Monday, 26: Foreign Dissent 2
[MUSIC] With a talent pull that's national and beyond, the Fest (Oct. 30-Nov. 1, Gainesville), over its 14 years of existence, has become the region's monolith of punk-rock festivals. Organizing satellite shows that take advantage of the band influx around it has become a cottage industry unto itself. Orlando pop-punk promoter Punching Babies distinguished itself in the rush last year with Foreign Dissent, a now-annual themed showcase that features fresh international faces that travel from especially far away to play the Fest. For this second edition, Foreign Dissent has assembled a delegation of seven overseas acts, more than half of them making Orlando debuts. Bands include Astpai (Austria), Great Cynics (UK), Wonk Unit (UK), Überyou (Switzerland), Kamikaze Girls (UK), Irish Handcuffs (Germany) and the debut of Bad Accent, a German outfit also featuring members of notable area bands Teen Agers and Dikembe. Come see this night of sweet, anthemic discovery become a tradition. – Bao Le-Huu
with Astpai, Great Cynics, Wonk Unit, Überyou, Kamikaze Girls, Irish Handcuffs, Bad Accent | 7:30 p.m. | Will's Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave. | willspub.org | $8-10
Sunday, 25: The Mystery Meat
[EVENTS] A pirate-themed car meet? Sure, why not. The fourth annual incarnation of this massive automotive event encourages attendees to dress up as pirates, or even costume their cars. Pit your sweetest ride against other attendees in drag or auto-x races, à la Top Gear, or just spectate as gearheads bring their custom rides to the burnout box and peel out safely for the enjoyment of all. Special exhibition cars way fancier than yours show off on display and on the track. This year marks the first time the event is held at Orlando Speed World, as it finally got too big for the meager racing and parking options available downtown, but it's not like downtown needed more cars in it anyway. – TM
9 a.m. | Orlando Speed World, 19164 E. Colonial Drive | v2labevents.com | $10
Saturday, 24: Central Florida Veg Fest
[EVENTS] With the Central Florida Veg Fest approaching its 10th anniversary, it's going to be a pretty big dill. If you carrot all about veganism or healthy living, then this is the event for you. The Veg Fest has only gotten bigger each year, so please, romaine calm when you get to the Orlando Festival Park and see the plethora of vendor tents and food stands. Local favorites like Dandelion Communitea Café and Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar will be on the premises with their delicious vegan dishes. Veg Fest will also have many musical acts dropping the beet all day, such as Raspberry Pie who at 1 p.m. will be "laying the dunk on some sweet, sweet funk!" When you've hit maximum belly capacity, take a break from eating and catch one of Veg Fest's education programs or take a quick yoga class with Warrior One Power Yoga. This festival is going to be huge, so get ready to turnip, veg out and leave in peas. Kale yeah! – Marissa Mahoney
10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Orlando Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St. | cfvegfest.org | free, $5 parking
Saturday, 24: Orlando Zombie Ball
[EVENTS] You needn't be one of the walking dead to enjoy the Orlando Zombie Ball, but you may well be shambling like one by the end of the night. This Halloween dance-stravaganza features the turn-of-the-century steampunk stylings of theatre troupe Phantasmagoria, spooky-good beats from DJ performance artist Power Infiniti and some straight-up circus madness courtesy of Cirque USA. We're talking fire dancers here, people; we're talking about people hanging from the ceiling dressed in mad costumes and contorting their bodies in ways that boggle the imagination. If that's not your bag (it should be, you party pooper), throw your mask or toga or whatever onstage for the $1,000 costume contest, test your courage in the haunted scare zone or tune in to one of the 13-plus DJs and performers who'll keep you howling at the moon all night long. And believe us, there will be plenty of howling, thanks to the open bar. – Bernard Wilchusky
7 p.m. | Venue 578, 578 N. Orange Ave. | 407-872-0066 | orlandozombieball.com | $35-$45
Saturday, 24: Necromancy: A Dark Art Event
[ART] In what may be the event of the season for fans of gothic and macabre art, Gods & Monsters is putting on an exhibit featuring art from some of the brightest – er, darkest – talents in the field. The night is anchored by art and a personal appearance from horror legend Clive Barker, best known as the writer and director of Hellraiser, the 1987 film that launched a series about the sadomasochistic adventures of the extradimensional Cenobites. You'll also find works by comics artist Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, the criminally underrated Fell), local painter Vaughn Belak and West Memphis Three member Damien Echols. Drinks flow in the Offworld Lounge, and a performance by gothic fetish burlesque act Defenz Mechanizm caps the evening. – TM
8 p.m. | through Nov. 20 | Gods & Monsters, Artegon Marketplace, 5250 International Drive | godmonsters.com | free
Thursday, 22: Joey Bada$$
[MUSIC] There's no way you spun Joey Badass' debut studio album B4.DA.$$ and didn't immediately nestle into its old-school bump. The young rapper gets criticized for borrowing too heavily from his influences, but the chewy listen at last properly introduced the rising hip-hop star, no matter what growing pains you might prescribe for any stylistic lack on the otherwise critically praised release. Joey Badass is exactly the kind of young star we ought to prop up, so go get a piece of his mind and if you're real gung-ho, spring for the VIP meet-and- greet. – Ashley Belanger
8 p.m. | Venue 578, 578 N. Orange Ave. | 407-872-0066 | venue578.com | $25-$115
Wednesday, 21: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
[FILM] With a screenplay by series creator Wes Craven and then-unknown Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Walking Dead), it's not surprising that the third installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street series is often considered one of the best. The film touches on subjects a little deeper than the usual raging hormones and teenage angst that slasher flicks tend to address, like mental illness, addiction and recovery, and the travesty that was the media's portrayal of tabletop roleplaying games in the '80s. But don't worry: There are still plenty of raging hormones, and the substantially increased budget for this iteration of the series resulted in some set pieces and stylish killings that are hard to forget. Just remember: Don't. Fall. Asleep. – Thaddeus McCollum
8 p.m. | Eden Bar at the Enzian, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland | 407-629-1088 | enzian.org | free
