Weekend events in Toronto are a sudden reminder that Halloween is on the way! There are a bunch of parties that might be a good testing ground for your costume. Otherwise, there are loads of non-spooky events, like the Everything To Do With Sex Show and a live Chippendales-style show for guys and gals. One of the city's best beer events also goes down at the Brick Works.

Here are my picks for weekend events in Toronto.

FOOD AND DRINK

Cask Days (Oct. 21-23, Evergreen Brickworks)
From October 21-23, make your way down to the Evergreen Brick Works for the 12th annual Cask Days festival. Cask ale is unpasteurized, unfiltered and naturally carbonated beer that is served direct from a barrel. There will be 400 varieties to try over the three days. Tickets starts at $25.

World Edible Insect Day (Oct. 22, Cookie Martinez)
Celebrate world edible insect day with the queen of cooking bugs, Cookie Martinez, at her food container at Dundas and Bathurst. Cricket brittle ($5), cricket and mealworm empanadas ($3.50) and spicy cricket Thai spoons ($3) are all on the menu.

Vegan Oktoberfest (Oct. 22, Nest)
Make sure you're hungry when you head to this fundraiser in support of the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank at Nest. DJ Gudrun will spin the dance party with endless seasonal vegan food options.

EVENTS

Festival of Authors (until Oct. 30, Harbourfront Centre)
This festival features 11 days of readings, interviews, artist talks, roundtable discussions and public book signings. This year, it welcomes 200 Canadian and international participants. The website has the full lineup.

Zombie Wrestling (Oct. 21, The Great Hall Basement)
Witness the rot n' rumble where zombies vs. humans vs. Mexican luchadores battle to the ultimate death! Expect lots of blood, moaning, flying body parts and cheering at this deadly wrestling match in the dark cavernous basement of the renovated Great Hall.

Everything to do with Sex Show (October 21-23, Enercare Centre)
The 17th Everything to do with Sex Show features panels, classes, vendors and entertainment at the Direct Energy Centre. It's a $20 day or $25 for a weekend pass.

MAC store opening with MILK (October 21-22, Queen Street Mac Store)
MAC is opening a new store at 368 Queen Street West and to help celebrate, Milk from Rupaul's Drag Race and DJ Guillaume Viau will be in store giving tips and performing throughout both days. The weekend opening celebrates the art of the lip and there are gifts to gag over once you spend $50 or something.

One Giant Night (Oct. 22, 55 Unwin)
This is a big party in a huge abandoned lot. It's in collaboration with party people Undisposable and money raised is going to support victims of Hurricane Matthew. Artist-designed shipping containers, drinks and DJs will entertain until the week hours.

MORE EVENTS

• Whole Life Expo (Oct. 21-23, Convention Centre)
• FNL ROM: Fashion (Oct. 21, ROM)
• Handsome International Men (Oct. 22, Uniun Nightclub)
• Northbound Leather Annual Fashion Show (Oct. 22, The Phoenix)

FILM

Eatable presents: Coffee and Cigarettes (Oct. 22, The Royal Cinema)
A $39 ticket gets you food, drinks, and a screening one a very cool movie. Sam James, Blackbird Baking Co. and Chocolates X Brandon Olsen are all involved. This is all brought to you by Eatable, the city's first food film festival.

MORE FILMS

• Buffer Festival (Oct. 21-23, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts)
• Macedonian Film Fest (Oct. 22, Carlton Cinema)
• Drunken Cinema presents: Night of the Demons (Oct. 22, The Steady)
• 48 Hour Film Project - Best Short Films of 2016 Screening (Oct. 23, Hot Docs Cinema)
• Hxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (Oct. 23, The Revue)

MUSIC

3rd Annual Dream Serenade (Oct. 22, Massey Hall)
The third edition of this great big Toronto music love-in features performances from Broken Social Scene, in addition to sets from Amy Millan, Barenaked Ladies, Dan Mangan, Hayden, Lou Canon,and the legendary Brooklyn-based a cappella group The Persuasions.

MORE MUSIC

• Classixx (Oct. 21, Velvet Underground)
• Donovan (Oct. 21, Danforth Music Hall)
• Vag Halen does Women, Wymyn, Wimmin (Oct. 21-22, Smiling Buddha)
• Kayo Dot, Gates, Brigitte Bardon't and HX KY (Oct. 22, Baby G)
• Yelawolf (Oct. 23, Rebel)

DANCING

Yes Yes Y'all with MikeQ (Oct. 21, Nest)
Yes Yes Y'all gets transformed into a Vogue Ball with a very special performance from New Jersey's MikeQ. Get ready to pounce the runway and give good face, participation is encouraged and dancing is pretty much mandatory.

MORE DANCE PARTIES

• The Big Sound (Oct. 21, The Great Hall)
• AX Halloween (Oct. 21, Fly 2.0)
• Willie Burns and Roberto (Oct. 22, Bambi's)
• Beam Me Up! Edition Speciale (Oct. 22, The Piston)
• Wyze Gyal (Oct. 22, WAYLA)
• Miguel (Oct. 22, Rebel)
• Fit Pumpkin Spice Sport-O-Ween! (Oct. 22, The Beaver)
• Saddle Up! (Oct. 22, Owl's Club)
• Souk Sessions: Arab techno party (Oct. 22, Luanda House)
• Electric Circus Experience (Oct. 22, Round)
• Assistance Portal (Oct. 23, Handlebar)

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section and have a great weekend!

Thanks to the UFC for sponsoring this post

Photo of Cask Days by Andrew Williamson.