When it comes to the spookiest night of the year, there's always that one question on everyone's mind - what will I be for Halloween?
The Two Rivers Gallery is doing double duty by offering costume options and a place to show it off.
First participate in the Costume Swap, a national event this Saturday to find the perfect outfit and then wear it at Menagerie, one of the gallery's biggest annual fundraisers, on October 27.
There's plenty of options when it comes to the swap. Drop off gently used costumes, come in and trade for a costume, or donate $5 and find a costume on Saturday.
"We're asking for everything," said Carolyn Holmes, public programs manager at the Two Rivers. "So maybe there'll be accessories and maybe people have jewelry or swords, wigs or who-knows-what that they need to get rid of - could be anything. So you never know what you'll find when you come to swap."
People can bring their children's outgrown dress-up clothes as well.
"There comes a time when a child's costume might just not fit anymore," said Holmes.
Then when the perfect costume has been found, it's time to get ready for the third annual Menagerie.
"You will want to dress up because the costumes are spectacular and a lot of people come to this event," said Holmes, explaining that many people choose to remain anonymous, staying in identity-concealing costumes for the entire evening, enhancing the mysteriousness of the event. "You have no idea who's who. Your friends and neighbours will attend and you have no idea because it's their alter ego you're seeing at the event. Everybody's transformed and that's a lovely aspect of the evening. It's really creative and sort of freeing to pretend to be another person for the night. So, you come all decked out and we have a costume prize."
Later on in the evening, after judges have selected about a dozen finalists, there's a costume parade and a winner will be selected. Top costume wins a Via Rail trip for four to Jasper.
It's an evening packed with many activities, Holmes said.
"We have transformed the gallery," she added. "The downstairs becomes Fortune Alley, like Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. Fortune Alley will have fortune tellers in it and they'll spend time with you, telling you about your fortune or what will happen in your future or reading your aura and that's all in fun."
In the galleria there will be Minute-To-Win-It-style games, which anybody can do but they are still tricky, Holmes said.
"It's just as much fun to watch your friends give the games a try, than it is do try them yourself," she added.
There's a themed bar with special Halloween drinks and there's Absinthe and Scotch tasting.
There's a DJ that will play music all night.
"There's also entertainment happenings that will occur throughout the night, so as you're going about one of the guest might break into song, or one of the people who is all dressed up beside you will dance or come around and do a little act. So throughout the night your fellow guests could be the entertainment, as well."
There's a silent auction filled with donations from local businesses and artists.
"So you can take a little treasure home with you," said Holmes.
There's also a late-night lunch.
"It's going to be a great night," said Holmes. "There's so much to do and it's really fun if you come with a group of friends because then it makes the night."
And there's a great door prize of a trip for two to any scheduled WestJet destination that some lucky guest will win, added Holmes.
Tickets at www.tworiversgallery.ca or call 250-614-7800.
