Best bets for the weekend

It's a momentous weekend. Depending on your age and general attitude toward life, it's exciting because Halloween is on Monday, and the vortex of spooky events climaxes this weekend in a sort of metaphysical, metabolic, paranormal parallax of supernatural surreality. For the rest of us, it's exciting because it's time to "fall back": We regain that hour of sleep we lost last spring. Yes, Sunday at 2 a.m., it's time to turn back the clock an hour as Daylight Saving Time ends for the year. (The extension passed by Congress doesn't kick in until 2007.) Look to your right for Halloween stuff, or see writer Diane Mapes' entertaining field guide to creepy things. For other ways to use that extra hour, consider this:

Let it snow, let it snow — please: If you're a skier or snowboarder still suffering from last winter's snow deprivation, consort with others of your kind this weekend at the Washington State SnowSports Expo at Seattle's Qwest Field Event Center. And practice your snow dance. The Hokey Pokey just didn't cut it last year.

Testosterone Central: If your idea of fun is smokin' cigars in your Hummer on the way to the motorcycle races, maybe you should point that big bad pile of sheet metal toward The Big Boys Show at Qwest Field Plaza. It has planes, cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, outdoor grills and other toys for boys.

Day of the Dead: Not to be missed among the flurry of Halloween is the annual Latino celebration of Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which honors departed loved ones with all sorts of festivities and interesting artwork. For details on events in Seattle and Tacoma, see "Fast Break."

Pumpkin beer?: Someone's bound to be serving it Saturday at the Washington Cask Beer Festival, offering more than 40 West Coast microbrews and touting the pleasures of cask-conditioned brews.

Vampires and compasses: Woodland Park is the location for Saturday's Vampire Orienteering event. Now, as we understand it, orienteering means you get a map and compass and test your skills at finding your way over hill, over dale and through bushes. And somehow, this outing involves dodging vampires. (Tip: Bring a map, a compass and a wooden stake.)

Jingle, jingle: Meanwhile, beware: Severe holiday overlap! Gift bazaars geared toward that certain December holiday are already here.

Coming attractions

Hansa's Birthday Bash, Nov. 5; Celebrate the fifth birthday of the first elephant born at the zoo, with music, crafts, elephant baths, cupcakes, keeper talk, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle. 206-684-4800.

Seattle Auto Show, Nov. 2-6; 2006 vehicles and display of specialty and exotic cars, Seattle. 206-381-7500.

Bellevue Arts Museum Family Day, Nov. 6; entertainment and craft activities for all ages, Bellevue. 425-519-0770.

Bainbridge Island Arts Walk, Nov. 6; art of classic village scenes and landscapes from around the world, Bainbridge Island. 206-842-7901.

Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, Nov. 10-12; vendors, educational seminars, "Make and Take" workshops, Puyallup. 253-841-5045.

Cultural Crossroads Festival, Nov. 11-13; multi-cultural celebration with music and dance performances, vendors with crafts from around the world, children's activities, Crossroads Shopping Center, Bellevue. 425-644-1111.

PNA Beer Taste, Nov. 12; sample Northwest microbrews, including the season's latest ales with pub-style food and bluegrass music, Phinney Neighborhood Center, Seattle. 206-783-2244.

Salmon Tours, Nov. 12; public tours to see large numbers of returning migrating salmon, Wallace River Hatchery, Gold Bar. 425-338-2400.