Zombies and the damned join men in drag and edgy comedy, along with some fine art for good measure.

Saturday: Womanless Beauty Pageant

They've apparently given up on trying to get me to participate in this annual fundraiser for Opera House Theatre Co., which, believe me, is for the best. That's because it involves a bevy of lovely and talented male beauties getting their drag on and competing for the title of Miss Womanless. There will be singing, there will be dancing and there will be lots and lots of hair, not all of it confined to the head. Details: 8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington. $25. 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.

Saturday: ZombieFest

Rootsy Missouri blues, rock and soul band The Hooten Hallers will headline this annual Halloween throwdown. Zombiefest used to be held on the semi-down-low in an industrial space off Burnett Boulevard, but it's moved to the much classier environs of Waterline Brewing this year. The Hooten Hallers are masters of a sound that can range from leg-shakingly propulsive, like George Thorogood, to a drunken, Tom Waits-ian lurch. The band includes one-time Wilmington musician Kellie Everett on baritone and bass sax, and Everett will also join with Travis Burdick for a reunion of the original lineup of garage rock act Deadly Lo-Fi. Wilmington psychobilly band The Phantom Playboys and Winston-Salem rockers Viva Le Vox round out the bill. Costumes strongly encouraged for this one. Details: 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at Waterline Brewing, 721 Surry St., Wilmington. $15.

Friday & Saturday: Hell's Belles and the Colonial Damned

Easily my favorite event name of all this year's Halloween happenings, Hell's Belles will get you ringing with not one but two haunted houses in two possibly ghost-visited historic structures in downtown Wilmington. This one's decidedly not for little kids, but if your teenager thinks he or she can face the ghoulish music, bring 'em along. They can even sample some of the fare from the food trucks on site, but the adult beverages for sale will be for Mommy and Daddy only. Details: 7-11 p.m. Oct. 28 and 6-11 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Bellamy Mansion Museum, 503 Market St., and the Burgwin-Wright House, 224 Market St. $25, good for both houses. 910-762-0570 or 910-251-3700.

Friday: J.C. Coccoli

Stand-up comedian and actress J.C. Coccoli is a spirited gal. She likes to do shots, as she says, "because I'm from Pittsburgh and I don't know my body weight." She'll in be in town for two shows that will be a "recording party" for an upcoming album during which she'll regale you about all manner of awkward romantic encounters. Coccoli is the real deal, and she's got a slew of credits that includes appearances on "Chelsea Lately," Comedy Central’s "Key and Peele" and VH1’s Best Week Ever.Details: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Dead Crow Comedy Room, 265 N. Front St., Wilmington. $13. 910-399-1492 or DeadCrowComedy.com.

Saturday: "Cheryl Kent: Drawings"

Just because it's the Halloween time of year doesn't mean that everything you do has to be spook-themed. Local: Art + Ideas, a Wilmington "cultural think tank" that supports and promotes regional artists, presents this exhibit of lovely abstract drawings by Cheryl Kent. Details: Opening reception is 5-8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Ward Hair, 3333 Wrightsville Ave. 917-374-751

Note: This story was published by Star News

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