DEMYSTIFYING BATS In an appropriately timed event, come learn about local bats on Saturday Oct. 31 at the UC Botanical Garden with Director of NorCal Bats, Corky Quirk. Quirk will talk about bats and discuss the harmful myths that surround these potentially cute animals. You’ll also learn the importance of bats in our environment. Live bats will be presented for viewing and discussion. Saturday Oct. 31, 10 a.m., UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, 200 Centennial Dr.. Price: $15 Adult/$10 Adult Member/$5 Youth (ages 3-17). Details on Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar.
FIND THE MUMMY If you’re looking for some pre-trick-or-treating Halloween fun, Saturday, Oct. 31 is your last chance to play Find Your Mummy in the Elmwood. Your mummy (in the creepy, bandage-wrapped ancient Egyptian sense, not the English version of mommy) is hiding in 26 local businesses. Find and get your game board stamped. Game boards to play are available at The Collector and Your Basic Bird. No purchase necessary. Find Your Mummy runs until 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
HALLOWEEN HOEDOWN Ashkenaz is getting its Halloween vibe on early this year, with a Friday night costume square dance. All-star caller and clogger Evie Ladin will be calling with the Bearcat Stringband and Robin Fischer will be calling with Darling Clementine Stringband. $13 for all ages and instructions are to wear a costume! All dances will be taught: no need to bring a partner and beginners encouraged. Friday, Oct. 30, doors open at 7:30 p.m., music at 8 p.m. Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave.
UC BERKELEY ORCHESTRA Two performances by the UC Berkeley Orchestra this weekend feature Jean Sibelius and Maurice Ravel. Conducted by David Milnes, the orchestra performs the Sibelius Fourth Symphony and Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé,” as well as Kaija Saariaho’s “Leino Songs” with soprano Ann Moss. Tickets $16 general admission, $12 non-UCB students, seniors, UCB faculty and staff, $5 UC Berkeley students, free for music majors. All seats unreserved. Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m., Hertz Concert Hall.
FAMILIA ARTE Join artists Oscar Aguilar Olea, Azalea Aguilar and Michelle Wilson for a free family day of art-making for Dia de los Muertos at the Berkeley Art Center on Sunday Nov. 1, 1-4 p.m. Delve into the Mexican traditional artform of “Repujado” where families emboss and color a design on soft metallic foil, or play with “Papel Picado,” a Mexican craft of elaborate paper-cutting. Your works will be displayed during North Berkeley’s Dia de los Muertos celebration Monday, Nov. 2, 5-9 p.m. RSVP via email to programs@berkeleyartcenter.org) as space is limited. Details at Berkeley Art Center website.
Don’t miss the food-related events coming up in the East Bay curated for you by Nosh in its weekly Bites column.
