Copyright 2003, The New York Post. All Rights Reserved)

CORRECTION: FOR THE RECORD: IN yesterday's Halloween special, the picture of an artist painting a mural at the Theater for the New City was captioned incorrectly. The artist pictured was the show's producer, Desiree Conston.

THE human race has come a long way since pagans dressed as monsters to hide from the spirits thought to walk the earth on All Hallow's Eve.

Then again, maybe not.

Now we dress as monsters just because we can - and because it's a great excuse to eat loads and loads of candy.

This year, Halloween falls on a Friday for the first time in ages, so the so-called adults among us have no reason not to party the night away.

If you're stuck for ideas, here are 31 frightfully fun things to do. 1. Join the parade ...

Anyone and everyone - as long as they're in costume - can join the ghouls, ghosts and freaks marching up Sixth Avenue in the largest participatory event in New York. Just show up on Sixth between Spring and Broome streets before 7:30 p.m. This is Halloween in New York.

2. ... or march with the kids

If you think the big parade is too scary for the little ones (hey, it's too scary for us when those two million freaks start to surge) the best place to take them is the Downtown Children's Parade. Assemble at the Washington Square Arch at 3 p.m.

3. Win cash!

Of all the costume competitions, the biggest and best is at Webster Hall, where a $5,000 cash prize should guarantee a parade of extraordinary and outlandish outfits. Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St., (212) 353-1600, admission $30/free before midnight.

4. Be a model guest

Heidi Klum's party is at LQ this year, but the rest of the city's most beautiful women will be at the Elite Models bash at Suede. Organizers warn there's only one way to get in: Be drop-dead gorgeous. Suede, 161 W. 23rd St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues; LQ, 511 Lexington Ave., between 47th and 48th streets, (212) 593- 7575.

5. Do you dare?

No one would tell us much about the big bash at the Maritime Hotel, but since it's being hosted by outrageous Susanne Bartsch, we predict it will be full of the night's most dramatic photo ops. Maritime Hotel, 336 W. 17th St., at Ninth Ave., (212) 242-4300; $20 at the door, 10 p.m.

6. Go to a cathedral ...

St. John the Divine hosts its annual Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of Ghouls at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. tomorrow. The event kicks off with the 1920 silent film classic "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," followed by a procession of fabulous puppets, creatures and special effects. Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, $15 adults, $8 students and seniors; call (212) 662-2133 or CityTix (212) 581-1212.

7. ... or a deconsecrated church

The former Sixth Avenue church formerly known as Limelight - now home to Avalon - makes a natural setting for a spooky Halloween party, fueled with house, hip-hop and reggae classics. Avalon, 660 Sixth Ave. at 20th Street, (212) 807-7780, $30.

8. Lose your head

The real Sleepy Hollow is just up the Hudson, a short train ride away. According to legend, the Headless Horseman returns on All Soul's Eve in spirit form to take the heads of the living. See www.hudsonvalley.org.

9. Walk the plank

The scariest woman of New York night life, Amy Sacco, is hosting a Pirates of the Pacific night at her club Lot 61 with model Karolina Kurkova. It's open to well-dressed pirates after 1 a.m. Lot 61, 550 W. 21st St., at the West Side Highway, $20 cover.

10. Tour a haunted mansion

To promote its upcoming Eddie Murphy movie, "The Haunted Mansion," Walt Disney is creating a fright palace in Grand Central Terminal. Don 3-D glasses to see the special effects, clips and props from the film. 7 a.m.-12 a.m. tomorrow and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

11. Watch scary movies

Serious horror buffs should head to the Two Boots Pioneer Theater, where one $9 ticket gets you admission to a gorefest of six films, including "Donnie Arko" and "Hellraiser," running from 7 p.m. till five in the morning. Two Boots,155 E. Third St. at Avenue A, (212) 254-7197.

12. Pick a pumpkin

Jason Strauss and Noah Tepperberg are hosting their seventh annual bash at hot spot The Park, and this year the boys have promised to out-pumpkin the whole city with 750 of the ghoulish, grinning fruits around the "smoker-friendly" venue. The Park, 118 10th Ave., between 17th and 18th streets, $20 cover.

13. Join the circus

Lotus is being transformed into a Coney Island circus arena, complete with a Bearded Lady who can escape from a straitjacket in 30 seconds flat and Eak the Tattooed Man, who allegedly "enjoys jumping on glass." Lotus, 409 W. 14th St. between Ninth and 10th avenues, (212) 243-4420, ext. 21), 10 p.m.-4 a.m., $30 in advance, $40 at the door.

14. Park it

Family-friendly events are happening in the early evening at most of the city's major parks. Check outwww.nyc.gov/parks or call 311 for info.

