Weekend events in Toronto is our guide to events happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's what's happening in Toronto this November 1-3, 2013.

Royal Winter Fair
The farm is coming to the city this weekend as the 91st annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the world's largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition, gets underway at the Exhibition grounds this weekend. Look for cute baby animals at the petting zoo, butter sculptures, chef competitions, giant vegetables (pumpkins weighing over 1000 pounds), and of course the Horse Show. At the fair you can learn more about where our food comes from and get a chance to commune with animals large and small. The full event schedule is here. November 1 - November 10, Ricoh Coliseum and Direct Energy Centre (Exhibition Place) prices may vary

HALLOWEEN

Redrum: A Shining-Themed Halloween Party
If you've ever wanted to find a group of people with whom to brag about how many times you've seen The Shining, you'll want to be at the Gladstone Hotel tonight. There will be creepy references to Kubrick's horror film throughout two floors of the hotel, costumes are encouraged, dancing will be ghoulish, a Daft Punk Tribute Band will play (why not?) and bourbon will be free flowing. Real fans can pay $199 to stay overnight for the full hotel experience, including a spooky sex game. Nov 1, The Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) $25 entry

For a guide to Halloween parties and events (of which there are still a few this weekend), check out our Toronto Halloween Party Guide post.

FILM

David Cronenberg: Evolution
The HSBC Gallery at TIFF Bell Lightbox is hosting TIFF's first major original exhibition, David Cronenberg: Evolution. A portion of the theatre has morphed into a shrine tracing the artist's development, an "experiential virtual museum," and a retrospective of Cronenberg's films. Costumes, props, art work, and set design drawings and a virtual exhibition of essays, academic writing, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Cronenberg's many collaborators are on display as well. Check out our some creepy photos in our slideshow here. Nov 1 - Jan 19, TIFF Bell Lightbox (350 King Street West)

CineCuba Festival of Cuban films
CineCuba Festival of Cuban films kicks off tonight at Royal Cinema. A ton of programming (they post 3 film fests in one) will be fit into just 5 days. Screenings will include including titles Mandela & Fidel, Veinte Años, Operation Peter Pan, and a Cuban Women in film series. All films are subtitled in English. Nov 1 - 5, Royal Cinema (608 College) prices may vary

International Diaspora Film Festival Films
Toronto film-goers aren't short of festivals often, and this weekend you can also catch the International Diaspora Film Festival for films from around the world examining diversity and culture exchange, plus discussion panels and more. This year their focus is on female directors. The full schedule is here. Nov 1 - 5, Carlton Cinemas (20 Carlton St.) and Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Ave) prices may vary

For more film listings, check out our This Week in Film post.

VIDEO GAMES

Gamercamp
Whether you're obsessed with video games and arcades or just think they're a pretty cool pastime, Gamercamp offers exhibitions, presentations, inspiring talks, gameplay sessions, demos, films, and 3 arcades (yes, 3 arcades!) all weekend. Events include an inside peek at Scott Pilgrim's Toronto and a cereal & pajamas 8bit breakfast. Nov 1 - 3, Hotel Ocho (195 Spadina Avenue,) prices may vary.

ART

Michael Wolf at Bau-Xo Photo
For lovers of urban photography, Wolf's pristine photographs of city landscapes — often showing unsettling views of seemingly endless windows, balconies, and the rigid grids of city topography — on display at Bau-Xi Photo starting Saturday are a can't miss. Wolf's large format chromogenic prints (most are mounted at 48 x 60 inches) are technically dazzling and offer a glimpse at scenery both familiar and altogether alienating. Opening Nov 2, 2pm - 4pm. Exhibit Nov 2 - 23. Bau-Xi Photo (340 Dundas St West) free

Fantasia Rising
Huntclub opened girlhood obsessed Toronto artist and musician Rebecca Fin Simonetti's haunting solo exhibition last night. The show includes the debut of short film installation Part of Your World, a video installation showing the artist performing a song from Walt Disney's The Little Mermaid to Chinese factory workers. Sculptural taxidermied works and drawings are also be on display. Until Nov 17, Huntclub (709 College Street West) free

FOOD

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Head down to the Brick Works on Sunday for a traditional Mexican Day of the Dead themed celebration. Here you can eat delicious Latin American specialties like tamales, carnitas, churros, nopales and salsa picante, plus you can learn about the Mayan calendar, visit a community altar, make kites, and attend chocolate and clay workshops (take home a chocolate skull!) There will be a Mayan opening ceremony about life cycles, death and the meaning of dying in Latin American cultures. Sunday, Nov 3 11am-3pm,
Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) free

The Need To Feed: Lydia Lunch Live
Toronto's newest queer resto The Steady on Bloor will host "The Need To Feed: Lydia Lunch Live Evening" this Sunday. The writer, actress, singer and art terrorist is launching... a cookbook? This is going to be strange, and awesome. The Steady will prepare a special prixe menu created inspired by Lunch's recently released cookbook, The Need to Feed. Those who don't want to dine can pop in at 8pm to see Lunch read from a selection of her works and answer a Q & A. Then DJs Dislexia & Betti Forde will host a roaring dance party. Menu options are here. Sunday Nov 3, dinner 6pm, talk & dance party 8pm, Steady Café & Bar (1051 Bloor West) $20 plus meal price

The Toronto Chocolate Festival
Halloween candy might be on sale at the Dollar Store, but you know better than that. Treat your sweet tooth to the last weekend of the Toronto Chocolate Festival, which has been indulging Toronto in decadent, chocolatey events since mid October. Look out on Sunday for the 9-1-1 Chocolate Relay where "firefighters, police and paramedics fight to the finish in what has become chocolate warfare." See the official site for a full list of chocolatey events. Until Nov 3, various venues, prices vary

For more food events, check out our Toronto Food Events post.

