COME ALIVE Free theatrical performances at the National Gallery of Australia that bring to life portraits and exhibits at the NGA and the National Portrait Gallery. See portrait.gov.au

From 4pm PARTY AT THE SHOPS The village of Hall, just north of Canberra, celebrates with live music, woodchopping, sand shovelling and other entertainment. Victoria Street, Hall.

From 4pm OPH DRINKS The courtyard at Old Parliament House opens again for Friday night drinks this weekend, with DJs, snacks and cocktails. It's an annual tradition that runs every Friday through to the end of summer. Free entry. See moadoph.gov.au

From 5pm GORGEOUS MORTAR Community art pop-up Gorgeous Mortar is winding up this weekend. Happy hour with sangria, followed by a musical act and then a special No Lights No Lycra dance party from 10pm. 40 Mort Street, Braddon. See facebook.com

7pm RETRO PARTY Raise money for the Brain Foundation and party like it's 1999 or earlier. Wear a retro get-up and enjoy live music from the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. $16-$27. See eventbrite.com.au

7pm AMBER NICHOLS The Voice star Amber Nichols performs a special concert at the Arboretum with fellow reality contestant Grace Pitts and local teenager Lucy Sugerman. $20-$75. See nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

7.30pm BURT BACHARACH The award-winning singer-songwriter performs at the National Convention Centre in Civic. $94.71-$196.66. See ticketek.com.au

8pm CITIZEN KAY Hip-hop artist and Canberra champion Citizen Kay performs at ANU Bar with support act Coda Conduct. $18 +bf. See ticketek.com.au

8pm COUNTRY MUSIC Country band Mustered Courage launch their major label debut album, White Lies & Melodies, at Transit Bar in Civic. $17.50. See moshtix.com.au

8pm MORE COUNTRY MUSIC Lee Kernaghan performs his album, Spirit of the Anzacs, at the Canberra Theatre with support acts The Wolfe Brothers and Christie Lamb. $49.90-$69.90. See canberratheatrecentre.com.au

9.30pm INDIE POP An all-girl line-up of indie pop at Smith's Alternative in Civic with Alyx Dennison, Pheno and Bonniesongs. $10 at the door. 18+

10am DIY WORKSHOPS There's a free workshop on all things kitchens – renovating, building, designing and installing – at Bunnings Warehouse Fyshwick, plus samples, giveaways and demos. 10am-2pm.

10am FERMENTATION WORKSHOP Health and wellness coach Jane McIntyre is giving a hands-on cooking demonstration on fermentation. 10am-1pm. YMCA Bush Capital Lodge. Tickets $80 from ecoaction.com.au

11am SRI LANKAN FOOD FEST Feast on a range of curries, rotis, samosas and more at the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara's Food Fair. 30 Jenke Circuit, Kambah. 11am-2.30pm. See: facebook.com

From 11am PAINT OFF Pop-up art hub Gorgeous Mortar winds up after more than a month of art events in the soon to be demolished bakery in Braddon. It is holding a final "creation flurry" in the building with an all-day painting fiesta and music. 40 Mort Street. See facebook.com

From 11am MULTICULTURAL FEST Walk Together Kite Together is a festival of music, food and kites promoting diversity and welcoming refugees to Australia. The walk starts at Commonwealth Bridge and the festival is held at Reconciliation Place. Until 4pm. See facebook.com

1pm PHAT'N'LAYZEE PICNIC As part of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre's Silver Linings program and to combat negative perceptions about the area, it will showcase many of the sporting clubs and activities that locals participate in and celebrate desserts from various cultural traditions, among other events. See: tuggeranongarts.com

3pm PRISCILLA The National Portrait Gallery will screen the classic outback drag adventure, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Free. See npg.gov.au

3pm ZOMBIE WALK The Canberra Zombie Walk. Lather yourself in blood and the like and join the shuffle, starting at Regatta Point at 3pm and heading towards Garema Place. The all-ages event is free, but bring along a gold coin donation to the Brain Foundation. Find out more at canberrazombiewalk.com

From 4pm SPOOKY HOUSE Canberra Roller Derby League is holding a fundraiser in the form of a Halloween carnival funhouse at the Hellenic Club in the city, with carnival games and prizes for best costume. Children's session from 4-6pm, adults only from 7-11pm. See: canberrarollerderbyleague.com

5pm BOOGONG The suburb of Googong is celebrating Halloween with trick or treating, a haunted graveyard, roving performers, and live music from Lavers at 7.30pm in Beltana Park. Free buses running from Queanbeyan and Woden on the night. See googong.net

7pm CAPITALS CLASH The Canberra Capitals are searching for their first win for the season. Cheer them on as they take on the Melbourne Boomers at AIS Arena. Tickets from ticketek.com.au

7.30pm DR HOOK Founding lead vocalist Dennis Locorriere of Dr Hook and his live band will perform at The Canberra Theatre. $75-$95. See canberratheatrecentre.com.au

7.30pm LADY'S MANTLE A Canberra women's choir presents A Million Nightingales, music for All Hallows' Eve at St Philip's Anglican Church in O'Connor, with choral music by Durufle, Faure, Kodaly and Vaughan Williams. Tickets $10-$15 at the door.

