Halloween frights:

Monday, 29 October – Wednesday, 31 October from 7.30pm – 10.30pm: Murder Mystery at the Carob Tree Food Court - Carob Tree, St Julian's; Wednesday 31 October from 6pm – 10.30pm: Halloween Fright Night - Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Kalkara; Wednesday, 31 October from 7pm – 10.30pm: Halloween Trick-or-Treat 2018 - Vault 1 Upper Floor, Pinto Wharf, Floriana

This Wednesday night, Halloween-fans can partake in some fun and games courtesy of Carob Tree Food Court in St Julian’s. Was it Colonel Mustard in the living room or Mrs Peacock in the kitchen? Oh, wrong game, but this is a murder mystery accompanied by a seven-course meal - guaranteed to sharpen your detective skills. But if you have younger ‘uns who want to enjoy a frightfest, head to Esplora for their Halloween Fright Night: themed-activities include learning how to make slime, carrying out gory dissections and Autopsy and Alchemist workshops! Watch out for the zombie apocalypse. And for some trick or treating, head to Vault 1, Pinto Wharf – just make sure you take your sweet tooth with you!

Saturday, 3 November from 9pm – 3am: Halloween Massacre 2018, 11th Anniversary - The Garage, Triq l-Imdina, Zebbug; Wednesday, 31 October from 8.30pm – 1am: Monaliza Presents Occultus - Monaliza Lounge, Valletta; Wednesday, 31 October from 5pm – 11.30pm: Halloween The Party – Charles Grech, Valletta.

For a little bit of grown-up fun, drinking holes around the island are also celebrating Halloween. The Garage in Zebbug is adopting a dark turn for their Halloween Massacre, though whether you’ll be killing it on the dancefloor will have to be seen. In the capital, Monaliza will be putting on its own show and will also be offering tarot card readings, a magic and goth shop, as well as live music, while Charles Grech will be giving a classy tone to the proceedings. Dress appropriately!

Keep a keen eye out for:

Thursday, 1 November from 7.30pm: One Sings, The Other Doesn’t - Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta; Saturday, 3 November from 10am – 6pm and Sunday, 4 November from 11am to 7pm: Malta Comic Con 2018 - MFCC Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, National Stadium, Ta' Qali; Allura, The Trail 2018 – various locations around Sliema

Agnes Varda season continues at Spazju Kreattiv this month. The French filmmaker - a towering figure in film circles, whose unique voice speaks of women and men challenging the odds – gives us One Sings, The Other Doesn’t, focusing on the women’s movement of the 1970s. For a different visual experience, head to Malta’s Comic Con in Ta’ Qali, a highly anticipated event celebrating all things comic, including books, movies, TV series, table top games, video games, and cosplay. If you like to get some air as you take in some art, Allura, the Trail might be up your street. This walking tour will take you to meet more than 50 artists in their studios in Sliema, allowing you to share in their creative processes and discover their best-kept studio secrets.

Friday, 2 November from 8.30pm: Eden Comedy Club’s 19th Stand Up Comedy Night! - Eden Cinemas, St Julian's

It’s not every day that you get a comedian of Tim Clark’s calibre gracing our shores (though there have been some stellar performances of other talents in the field of late). This Friday, the Eden Comedy Club returns with the stand-up comic prepared to lay out some of his most popular material. The show will also feature Comedy Club regular Geoff Whiting and the award-winning Nathan Caton in his Comedy Club debut. Doors open at 7:30pm.

And experience the full line-up of festivals:

From Friday, 2 November at 8pm: The Three Palaces Festival – various locations; From Thursday, 1 November: Malta Poker Festival 2018 - Portomaso Casino, St Julian's; Saturday, 3 November from 6pm: Lejl Imkebbes (Festival of Lights) – Cittadella, Gozo

Three very different types of festivals keep the fever going this week. The Three Palaces Festival, featuring renowned classical music artists performing in Malta’s Baroque palaces – San Anton Palace, Verdala Palace and the Grandmaster’s Palace - as well as the National Museum of Archaeology, retains its yearly spot on the cultural calendar. And a stellar line-up is also expected at the Festival of Lights in Citadella, Gozo - over 30,000 candles of all forms will light up the narrow streets of fortified town - while sparks may fly at the Malta Poker Festival at the Portomaso Casino – just keep an eye on the competition. 

Get moving:

Sunday, 4 November from 7am – 2pm: President's Fun Run 10th Edition – various locations

The Maltese are known for their generosity (as well as for many other things) and this weekend is the opportunity to do something which will benefit those in need. The 10th edition of the President’s Solidarity Fun Run 2018, organised in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, will see participants head off and return from various locations to help raise money for the charity. The run will depart from Rabat (Saqqajja Hill) and carry on for 11.3Km, but there are the – somewhat easier – walks which will kick off from Paola (5.35Km), the University of Malta (4.69Km) and St Venera (4.49Km). Get stretching! Tickets from here.