars in one of Tao Beach' rooftop cabanas.

Earlier in the day, Greene kicked back in the VIP of the resort's recently-reborn sports book, Lagasse's Stadium, where she took in the Florida Gators Game in a luxury box and had a range of snacks delivered, including nachos, chili cheese fries, pizza, and artichoke dip.

And while her movies are better known for being sexy than spooky, Vivid's very own XXX screen queen, Nikki Jayne, hosted a Halloween party of sorts on Satuday at Planet Hollywood. The adult actress lent her considerable assets to host Vivid’s Pornstar Ball at Privé.

As the X-rated fun got underway on the mezzanine level on Saturday, Jerry Springer was just a few scandalous steps from the PH casino floor, at Hawaiian Tropic Zone, where he both hosted the so-called "Dysfunctional Halloween Bash" and judged the costume contest. (Cash prizes went go to the sexiest costume as well as the most dysfunctional duo.)

WWE legend Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake hung out at HTZ on Halloween, as well.

Also judging a costume contest this weekend was one of "The Two Coreys," Corey Haim. He hosted Saturday's spooky party (and judged the costume contest) at VooDoo lounge at the Rio.

Slipknot kept things going at The Pearl on Saturday and gave yet another hard-rocking show at the Palms.

The band headed up to Moon after the show, where they hung out in the VIP and kicked back, fully costumed, with a few rounds of Ketel One cocktails.

Lead singer Corey Taylor stayed on property and had dinner with some friends at N9NE Steakhouse the following night. The vocalist ordered a range of dishes, including calamari, New York sirloin, creamed corn, and the mac and cheese.

Meanwhile, Nicky Hilton hosted at Pure (where a handful of family members joined her, as did "Entourage" actor Rex Lee, who also partied at Lavo on Thursday) while DJ Kaskade spun at one of the socialite’s favorite places to party, at Blush at the Wynn.

Also at Blush Boutique Nightclub on Saturday night was recently-retired NHL player Jeremy Roenick, who kept a low profile and hung out with a few friends.

Meanwhile, Colorado Rockies first basemen Jason Giambi took in the scene over at the Hard Rock Hotel, inside Body English nightclub.

KC & The Sunshine Band rounded out the Halloween offerings and played out in Primm on Saturday, at the Star of the Desert Arena.

Rutina Wesley wrapped up her Halloween weekend by catching the season's final rays of sun at Tao Beach. She kept things low key as she recovered from Saturday night's party, sticking to Red Bull and snacking on a burger while she lounged by the pool.

Later that night, actor Wilmer Valderrama partied at Body English with former NFL star Jerome Bettis before popping by Lavo to pay his good friend, DJ Vice, an extended visit. Once at the Palazzo hot spot, the "That 70's Show" alum hopped on the mic at several points throughout the night to help keep the party going strong until he finally left at 4 a.m.

And as the Halloween weekend came to a close, fallen Playboy star Anna Nicole Smith's ex, Larry Birkhead, was spotted as he checked into his room at the Hard Rock. His daughter, Dannielynn, was with him, according to reports.

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at [email protected].