Alton Brown, Georgia O’Keeffe and more on this week’s A&E priority list

Halloween week brings plenty of things to do beyond tricking and treating. Here's my starter list of options.

“Georgia O’Keeffe and the Southwestern Still Life”

The Georgia O’Keeffe painting “Jimson Weed” is a must-see part of the collection. For this exhibition, that painting serves as the centerpiece of sorts for a bigger-picture look at O’Keeffe and her contemporaries, who gave us new ways of seeing the American Southwest. Photographs and videos supplement the main pieces, and the ticket price includes an audio guide. Teaching artists will be on hand weekends from noon to 4 p.m. to offer basic drawing tips for those who want to try to draw their own. Nov. 2-Feb. 15 Indianapolis Museum of Art  Details

VonnegutFest

Festivities around the celebration of Indianapolis’ favorite literary son (sorry, J.W. Riley) include a Timequake Clambake, an appearance by New York Times best-selling author Jess Walter, a video appearance by Alec Baldwin accepting the first Kurt Vonnegut Humor Award, a reading by U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, and a veterans’ panel moderated by NPR’s Steve Inskeep. Also in the mix, a Breakfast of Champions and Vonnegut Look-Alike Contest. Nov. 7-8 Various locations Details

“Masters of Illusion”

You’ll be forgiven if you mistake this event for January’s “The Illusionists” show that’s part of the Broadway in Indianapolis series. I know I am (and will continue to be) confused. This one is a one-night-only performance of a multi-magician tour that grew out of the CW television series. Performers include World Magic Awards Magician of the Year Jonathan Pendragon, Magic Castle regular Titou and Vegas stalwart Greg Gleason. Oct. 30 Murat Details

“The War of the Worlds”

The panic may have been exaggerated by historians, but that shouldn’t lessen the fun of this re-creation of the famed radio broadcast from 76 years ago. That’s when Orson Welles and company decided to weave the story of an alien invasion into an otherwise standard radio broadcast. Those who want to pop into the studio for this Halloween event are encouraged to wear costumes. And also to stick around for light refreshments and lessons in “Thriller” zombie dancing. Oct. 30 Indiana History Center Details

“Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour”

You know those guys who try to sell you cutlery at the Indiana State Fair? Imagine such demonstrations on a grand scale. Show promoters promise that things will get messy—which is why volunteers pulled from the audience wear lab coats and why ponchos are provided for some up-close seats at this combination multimedia lecture/stand-up routine/food experimentation/talk show hosted by the Food Network star. Nov. 2 Clowes Hall Details

Also this week

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra presents a screening of the Alfred Hitchcock horror classic “Psycho” with live musical accompaniment Nov. 1. Bonus: samples from Sun King Brewery and Rocket Fizz selling classic movie candy. Costumes encouraged. Details

Poet Mary Szybist reads at Butler University’s Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall Nov. 5. Details

Garfield Park Arts Center offers “Fiber Tales,” an exhibition featuring textile work—and work that mimics textiles—from around the country Nov. 1-19. Details

Nickel Plate Arts in Noblesville celebrates the Day of the Dead with a festival including ghost stories, live music and piñata whacking Nov. 1. Details

The Wild Feathers, Apache Relay and Desert Noises play Deluxe at Old National Centre Nov. 4. Details

The Murat Theatre hostsJason Mraz Nov. 5. Details

Frances Whitener, winner of the Frank Basile Emerging Stories fellowship and survivor of four brain surgeries, shares stories Nov. 1 at the Indiana History Center. Details

The Milk Carton Kids & Sarah Jarosz perform Nov. 3 at the Palladium. Details