THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27
COMEDY On this weekend’s lineup for the fifth incarnation of the Bentzen Ball are raunchy cabaret performer Bridget Everett, “Weird Al” Yankovic doing live commentary on his 1989 schlock classic UHF, and plenty more standup. Festival curator Tig Notaro—whose busy 2015 included two documentaries, an HBO special, and booking a series on Amazon—anchors the Ball again, but don’t miss emerging stars such as Northern Virginia native Aparna Nancherla, who has written for Late Night With Seth Meyers. $10 to $100.
DISCUSSION Justice Stephen Breyer, a man known for his rigorous, pragmatic interpretation of the constitution, is in discussion with NPR’s Nina Totenberg in the George Washington University Lisner Auditorium. Justice Breyer, who has helped decide many of the court’s recent civil rights wins, will talk about all the ways his life has changed since becoming a Supreme Court justice, what it was like before, and why he considers the constitution a “Living Document.” $40, 7 PM
FILM Suns Cinema is showing Swedish horror film—and arguably one of the best vampire films in the past decade—Let the Right One In just in time for Halloween weekend. In it, a bullied 12-year-old boy befriends a mysterious girl who moves into his neighborhood—right as a rash of bloody murders descends on their suburb. $5, 8 PM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
MUSEUMS It’s worth playing hooky from work to check out the Food History Roundtables, part of the Smithsonian’s Food History Weekend at the National Museum of American History. All day, attendees can hear some of the most highly regarded voices in the food industry talk about everything from labor practices for farm workers to who decides which foods are deemed “healthy.” And be sure to check out the rest of the events the Smithsonian is holding throughout the weekend, including The Smithsonian Food History Festival. Free, 9:30 AM
FILM The Heurich House Museum presents German filmmaker Fritz Lang’s acclaimed, hair-raising thriller, M, which follows the hunt to catch a child murderer terrorizing Berlin. Afterwards, enjoy a spooky tour of the Brewmaster’s Castle. $20, 6 PM
HALLOWEEN The Black Cat’s Halloween Circus promises to be a spectacle in all the ways: local acts Jonny Grave & the Tombstones, Aztec Sun and Color Palette will provide the music, plus burlesque performances by Danny Cavalier and Cherie Sweetbottom. $10 to $12, 8 PM
MUSIC Texas-based experimental synth quartet S U R V I V E have been making themselves known through their “transcendental” live shows as well as for assisting on the soundtracks to the indie horror film The Guest and, more recently, the Netflix smash retro-sci-fi-horror series Stranger Things. Catching their set at U Street Music Hall is the ideal way for movie nerds to kick off their Halloween weekend. $15, 7 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpHNlx0pPIU
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29
BOOKS The man who wrote The Great Gatsby is more often associated with the glitzy manors of Long Island, but F. Scott Fitzgerald had deep family roots in Rockville (where he’s buried), a fact the town celebrates with their annual event, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival. Bookworms and literati flock to see the winner of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award—this year, Garrison Keillor—and stay for workshops and panels featuring the likes of the New Yorker’s Margaret Talbot and the Washington Post’s Alexandra Petri. $35 to $60, 9 AM
FOOD & DRINK Cider definitely is definitely having a moment right now, which Drink the District is capitalizing on with its Rock the Core Cider Festival at the The Yards. Make your way through more than 30 ciders of all varieties and levels of tartness (plus beer), along with lawn games, live music and food trucks to keep your sustenance going throughout the day. $35 to $45, 1 PM
MUSIC Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe celebrates Halloween as well as the joy of collaboration at a Flashband Halloween Dance Party. There will be 10 “flashbands”—bands created just a month ago to present 15-minute musical sets—playing spooky songs for your enjoyment. $12, 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
PARADE With its quaint architecture and waterfront views, spending the day in downtown Annapolis is always a good time. But with the addition of adorable, costumed, sausage-shaped pups, it’s basically heaven on earth this afternoon. Corgis and “honorary corgis” are encouraged to make their way down Main Street for the Annapolis Corgi Club’s Corgi Howl-o-Ween Parade. Winners will be crowned for the two best-dressed dogs, but let’s face it: we’re all winners here. Free, 11 AM
DANCE There are only two more performances left of the San Francisco Ballet’s stunning reimagining of Cinderella at the Kennedy Center, with a performance full of lushly designed sets, ornate costumes, and giant, gorgeous puppets. KenCen calls this a “lavish spectacle” for a reason. $29 to $139, 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM
HALLOWEEN It’s your last night to experience Shocktober, a 19th-century Victorian mansion featuring 32 rooms of horror—including a three-minute “burial” in which the brave can experience the terror of being buried alive. $30 to $35, 7 PM
PARTY The AM dance-party connoisseurs over at Daybreaker are getting into the Halloween spirit with a Morning Masquerade Sundaybreaker at U St. Music Hall, with a member of the house group FDVM spinning groovy tunes to dance to, along with other live performers. Make the most of the experience by donning your costume. $20 to $35, 11 AM