As we approach Halloween, the goblins and ghouls of Montreal are out and about with zombie walks, spooky burlesque and Buffy dance parties.
Let's see what's on tap:
The seventh annual Zombie Walk returns to Quartier des spectacles on Saturday. The undead begins to gather around 1pm, with $15 makeup on offer at nearby Place Desjardins. The walk heads west on de Maisonneuve at 5pm, then doubles back in time for a spate of live music, including Montreal punk band Duchess Says.
Also in the Quartier des spectacles: The Rise of the Dead on Friday night promises giant puppets, skeletons and a gothic choir and funeral march by les Petits Chanteurs du Mont Royal and musician Yann Perreau, followed by dancing led by DJ Stephane Cocke until 11pm.
Remaining at the Quarter, more family-friendly activities take hold on Sunday as a wizarding village takes over! Kids can take part in 'magic classes', with wand-making, facepainting, a pumpkin museum and an enchanted forest.
Over at the Botanical Gardnes, there's the annual Pumpkin Ball (daily, 9am to 9pm until October 31). Esmeralda the Witch is ready to show off her 800 pumpkins and squashes, and afterwards the kids can play on brand new play structures at the Little Monsters Courtyard. And the Gardens of Light also continues, with the tradiaitonal Chinese lanterns, Japanese Garden and First Nations Garden. Also running until October 31.
Over in Rosemont, costumed kids are invited to check out Promenade Masson on Saturday from noon to 3:30pm for fun activities, pumpkin pie and candy. There will also be a Halloween parade for children accompanied by parents... it leaves Pelican Park at noon. For more activities, head here.
If Halloween has you craving Scream and dark lipstick, head to Bar le Ritz in Little Italy for a Buffy '90s halloween dance party on Friday night. North Star Pinball Bar hosts a Halloween Monster Bash on Saturday, with a photobooth, costume contest and cocktails.
And in the burlesque world, the Wiggle Room promises a sexy spooky time with Cirque Macabre on Friday night, with headliner Aria Delanoche. And Saturday night, Glam Gam Productions is presenting on Hexxxed, billed as a 'wicked Halloween Bulresque Show.'
Rocky Horror! See Richard O'Brien's weirdly sexy dance drama live at MainLine Theatre - but note tickets are selling out, fast - or catch the movie at L’Imperial. You're encouraged to dress up, jeer or cheer the live re-enactors. Comedian Tranna Wintour MC's Friday, Saturday and Halloween.
In the theatre world, check out brand new made-in-Canada musical The Hockey Sweater. (It's a delightful show, bring your kids.) Across the hall, the Segal also hosts the final weekend of The Mountaintop, an eerie and powerful imagining of Martin Luther King Jr's final night on Earth. And the true amazing story of Theo Fleury's life wraps up this weekend in Playing with Fire at the Centaur.
Over at Paper Factory in Griffintown, an artist named Aurélie Pedron presents INDEEP, an experimental dance show featuring 10 young people. Pedron's performers, who are not professionally trained, have all had difficult upbringings to some extent, because of addiction, abuse or other reasons. They are blindfolded for 10 hours, moving about within the space, and you are invited to swing by and be a witness to the creation anytime between 11:30am and 9:30pm. 141 Ann Street in Griffintown. Close to Bonaventure metro and the 715 and 107 busses.
Pick up a new read at the Used Book Sale at Wyman Memorial United Church in Hudson, 513 Main Road. There is a huge selection of English books, along with some French titles. Money raised goes to myriad of charities, including Nova Hudson and Grannies Aid for Africa. Open Friday (6:30-9pm) and Saturday (9am-2pm). For more info, call Marion 514-713-4701.