Shivers at Dusk

4 p.m. Saturday at The Book Shop, 694 Broadway, Ball Square, Somerville

Halloween isn’t just about fun-sized Snickers bars. The tradition goes back more than 1,000 years to the British Isles (where Snickers were called a Royale with nuts), and author Lesley Bannatyne poked into every dark corner to research “A Halloween Reader: Poem, Stories, and Plays from Halloweens Past.” Her reading includes creepy stories as well as stories and poems by Poe, Lovecraft and other like-minded masters of the dark. Free.

For information call (617) 764-1624 or click here.

Comicazi Halloweeniversary

8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the George Dilboy VFW Post 529, 371 Summer St., Davis Square, Somerville

The comic book store Comicazi celebrates its 13th birthday and Halloween party mash-up with music, food, a cash bar and a raffle that will, apparently, boggle the mind. (Their words.) Family-friendly costumes are encouraged – you could win prizes! – but aren’t mandatory. Free.

For information call (617) 666-2664 or click here.

Drag Gospel Festival

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at First Church Somerville UCC, 89 College Ave., Somerville

Oh, religion. So boring and stuffy and repressed. This is the third year of James Adams’ sincere but fun demonstration “that we believe Jesus [welcomed] all kinds of people – especially people exiled to the margins just for being the people God made them to be: queer or straight or a little bit of each, male or female or a little bit of each.” Adams performs as Serenity Jones with drag pastors, a choir and in-house soul band, followed by a Gospel Brunch with food, mocktails and a full drag show. “There are kids running around in feather boas, straight men in skirts, people who never thought they’d be in a church basement hollering ‘Hallelujahs!’ It is a guaranteed good time,” James says. “You will laugh your head off, find yourself singing at the top of your lungs and go home filled up.” Drag not required. Free.

For information call (617) 625-6485 or click here.

“Smoke This” Rib Fest

From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on Cambridge Street in East Cambridge, between Fulkerson Street and Fifth Street

The East Cambridge Business Association “Smoke This” Rib Fest 2013 is a culinary showdown pitting, as it were, pit master against pit master for the title of best ribs in town. To sample a variety of ribs and vote for your favorite, you’ll need a 10-rib Taste Ticket for $20 – and then you’ll need to scramble to get those ribs on a first-come, first-served basis. (Each restaurant participating will also be selling its fare to non-voters.)

Participating restaurants include Abigail’s, Area 4, Artbar, Atwood’s Tavern, Bambara, Champions, CRLS Culinary, East Coast Grill, East Side Bar & Grille, Filarmonica Santo Antonio, Lord Hobo, New Deal Fish Market, Ole, Portugalia, Puritan & Co., Redbones, Tommy Doyle’s, Trina’s Starlight Lounge and Tupelo. There will also be live music.

For information, click here.

Manhattan Chorale

7 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s Church, 29 Mount Auburn St., Harvard Square

The Manhattan Chorale: It’s not just for Manhattan anymore. The group, special guests, members of the NYC Chamber Orchestra and composer-in-residence Ola Gjeilo are bringing its “Poets and Pioneers” to town as part of its 2013/2014 season launch, singing the works of new and classic American poets with scoring by celebrated American choral composers including Eric Whitacre, René Clausen, Libby Larsen and Stephen Paulus. It also features guest conductor Paige Armstrong, winner of the Manhattan Concert Productions’ Student Conducting Competition at this year’s American Choral Director’s Association convention. Tickets are $35, or $25 for students and seniors with valid identification.

For information, click here.