8pm THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE The Canberra Philharmonic Society presents Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta in the jazzed-up Essgee production at Erindale Theatre, McBryde Crescent, Wanniassa. Also 2pm. Tickets $25-$49. See philo.org.au

8pm HALLOWEEN CONTRA DANCE The Monaro Folk Society has its Halloween Contra Dance at the Canberra Baptist Church, 11 Currie Crescent, Kingston. Dress in your spooky best. Tickets $14-$18. See mfs.org.au

8pm TUKA performs at Transit Bar in Civic. The rapper, who also performs with Thundamentals, has released his third solo album. $28.60. See moshtix.com.au

9pm QUEANBEYAN BY NIGHT Journey through the back roads of Queanbeyan on the Mysterious Queanbeyan by Moonlight Halloween tour. From 9pm. See facebook.com

9.45pm BUZZING BROADWAY Classic stage songs performed by Canberra talents in the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre. Also 7.30pm. Tickets $43-$48, including refreshments, from canberratheatrecentre.com.au

10pm FRIGHT FEST Stay overnight in one of the most haunted buildings in the country. The National Film and Sound Archive's Arc Cinema is holding an all-night Halloween movie marathon, beginning with a ghost story from Tim the Yowie Man then screenings of Aussie horror flicks. Doors open at 9pm; breakfast is included at 8.45am Sunday. Tickets $25/$20. See nfsa.gov.au

10.30pm ELM STREET Relive the classic horror film Nightmare on Elm Street at a late night screening at Dendy. $10. See dendy.com.au

More spooky happenings:

– Hopscotch in Braddon is getting into the spirit with spooky cocktails, live music and prizes for best costume from 3pm. See facebook.com

– BentSpoke in Braddon will transform into Bentspook. Prizes for best dressed.

– Lucky's Speakeasy at QT Hotel has its spooky party from 7pm, with a live DJ and magic potion cocktails. See facebook.com

– Knightsbride is transforming into a haunted house for Knighty of the Living Dead, complete with ghosts, goblins and graveyards. See facebook.com

– Mooseheads is having a Halloween "Carnevil" with live illusion, performances and special effects. See facebook.com

From 6am LIFELINE RUN The Icon Water Run for Your Lifeline fun run and half marathon is on at Majura Parkway, raising money for Lifeline Canberra. See runforyourlifeline.com.au

From 9am BUNGENDORE RODEO A day of thrills and spills at the Bungendore Rodeo Equestrian Sports and Recreation Reserve. Entry $10-$20, under 12 free. See bungendorerodeo.org.au

10am HIGH TEA Have cucumber sandwiches, tea, cupcakes and sparkling wine at the Dendy premium lounge with a screening of The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet. Also on Saturday at 10am. $54.40-$64.50. See dendy.com.au

12.40pm VINTAGE TRAIN Take a 1930s train to Bungendore for the afternoon through the Molonglo Gorge. $25-$55. See canberrarailwaymuseum.org

1.30pm RECORDER CONCERT A recorder orchestra will perform a soundscape in the High Court of Australia. Free. See hcourt.gov.au

2pm STRING CONCERT The Australian String Quartet performs music by Schubert, Arriaga and Australian composer Brett Dean. Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia. $30-$65. See asq.com.au

2pm ROSIE BATTY The Australian of the Year and anti-domestic violence campaigner will be in conversation with ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson. $5-$10. See nma.gov.au

3pm A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM This presentation of Shakespeare's play about love and magic and fairies is screening as part of The Globe Series at Capitol Cinemas Manuka. Also Saturday at 3pm. Tickets $15-$23 from eventcinemas.com.au

4pm CABARET Geraldine Turner returns to The Street Theatre to perform her first cabaret work in more than 10 years in which Sondheim, Rodgers & Hart and Lloyd Webber are woven together with stories from her career. Tickets $45/$42 from thestreet.org.au

7.30pm THE WAIFS are touring to celebrate the release of their seventh LP, Beautiful You, supported by Mia Dyson. The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre. Tickets $56.50-$61.50 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Got an event? Email us at canberralife@canberratimes.com.au