Thing to do in Montreal: October 3-9

With the fragrant smell of fall and changing colours in the trees comes the first whiff of Halloween. Mix a bit of outdoor fun in with a good dose of culture, before it gets too chilly…

(outdoor fun) Take the family out to The Château Ramezay for the Pick a Peck of Pumpkins free outdoor exhibition, where you can go on tours designed and tastings of all kinds of squashes every Sunday in October from 1 to 4 pm. Or pass by the Squash Kiosk at the Montreal Botanical Garden, where you can learn about over 50 varieties of squashes and gourds, and of course there’s the annual Great Pumpkin Ball, featuring more than 800 decorated pumpkins, on view daily from October 3 to 31. Meanwhile at La Ronde, the Fright Festival will give you and the kids the heebie-jeebies every weekend from October 4 with haunted houses and a zombie lounge. Not to mention the rides! For a more relaxing outdoor experience, join fellow nature lovers on October 5 on a 7-hour walking tour on Mount Royal that explores history, ecology, urban planning and architecture.

(fab food) Celebrate the last annual get-together of the city’s gourmet food trucks at the Esplanade of the Olympic Stadium for the final First Fridays event of the year, from 4 to 11 pm on October 3. You’ll find everything from duck-fat poutine to dim sum to tacos and more. Save some of your appetite for Montreal’s Pizza Week, though, the pie festival that takes over Little Italy from October 3 to 11.

(performance time) Unrelated, a personal creation by choreographer Daina Ashbee, explores Aboriginal cultural devastation, violence and self-destruction. Catch it at Montréal, arts interculturels on October 3 and 4, performed by Paige Culley and Areli Moran. Starting on October 8 at Tangente, choreographer Dominique Porte presents her latest work Hors JE, about dancer’s block. Meanwhile at Mainline Theatre, Harvest is a cornucopia of local talent featuring LGBT themed fresh produce. Catch it from October 7 to 12.

(jazz and classical) Take in some amazing alternative jazz at the OFF Jazz Festival, from October 3 to 12, where everyone from The opening-night performers Lambert/Grogg to Muted Note, Peripheral Vision and the Josh Rager Donny Kennedy Octet will keep things jazzed up throughout the week. Otherwise, on October 5 the Maison symphonique de Montréal will welcome Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and its music director, Pinchas Zukerman, who will also perform as soloist in Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3. Also on the menu are Beethoven’s Seventh and Brio by John Estacio, one of Canada’s most played composers both here and abroad.

(live music and parties) Don’t miss Buke Gase on October 3 at Bar Le Ritz PDB in Mile Ex. On October 4, you’ll have a tough choice to make between Jungle at Club Soda and Constantines at Le Belmont. October 5, take in Within Temptation at Metropolis, while the biggies come into town on October 6: Judas Priest takes over the Bell Centre with opener Steel Panther. Beach House play Théâtre Plaza St. Hubert both October 6 and 7. Also an unmissable show on October 7 is Jason Mraz Raining Jane at Place des Arts’s Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. On October 8, take in Seether at Club Soda. One of the funnest parties of the year, the Black and Blue Festival kicks off at the Palais des Congrès on October 8. Take in the first couple of nights to the sounds of some of the world’s top DJs who take the decks long the theme of Metropolis, inspired by the 1927 silent film.