WEEKEND PLANNER

It’s a week before Halloween. Most events and activities are creeping around the holiday, but catch the last bit of autumn colour at the Hamilton Mum Show, which started Friday.

Here are some things to do in Hamilton this weekend.

MUM SHOW

Daylight fades and Chrysanthemums are just perfect for those warm cosy moments. The display features more than 200 varieties of Chrysanthemums, and more than 100,000 blooms.

This year’s theme, 2020 Thank You Front Line Workers, is a tribute and the show is free to all visitors. The venue will require additional health and safety measures because of COVID, such as enhanced cleaning, contact tracing information being collected, one-way flow of visitors through the show with directional floor markings and no interactive displays or café. All visitors are required to complete an active health screening prior to entering the greenhouse.

Held in Hamilton’s Gage Park Greenhouse, 1000 Main St. E., parking is off Lawrence Road. The show runs daily to Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit hamilton.ca.

FLU SHOT

There’s a flu shot clinic at the Hamilton Public Library, Central Branch on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, starting Oct. 24 and continuing to Dec. 12. No appointment necessary. Print out the questionnaire and drop by the clinic. Minimum age is 16. hpl.ca

SPOOKY CONCERT

Join the Linden Project online for some spectacularly spooky songs. The Linden Project is “one singer; one piano; an intimate setting.” This weekend combo brings Hamilton a Halloween treat. “Spirits, Hags and Hexes” is an online recital broadcast on YouTube Saturday, at 8:15 p.m. Suggested donation is $20. Visit lindenproject.com with enough time to get your ticket and set up the link.

SCARY MOVIES

Jump online with the hpl.ca and stream “Dead of Night” with the public library Kanopy collection. You just need your library card number and pin for free streaming. This 1940s classic horror will knock your socks off.

Or, take a meander down to The Westdale this weekend for a scary flick. The theatre, 1014 King St. W., is showing the original “Ghostbusters” as a matinee at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $2 thanks to the Westdale BIA. And “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12. Please note that you must reserve your seat in the theatre when you purchase a ticket to ensure physical distancing. thewestdale.ca

Aside from their usual lineup, The Playhouse Cinema on Sherman Avenue North, has a few horror flicks lined up this week. “The Lost Boys,” “The Shining,” “Army of Darkness,” “Memories of Murder,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (advance tickets only) are all on the playbill. playhousecinema.ca

HAMILTON ORIGINALS

Good to note, Hamilton Originals: Live from The Westdale continue live online performances with local musicians on Mondays: Chris Chambers on Oct. 26, and Ronnie Hawkins and Gary Lucas on Nov. 2. Suggested donation is $15. thewestdale.ca PUMPKINS AFTER DARK

Pumpkins After Dark up near Milton is a 2.5-km drive-through event. Ticket range from $39 and up per vehicle. More than 150 unique, hand-carved pumpkin sculptures are on display and you can complete the tour in about 90 minutes. They have just added new time slots. pumpkinsafterdark.com

Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com