Seems like we’ve been talking about Halloween for weeks. Because we have. But no matter how many costumes parties or haunted houses you’ve already been to, rally yourself for Friday. It’s the real deal, and Halloween needs you. There are Halloween parties galore all over the state plus some scary silent films for folks who like to freak out quietly. And Saturday, when Halloween is just a candy-coated memory, head to Dayton for some old fashioned pumpkin smashing. This weekend also marks the start of Portland Beer Week, which runs though Nov. 7. The Maine Brewers Festival returns Saturday, too.

In the meantime, make sure you’re prepared for Friday with our last-minute Maine-centric Halloween costumes and Halloween cocktails.

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For the weekend of Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2014:

Halloween Silent Film: “The Phantom of the Opera”

7:30 p.m. Friday | Merrill Auditorium, Portland | $15. Under 12 free but must have ticket | www.foko.org

The eerie 1925 version of “Phantom of the Opera” returns to Merrill for another year. Oganist Tom Trenney will play the Kotzschmar Organ during the silent feature. And before the movie: a costume contest. Pre-concert activities start at 6 p.m., the film starts at 7:30.

More Halloween events: 17 Halloween events in Maine: Parties, haunted houses and scary movies at the drive-in

Portland Beer Week 2014

9 p.m. Friday | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | $10, $8 with costume at the door, 18-plus | portcitymusichall.com Sean Slaughter and his team will serve up dance rock of the decades with Queen, AC/DC and beyond in this genre of music. Kris Rodgers and his band will counter with the best of dance pop from Tommy Tutone to Beyonce. You can also document the evening as Tom Couture’s photo booth will be set up. And yes, Virginia, there is a costume contest with killer prizes.

Saturday-Nov 7 | Prices vary | Various locations, Portland | portlandbeerweek.org

Many of us proudly celebrate beer all year long – as we should. But here in Portland, there’s a special week dedicated to local beer (and beer from away), local brewers and the local places that make drinking beer such an enjoyable social occasion. Beer Week events include a beer scavenger hunt, IPA taste test contest, homebrew tours, tap takeovers, brew buses and maybe – just maybe – a Bill Murray sighting.

More about Portland Beer Week: 12 fun events at Portland Beer Week Nov. 1-7: home brewing competitions, beer manicures and IPA tastings

More about #BillMurraryBeerWeekME: Dear Bill Murray: Please join us for Portland Beer Week

Maine Brewers Festival

Two sessions: 1:30 to 5 p.m. or 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday | Portland Expo, Portland | $35 | mainebrewersfestival.com

Some of Maine’s best breweries will be pouring samples just for you during the Maine Brewers Festival. The ticket cost includes a fancy tasting glass (it’s real glass!) and tickets to enjoy 12, four-ounce pours of Maine craft beer. There will be food, vendors, music, and prizes.

Pumpkin Smashing Day

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday | Pumpkin Valley Farm, Dayton | Free | www.pumpkinvalleyfarm.com

Say goodbye to Halloween with an air cannon! You’re welcome to bring your own carved (and probably sagging) pumpkin to smash or just show up and get a pumpkin from the farm. There are plenty. There will be a 100-foot crane to drop pumpkins, an air cannon to shoot ’em (only whole pumpkins) and mallets, so you can go “Gallagher-stlye” on your gourd. The corn maze will be open, too.

Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn and Del McCoury Band

8 p.m. Saturday | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | $45 to $65 | porttix.com

A banjo duet Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn hit the Merrill Stage on Saturday ► Nov. 1 ◄ . Grammy Award-winning Del McCoury and his five-piece bluegrass band shares the stage.

Huey Mack

8 p.m. Sunday | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | $10 in advance, $12 day of show, 18-plus | portcitymusichall.com

Catch hip-hop artist Huey Mack as he stops in Portland on his “The Things Change” tour. Mack started writing music when he was 14-years-old. His releases include “Wish Me Luck” and “A Boy Named Hue.”

on the cheap

“The Summer in Gossensass”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Monday, 5 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Gannett Theater, Pettigrew Hall at Bates College, 305 College St., Lewiston, $6, $3 students and seniors, batestickets.com

“The Summer in Gossensass” is described as a ” meta-theatrical conjuring” of the first English language production of Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” in 1891 London. In it playwright Maria Irene Fornes has created a feminist encounter with Ibsen’s most dangerous protagonist.

Kate Flora

6:30 p.m. Thursday, South Portland Public Library, 482 Broadway, free, southportlandlibrary.com

Mainer and award-winning mystery and crime author Kate Flora will be talking about her two latest books, “And Great You Peace” and “Death Dealer.” The talk is free and Flora will stick around after to sign copies of the books, which will be available for purchase.

Spooky Flashlight Tour

6 p.m. Friday, LC Bates Museum, Route 201, Hinckley, $3, $1 for under 18, gwh.org

You’ll roam the spookily decorated museum and will discover owls and things that go bump in the night. Expect to be amazed by a vampire bat, skulls, black lights, venomous animal displays and more. Costumes encouraged and please bring your own flashlight.

Trail of Terror

6:45 – 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Raitt Homestead Farm Museum, 2077 State Road, Eliot, $8 adults, $5 for 12 and under, 3 and under free, raittfarmmuseum.org

Conjure up the nerve- if you dare- and experience a ghoulishly creepy hay ride into the woods and then walk through the Trail of Terror where a wagon will meet you on the other side. There will also be a bonfire and special kids area with games.



“Hoax Canular”

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, The Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland, $8, space538.org

Join filmmaker Dominic Gagnon for a screening of his film that conjures fears by manufacturing scares. “Hoax Canular” captures what teens do with webcams and how the line between parody and sincerity is blurred.