In Latin America, it’s a longstanding belief that death is not the end of life, but rather the continuation of life into a different realm. That’s why Dia De Los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is a time to celebrate the lives of loved ones, not mourn their passing. For many years, Latin Americans have celebrated the tradition on November 1st and 2nd by erecting altars that memorialize their loved ones with sugar skulls, photos, and their favorite foods. Viva La Vida Festival & Parade celebrates Dia De Los Muertos right here in Austin.

Hosted by the Mexic-Arte Museum, the festival kicks off at noon on Saturday, October 27th on the 100 and 200 blocks of east and west 4th Street. Admission is free, so head to the festival to check out its colorful parade, watch artist demos, and enjoy traditional Latin American foods. You can also browse booths helmed by local artists and retailers, and enjoy live music at the Viva La Vida Festival.

“Brama” means “gates,” so it’s a fitting name for the newly opened Brama Restaurant. In July, it opened the gates to a world of eclectic Eastern European cuisine, drawing inspiration from Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Russia. From the pierogi to the schnitzel, Brama Restaurant offers a culinary education to anyone interested in international cuisine.

Start your meal with one or two of the authentic appetizers, such as the cured herring with potato and pickled shallots or the beets paired with goat cheese and yogurt dressing. Then try a veggie pierogi or a meat-filled pelmeni, the Russian/Ukranian equivalent. For the main course, savor the classic beef stroganoff, the pork or chicken schnitzel, or the kielbasa with sauerkraut. These are just a handful of the unique dishes on the menu at Brama Restaurant.

This year, a pair of spooky attractions are coming to Smithville at Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park 2018. The haunted house showcases two bone-chilling scenarios, “The Mansion of Terror” and “Zombie City: The Factory.” Neither is for the faint of heart, so only reserve tickets ($5+) if you’re truly ready to be terrified.

The scene that awaits you inside “The Mansion of Terror” is a somber one. It used to be an orphanage where “Saint Adella,” a beloved local woman, supposedly cared for parentless children. But after a while, when the orphanage was overflowing with residents, it became clear that Adella wasn’t actually caring for them at all—that she was actually subjecting them to black magic. Some of those children still haunt the hallways of the mansion. Nearby in “The Factory,” government agents have rolled into try to contain a sudden outbreak of a mysterious illness. Although, “illness” seems like a mild word for the zombie epidemic that’s taken over The Factory.

Banger’s beer garden is a popular spot to grab a craft beer year-round, but every October, there’s an extra reason to visit. Banger’s Oktoberfest draws in crowds each autumn with the promise of German brews, bites, and games. This year, the Oktoberfest celebrations will unfold from October 18th to the 20th, so mark your calendar.

Come to Banger’s Oktoberfest to try the bash’s signature brew, the Live Oak Brewing Company’s Oaktoberfest (a free firkin’s worth of the beer is tapped at the beginning of each day). Enjoy it with German bites such as spaetzle, weisswurst, and schnitzel. While you drink and eat, participate in German games such as stein-hoisting and competitive bratwurst-eating, and tap your toes to the live music delivered by local polka bands and yodelers. The unique international entertainment awaits at Banger’s Oktoberfest.