15. Go with the Flow

This trendy downtown nightclub is always good news on a Friday night, but this week, everyone will be in costume for the annual JoonBug bash and an open bar. The Flow, 150 Varick St., at Vandam Street, $35 at the door, $25 in advance.

16. Scare the trick-or-treaters

If you're staying in, tune into "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan" (showing on Spike TV). And when the local kids come begging for candy, get revenge for being interrupted by answering the door dressed as the bogeyman.

17. Get arty

We like the underground sound of "physical artist" Elanit Kayne's closing party for her exhibition, Soft White, at the Brecht Forum. Less cultured types will simply be turning up for the party afterward, a BYOB affair described as a "come as yourself Masquerade" - but really an excuse to talk about art with other drunk people. Brecht Forum, 122 W. 27th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, (212) 631-3627, admission $10.

18. Act like an MF

This being a family newspaper, we're not going to spell out the real name of the MF Halloween Ball. But it's plenty rude for this no- holds-barred festival of naughtiness. Roxy, 515 W. 18th St., between 10th and 11th avenues, (212) 645-5156, $20, $15 in advance.

19. Prove your metal

You may not be able to hear Metallica, Pantera and Slayer play live, but you could head to The Tribeca and catch their tribute bands - Creeping Death, Cowboys from Hell and Angel of Death. 16 Warren St., between Broadway and Church streets, (212) 766-1070 , $12 advance, $15 door.

20. Practice the pleasure principle

New York's Museum of Sex will host a Halloween party in honor of all forms of pleasure, with an array of live entertainment, including dancers, drummers, freaks and monsters. Bring your own favorite form of protection. Museum of Sex, 223 Fifth Ave. at 27th Street, $60 includes open bar.

21. Trick or treat

If you don't have kids of your own, borrow one to take to the Brooklyn Academy of Music's trick-or-treat party. It's for children, but adults won't be bored by the free candy, fire eaters, costume contests and peculiar performancesin the haunted garden. BAM, Lafayette Avenue between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, Brooklyn, 4-7 p.m.

22. Try the real thing

Theater for the New City is where the whole Village Parade got started. Spooky acts will be performing on the street from 4 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., but when the doors for the main event open, you'll need a ticket for the far-out entertainment inside. Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., between Ninth and 10th Streets, (212) 254- 1109.

23. Die laughing

The Upright Citizens Brigade's Halloween comedy, "Killgore: The Musical," tells the story of "an evil spirit risen from hell." The show's well worth a trip if you think New Yorkers are taking the whole thing a little bit ... seriously. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 307 W. 26th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, (212) 366-9176.

24. Save your soul

Head way uptown for the African Masquerade Ball, a riot of color and Caribbean music. Dress for a carnival. The Little Theatre, 180 W. 135th St., between Lenox Avenue and Seventh Avenue, (866) 312- 9910, $5 in advance, $10 door, $15 with no costume.

25. Express yourself

Get into your pointy bra at the third annual Halloween Night Madonnathon, a bizarre homage to the often alarmingly dressed Material Girl. Pyramid, 101 Avenue A between Sixth and Seventh Streets, (212) 462-9077, $8.

26. Watch a witch

Staten Island becomes the center of New York's Wiccan community with prayers, ritual blessings and magic as the group celebrates Samhain, the start of the pagan year. Olde Bermuda Inn, 2512 Arthur Kill Rd., (718) 816-1234, tickets $80.

27. Haunt Houdini

Before his death on Halloween 1926, the famous escapologist, it has been said, left behind a code so friends could contact him on future Halloween nights at his grave in Machpelah Cemetery. The cemetery will be closed this year, but his fans will be inspecting the site for any ghostly disturbances. Machpelah Cemetery, 82-30 Cypress Hills St., Queens.

28. Face your death

Catch the last day of Brooklyn's Dabora Gallery's mortality- fixated exhibition, "Mortis Dabora: Tall Tales of Death 2," where an on-site violinist will lend to a grim atmosphere. Dabora Gallery, 1080 Manhattan Ave., between Dupont and Eagle streets, (718) 609- 9629.

29. Dress your pet

Don't leave your best friend at home, bring your primped pup to the Downtown Doghouse for canine-centric frolics. There's bobbing for hot dogs and the requisite costume contest for Fido. Downtown Doghouse, 259 W. 18th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues, (212) 924-5300, 4 p.m.-9 p.m., admission free, but a pet reading (whatever that is) costs $15.

30. Call your dentist

You need to get a checkup anyway - and after all that candy tomorrow, you're gonna need to even more. Call (800) DENTIST if you don't have one of your own.

31. And if you really want to just ignore the whole thing ...

See the original Wailers' band at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill tomorrow and Saturday. Apparently, these guys are so chill, they didn't even realize it was Halloween this weekend. B.B. King, 237 W. 42nd St., (212) 997-4555, $20 in advance, $25 door.