Weekend events in Toronto give you lots of opportunities to walk around with your pals and catch up. Halloween is a distant memory, and although there's still the two-day Day of the Dead celebration at Harbourfront Centre, most of the other events are pretty chill. Concerts, and of course a small dance party, await you.

Here are my top picks for events in Toronto this weekend.

BIG EVENTS

MuchMusic Retro Mixtape book launch (Nov. 4, The Royal)
Take a look inside the wild early tears of MuchMusic with ex-VJ Christopher Ward and his new book Is This Live? He'll deliver a full-on dose of pop cultural nostalgia from the 1980s and 90s, or when the Canadian music scene changed forever.

Royal Winter Fair (Exhibition Place, Nov. 4-13)
The fresh smell of a barn and multiple baby animal sightings makes this country festival in the city a welcome annual tradition. There are horse shows, cooking demos, competitions and a market. But really just get in and walk around; you'll literally run into something interesting. Tickets starts at $38 and as always it happens at Exhibition Place.

National Woman's Show (Nov. 4, Convention Centre)
Need a good day out with the girls? This massive show might be for you. Over 450 exhibitors will scatter the giant room. This year the show is celebrating 15 years of fun with fashion and food shows, travel giveaways and loads of shopping.

Craft Ontario Craft Show (Nov. 4-6, Daniels Spectrum)
This three-day craft and design show features over 40 craftspeople. It's a great way to support the local arts and crafts community and get some great gift giving ideas.

Day of the Dead (Nov. 5-6, Harbourfront Centre)
There are a few Day of the Dead events happening in November, but this one is the only multi-day extravaganza that features Post Mortem Puppet Theatre, Amor Eterno: A Tribute to Juan Gabriel and the Viva Mexico Mariachi band.

FOOD AND DRINK

Dudes and Dukes (Nov. 5, Mod Club)
This is a one night only folk music fest and feast put on by the Food Dudes. Union Duke provides the soundtrack while one of Toronto's most popular catering companies serves a massive menu of thematic eats and signature cocktails. There will also be art installations inside what's typically a concert and club venue.

Luxury Chocolate Show (Nov. 5, Roy Thompson Hall)
A chocolate consumer show? Yes please. This one-day event features a chocolate marketplace, demos, interactive features, contests, tastings, sampling, chocolate making classes, chocolate painting and more.

FILM

Brazil Film Fest (Nov. 4-6, TIFF)
This sunny, tropical film fest will keep you warm while showcasing a ton of award winning films. All of them will have subtitles and will give insight into a fascinating culture. Check out what's playing via the site's ticketing page.

Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival (Nov. 4-12, AGO)
Canada's original festival devoted to movies about mental health and recovery moves into a new frontier of public awareness toward the mysteries of the human mind. It all happens at the AGO alongside talks, workshops and forums.

Syria Film Festival (Nov. 4-6, Isabel Bader Theater)
The second annual Syria Film Fest features stories of Syrian refugees and their attempts to find safety and a new life in various corners of the world. It includes films from Canada, Jordan, Turkey, Germany, and South Africa. It takes place at the Isabel Bader Theatre and Jackman Hall at the AGO.

Political Advertisement IX 1952-2016 (Nov. 6, The Power Plant)
This is a great way to prep yourself for the big American election night on Tuesday. There are viewing parties all over the city, but this screening will give you an interesting anthology of the manipulative marketing techniques in US politics.

MUSIC

Danny Brown (Nov. 4, The Phoenix)
Detroit hip hop prince Danny Brown comes to town and you'd better listen. His latest album, string of mixtapes and latest single "Really Doe" have gotten him a lot of respect lately.

More Toronto concerts:

• Monarchy (Nov. 4, The Drake Underground)
• Giraffage (Nov. 4, The Hoxton)
• The Arkells (sold out!) (Nov. 4-5, Massey Hall)
• Primal Scream (Nov. 4, Danforth Music Hall)
• Anna Lunoe (Nov. 5, The Hoxton)
• Inuit throat singing showcase (Nov. 5, The Music Gallery)
• Lapsley (Nov. 6, Danforth Music Hall)
• Pet Shop Boys (Nov. 6, Sony Centre)

DANCING

Evening Standard (Nov. 4, Bambi's)
Most dance parties this weekend are on the smaller side, which we kind of love. But it means you have to get there a bit early to make sure you get in. Case in point with this one thrown by the Members Only boys. Andrs are the special guests at this underground house music fiesta.

More Toronto parties:

• Wedding Night 2 Year Anniversary (Nov. 4, The Piston)
• Tapette - 4th annual Celine Dion dance party (Nov. 4, The Gladstone)
• Wind up: UK dancehall, grime (Nov. 4, Adelaide Hall)
• Brown Rice Dance Party (Nov. 5, Glad Day)
• DJ Vice (Nov. 5, Rebel)
• With It (Nov. 5, The Piston)
• Low key fire RnB night (Nov. 6, The Libertine)

OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

• Astronomy On Tap Anniversary edition (Nov. 4, The Great Hall)
• Home and Lifestyle Expo (Nov. 4-6, Toronto Congress Centre)
• FNL: Country (Nov. 4, The ROM)
• Really Really free Market (Nov. 5, Campbell Park)
• Dane Cook (Nov. 5, Sony Centre)
• Lucha Libre (Nov. 6, Lee's Palace)
• Eco Fair (Nov. 6, Wychwood Barns)

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events section and have a great weekend!

Photo of the Arkells by Hector Vasquez.