The Mix: Drive-through Halloween parade, Lucinda Williams and more things to do in Chicago Oct. 29-Nov. 4

Halloween spectacle

The annual family-friendly event “Arts in the Dark,” which showcases the creativity of Chicago’s diverse cultural community, this year transforms from an evening event to a daytime drive-through spectacle called “An Upside Down Parade.” Here you’ll find large-scale puppets, musicians, dancers and more. Each car will receive a goody bag. Participants include Chicago Children’s Theatre, Cirques Experiences and the South Shore Drill Team. The free event takes place from noon-3 p.m. Oct. 31 in the South Side’s Washington Park, along Russell Drive. Reservations are required. Visit artsinthedark.org.

More Halloween fun

Cosmic Country Showcase celebrates Halloween with performances by Evil, Ana Fabrega, Sarah Squirm, Nick Shoulders, Nico, Andrew Sa and more. Streams at 8 p.m. Oct. 30, $15. Visit hideoutchicago.com. ... Riot Fest Halloween features live performances (New Found Glory, Knuckle Puck) and movies (“Beetlejuice,” “The Exorcist”). At 7 p.m. Oct. 30 and 8 p.m. Oct. 31, Chicago Drive-In, 7000 S. Harlem, Bridgeview. Tickets begin at $25. Visit riotfest.org. ... The Magic Parlour Halloween Show features magician Dennis Watkins in a fundraiser for Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago. Streams at 8 p.m. Oct. 31, $65. Visit themagicparlourchicago.com. ... The Cleve Carney Museum of Art and McAninch Arts Center celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with drive-by ofrendas, music performed by Mariachi Monumental de Mexico and a food drive. From 4-6 p.m. Nov. 1 at Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton, Glendale Heights. Visit theccma.org/upcoming-events. More than 100 Chicago families in festive costumes and 25 local businesses. ... Wicker Park and Bucktown Trick-or-Treat takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Bucktown Green, 1714 N. Hoyne Avenue (behind Bucktown-Wicker Park Library). Local businesses will spread out across the park for a socially distanced way of handing out candy at various stations. A Halloween photo wall will be available for photo ops. Admission is timed and ticketed for a safe experience. Visit www.wickerparkbucktown.com.

Danny Clinch

Evenings with Lu

Singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams launches “Lu’s Jukebox,” a six-episode series of themed live performances beginning with “Running Down a Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty” ($20-$40) at 7 p.m. Oct. 29. Upcoming shows, all performed with her stellar band, dive into Southern soul, the Bob Dylan songbook, country classics, the holidays (the rockin’ version) and the music of the Rolling Stones. This series is Williams’ way of helping out struggling venues across the country including Evanston’s Space, the local participating club. Find more info about the stream and the remaining concerts at evanstonspace.com.

Jamie Thornton

Family Halloween fun

For the past few years, Laurie Berkner, the “Adele of the preschool crowd,” has performed a family Halloween concert in New York City. This year, when trick-or-treating may not be the best option, families everywhere can instead livestream “Laurie Berkner’s Halloween Party” (noon and 5 p.m. Oct. 31). Expect lots of songs including several new ones, Halloween games and pre-show music and videos (doors open an hour before show). Tickets: $20 or $80 for a virtual meet-and-greet package. Visit laurieberkner.com

Kino Lorber

Lost & found

Facets is streaming “Nationtime,” a long-lost film by director William Greaves about the National Black Political Convention of 1972. The convention drew 10,000 black politicians, activists and artists to Gary, Indiana, where they forged a national unity platform in advance of the Democratic and Republican presidential conventions. The delegates were a range of public officials, advocates and entertainers, ranging from Jesse Jackson, Amiri Baraka, Coretta Scott King and Fannie Lou Hamer to Harry Belafonte and Isaac Hayes. “Nationtime” streams through Nov. 5. Tickets: $10. Visit facets.org.

Annoyance Theatre

Chills and thrills

It’s not Halloween without another edition of The Annoyance Theatre’s tribute to all things gruesome and gory. Now in its 34th year, the annual slasher spoof “Splatter Theater” has been updated for a fresh take on 2020 and will be performed live from each cast member’s home. Streams at 9 p.m. two nights. The Oct. 30 performance is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $20. The price for the Oct. 31 performance is $20 with a $10 add-on option for a virtual costume after-party. Visit theannoyance.com.

Griffin Goodman

Poetic art

The gallery Soccer Club Club has extended “The Sun Sinks,” an exhibit of abstract paintings by Dominique Knowles, a poet, accomplished equestrian and graduate of the School of the Art Institute, who takes inspiration from the relationship between humans and nature and animals. His paintings feature earthy sunset colors — fiery reds, golden yellows, burnt umbers — plus striking purples and blues. Outlines of animal figures such as horses are incorporated into the paintings. The artist also has created a billboard-size mural adjacent to the gallery. The exhibit is on view through Nov. 6 by appointment from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday at Soccer Club Club, 2923 N. Cicero or online at soccerclubclub.com.

Provided

Live from Texas

To celebrate the release of the box set “A Dream in the Dark: Two Decades of Okkervil River Live,” the Texas-based band revives its popular “Rarities & Requests” show format for a livestreamed concert. Okkervil River fields a lively sound — a blend of Americana, indie rock and psych-pop. Stream the show at 8 p.m. Oct. 29. Tickets: $15. A portion of ticket sales benefits the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, which raises money to keep music venues going during the pandemic. Visit oldtownschool.org.

Mary Houlihan is a Chicago freelance writer.