The Haunted Bell Tower Bash & Other Weekend Possibilities

The haunted carnival is in town for one night only. The fourth annual Haunted Bell Tower Bash is a mash-up of a dance, circus, and costume contest. The benefit for Social Heart is at the Arts Asylum is from 7 to 11:59 p.m. Saturday at The Arts Asylum (1000 E 9th Street). They’ll have aerial acts, palm reading, and KC Bier Co. beer. General admission tickets (five drink or carnival tickets) are $35. VIP tickets (unlimited drinks and carnival attractions) are $55.

Since you can never have enough donuts… Donutology (1009 Westport Road) — a new donut spot near Westport — is now open. They’ve got a a walk-up window, donut holes, and custom mini donuts. The coffee is from The Roasterie and pumpkin spice donuts are on the menu.

The Dia De Los Muertos celebration at the Kansas City Museum (3218 Gladstone Boulevard) is Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Paint sugar skulls and sample traditional Day of the Dead bread from Panaderia de las Americas. Picnics are encouraged and they’ll have lawn games and face painting.

Who says apple pie has to come on a plate? Double Shift Brewing (412 E 18th Street) releases Literally Can’t Even on Saturday at 12 p.m. The Belgian Strong Ale is brewed with graham crackers, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, candied ginger, and lemon peel, and evokes, well, apple pie.

It’s time to pick your pumpkin. Faulkner’s Ranch (10600 Raytown Road) has duck races, hayrides, and a goat climb. Add in pumpkins to take home, s’mores, and apple cider donuts, and you’ve got a proper fall afternoon. Admission is $9.

Perhaps you like your beers with a side of bluegrass? The Blue Grass Brew Bash is Saturday at CrossroadsKC at Grinders (417 E 18th Street) from 12 to 4 p.m. The John Brown Boys, Truckstop Honeymoon, and Julian Davis and The Hay-Burners all take the stage, while more than two dozen breweries (Avery, Founders, Perennial, among them) will be pouring. Tickets are $45.

Dive into the Lawrence, Kansas, food truck scene at the Savor Lawrence Food Truck Festival on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Ad Astra, Fine Thyme, Torched Goodness, Mad Greek, and La Parrilla on Wheels will be parked on Vermont Street, between 7th and 8th, and serving up eats. The event benefits the Farm 2 School Program in Lawrence. Tickets are $8 online, $10 at the gate (kids under five years old are free).

— Jonathan Bender writes about food trends and is the author of “Cookies & Beer” and “Stock, Broth & Bowl.” Follow him on Twitter @jonathanbender.