In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, the vibe is strangely spooky with a Third Annual “Hafoween,” Crypt Night, Zombie Prom and Here Come the Mummies performing, but there’s also Arab American and Japanese festivals, a Glowball “anti-gala,” Taylor Swift trivia and comedian Emma Willmann.

“Mermaid Hour,” which flips a traditional coming-of-age narrative on its head by focusing on the parents, is coming to Arrow Street Arts.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s Paul Giamatti’s “Chinwag” podcast, The Bread and Puppet Theater, Record Store Day, “Secret Sounds of Ponds” and other Earth-related events, cake decorating and Shakespeare’s 460th Birthday.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s Sri Lankan cooking, Susanna Kaysen and “Girl Interrupted” a “Little Prince” opera, a Patriots Day colonial fair, Space Week, Grolier Poetry history, a bluegrass festival and a Flat Top Johnny’s reopening pool party.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, Jason Mantzoukas does improv comedy, Angélique Kidjo performs, there’s an archaeology fair, advice on how to run the Boston Marathon, the answer to “Can we grow buildings?” and an all-clarinet band.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s poet Nikki Giovanni, sex revolutionary Candida Royalle, joke fests and mystery comedy, new plays and folk metal, “Dope Science,” a tribute to Lana Del Rey and “Essays in Praise of Excess.” 

The play examines sexism in science through a 30-year look at Irene Pepperberg teaching her parrot, Alex, to have the cognitive abilities of a human child.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s the tiny-piano-using Chromic Duo and Cambridge Symphony Orchestra; robots, AI and eclipse prep; Joie de Vivre, horrors of the sea, edible insects and more; and Brexit and tech writer Kara Swisher.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s St. Patrick’s Day and Prince, choreography by Crispr DNA editing, the North Cambridge Family Opera, a Danehy Park documentary and fascination with fungi.

The real Dr. Irene Pepperberg of MIT and Harvard Dr. taught an African grey parrot to meaningfully communicate and solve problems at the level of a 5-year-old child.