THEATRE

The Rocky Horror Show
A Halloween classic, not of the ghosts and ghoul variety, but for the campiness of its drag, show tunes, and outrageous science fiction plot, The Rocky Horror Show has been a crowd-pleaser since its premiere in 1973. The film version catapulted its cult status into the stratosphere. It's returned (now on an extended run) to Toronto stages for the sixth year in a row. Until November 23, Lower Ossington Theatre (100 Ossington Ave) $39-$49

For more events on stage, check out our This Week in Theatre post.

MUSIC

Shit Fun
Noise, industrial, post-punk and breakcore fans can enjoy a final Helloween haven at Rainbow Palace just after Halloween, this Saturday. Because um, Halloween is every day, duh. Man Made Hill and Neoprene will perform, and DJs ϟ†Nϟ, Peter Venuto, Emad Dabiri, and Jubal Brown will keep the fright pumping on the dance floor. Saturday, November 2, Rainbow Palace (213 Augusta Ave) $10

Braids
You might be looking for some calming music as a respite from Rob-Ford-Gate666 and Halloween (Halloween week, let's be honest,) and Braids' show tonight might be just the answer. After releasing their second album this summer, Montreal's gentle pop/electronic experimenters Braids are still making waves in the indie world and pleasing the hearts of dreams everywhere. Nov 1, The Great Hall (1087 Queen St West) $13.50.

Jessy Lanza
We recently profiled Hamilton based artist Jessy Lanza in our Break Out Bands series. Her debut album Pull My Hair Back on Hyperdub (produced by Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys) has R&B fans addicted, and Toronto fans will be swaying to the magic at her Garrison performance this weekend. Expect chills. Nov 2, The Garrison (1197 Dundas St. West) $10

For more music listings, check out our This Week in Music,Fall Concerts, and November Concerts posts.

MARKET

16th Really Really Free Market at Campbell Park
No swapping, no trading, and definitely no money changing hands — everything at Campbell Park (Campbell Ave between Dupont and Wallace, west of Lansdowne) is really, truly free for the taking. Interested parties can bring items before 4pm, take items until 5pm. Organizers have requested clean and usable items only, but anything goes from small furniture items to clothing and nick nacks. Your Halloween costume deserves to find a new home, don't you think? Nov 2, Campbell Park (195 Campbell Ave) 10am - 5pm, free

COMEDY

The Dark Comedy Festival
Slapstick fans might want to stay home from this nine day fest, which focuses on "challenging and transgressive comedy." Dave Attell kicks things off tonight at the Danforth Music Hall, and between now and November 9th Big Jay Oakerson (Louie, HBO's Funny As Hell) Luis Gomez, Dave Smith, Brendan Walsh (John Oliver's New York Stand Up Show), Simon King (The Comedy Network, BiteTV), Tony Hinchcliffe, Jesse Joyce, Terry Clement, Mike Lawrence (Conan), Brody Stevens (The Hangover) and Robert Kelly (Louie, Comedy Central Presents) will be in town. Look out for their Annual Celebrity Roast. November 1 - 9, various venues and prices. Passes are $99.99

For more comedy events, check out our This Week in Comedy post.

BOOKS

International Festival Of Authors
The International Festival of Authors is continuing on until Sunday. Harbourfront Centre has been hosting readings, talks, interviews and panels with major international authors like Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, Catherine Bush, Douglas Coupland, Helen Humphreys, Elizabeth Ruth, Beatriz Hausner, Anne Michaels, and Andrew Pyper. This year's focus is on young writers with several free artist talks about getting started in the business. Until November 3rd. Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) 8PM prices vary

Old Book and Paper Show and Sale
If you have a passion for stationary and/or antique books then Wychwood Barns is the place to be on Sunday. About 50 vintage paper dealers from Ontario and Quebec will be showcasing and selling old postcards, paraphernalia, movie posters, photographs, maps, prints, advertising matierals, and antiquarian books. Nov 3, Artscape Wychwood Barns (601 Christie Street) $7

PETS

Pugoween
The place to be for Toronto dog lovers this Sunday is Pawsway pet centre by the Harbourfront. Last weekend Pawsway hosted a costume party for all dogs, but this Sunday's Halloween event is only for pugs, or, as I call them, nature's most miraculous creatures. Proceeds go to hosts Pugalug Pug Rescue, who find foster homes and "forever homes" for needy pugs in Toronto. So dress your pug up for a good cause or be like me and gaze with a crooked Charlie Brown smile on your face as pugs in costumes mill about and win prizes. Nov 3, PawsWay (245 Queen's Quay W) $7

FASHION

Heart of Fashion
Support North York General Hospital on Saturday night as fashion and glamour reign over the re-launch of Heart of Fashion, their annual fundraising event. This year includes a runway show hosted by Jeanne Beker, live entertainment by Karl Wolf, an auction for prizes (like tickets to see the highly anticipated Victoria's Secret fashion show), cocktails, and gourmet food. Nov 2, Town Square at the Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Rd) $250

For more fashion listings, check out our This Week in Fashion post.

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Lead photo by Scott Snider