Looking for Something to Do? Free Pasadena Events October 27 to November 2

Here are free events scheduled Saturday, Oct. 27, to Friday, Nov. 2.

All events are free, so take a look -- and don't you dare say there's nothing to do in Pasadena!

The annual pumpkin decorating extravaganza for children and families is Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon in the courtyard at One Colorado.

Hocus Pocus (1993, PG) starring Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker will be shown Saturday, Oct. 27, at Allendale Park. A boy in Salem, Mass., awakens three witches who were executed in the 17th century. Fun family activities at 5 p.m. will be followed by the film screening beginning at dusk (about 6 p.m.). Bring a blanket to sit on and a picnic. Free popcorn will be available, and the first 150 guests will receive special cupcakes to decorate and eat. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. 

Children ages 7 and older and their families are invited to create Halloween transformer costumes using their own cardboard boxes and their imaginations Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library. All materials except boxes will be provided.

The family-friendly Pumpkin Festival at Brookside Park directly in front of Kidspace Children's Museum is Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27 and 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Festival admission is free to enjoy live musical performances and stroll throughout the festival; $1 tickets will be available for several other attractions such as pony rides, games and food.

Twinkle Time will perform for young children Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Garfield Promenade on the street level at Paseo Colorado.

Teens are invited to make a creepy craft, munch on zombie snacks and watch the film Warm Bodies (2013, PG-13) starring Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library. A zombie named R rescues a female human survivor of a zombie attack, causing him to become increasingly more human himself and setting off a chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and possibly even the entire lifeless world. See the trailer here.

Pianist Makiko Hirata will perform classical works Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

The Monster Squad (1987, PG-13) starring Andre Gower and Robby Kiger will be shown Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A group of boys form The Monster Squad to stop five classic movie monsters from destroying their small town. See the trailer here. A Betty Boop cartoon will also be shown.

Children and families are invited to the Halloween Spooktacular Party Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library. Participate in a costume parade, enjoy tasty treats and more.

Halloween activities in the Playhouse District Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. will include crafts and storytelling in the courtyard adjacent to Vroman's Bookstore, crafts and games in the courtyard at the Pasadena Playhouse and treats at a number of retailers in the district (look for the orange balloons).

Halloween activities in the courtyard at One Colorado Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. will include photo portraits of children and families in costume and a screening of Coraline (2009, PG). Stroll from store to store for treats. 

The Music of Strangers will be shown Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. in Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. The documentary film shows Yo-Yo Ma's worldwide search for master musicians to form the Silk Road Ensemble, a group of music teachers, collaborators and performers. He and other musicians discuss their philosophies on music and culture. See the trailer here.

The opening reception for The Exuberant Abstractions of Vera Arutyunyan is Friday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the En Gallery at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden. The event is free for visitors who have made reservations (all others are $10 at the gate). Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Arutyunyan emigrated to the U.S. in 1991 and is renowned for her bold, abstract oil paintings.

The Dia de los Muertos Festival Friday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Villa-Parke Community Center will include ofrendas altars,  dance performances, children's activities, arts and crafts and much more. 

Admission to the Norton Simon Museum is free the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 2, enjoy the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer.

Take a self-guided tour of Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos altars created to honor and celebrate the dearly departed Friday, Nov. 2, to Sunday, Nov. 4, at businesses throughout Old Pasadena during regular business hours. There also will be community altars at three open-air locations in Old Pas throughout the weekend; a salsa party with dance lessons and calavera face painting Friday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Big Bang Theory Way; and live music by Marimba Tropical and calavera face painting Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3 and 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mercantile Place.

Photo credits: Walt Disney Pictures, Costume Works, Twinkle Time, Summit Entertainment, Makiko Hirata, Home Box Office (HBO), Playhouse District Association, Cathy Murai Photography, Tremolo Productions, Karnival Costumes, Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, Norton Simon Museum, Red Bubble