Daily Loaf

At Thrill the World, St. Pete joins MJ fans across the world in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Dance — in this case, the famous, phantasmic Thriller dance. The Pier hosts music, food, activities and a pre-dance lesson for anyone who needs to learn the monster moves. Then, Michael Jackson achieves what no world leader ever has: a world united – united by zombies. No word on whether Obama’s participating, but we hope to see everyone from the local Blockbuster guy to the Prez paying tribute to the one-gloved man. Come in your most dashing undead duds, and an on-site make-up artist adds scabs and scars to make sure that you thrill and terrify like the real thing. Sat., Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. sign-in, 8:30 p.m. dance, The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, free admission; $5 zombie make-up, thrillstpete.com. – Franki Weddington

Hello voracious readers, welcome to heaven. Seriously, the St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading is a nice reminder that in 2009, people still read theses little things called books. Held on the USF St. Petersburg campus, this lovely celebration of the written word features book signings, panel discussions, entertainment, family activities, refreshments, and various booksellers and exhibitors. There are also book signings by Andy Borowitz, Who Moved My Soap?; Senator Bob Graham, America: The Owner’s Manual; Amber Tamblyn, Bang Ditto; Cousin Brucie Morrow, Rock & Roll…And The Beat Goes On; and many more. Plus, attendees can meet local favorites like Poynter Institute’s Roy Peter Clark, the St. Petersburg Time’s Craig Pittman and Jeff Klinkenberg, and USF professor Tony Silvia. What a splendid opportunity to mingle with great minds and get your nose stuck in a book…or twenty. Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.- 5p.m., USF St. Petersburg, 140 Seventh Avenue S., Bayboro Harbor St. Petersburg, free, festivalofreading.com. – Lily Reisman

Circus McGurkis, aka “The People’s Fair,” hosted by the Religious Society of Friends — Quakers, FYI — has been a hot spot for advocacy groups, local musicians, grassroots organizations and crafters alike for nigh on 40 years. Begun by a group of peace activists during the Vietnam War, McGurkis has blossomed into an all-out smorgasbord of sights, sounds, tastes and art — with a focus on social change. Visit circusmcgurkis.org for more info. Sat., Oct. 24, 9 a.m., Lake Vista Park, St. Petersburg, free.

The Sunscreen Film Festival presents a cadre of chilling cinema – and then fills you in on how to get onscreen yourself. At the Horror Fest actor’s workshops, acting coach Mark Durso explains his Uta Hagen technique (which sorta makes me think he got lost on the way to Oktoberfest); Twilight casting director Lana Veenker explores “How to Break into the Film Biz without Living in Hollywood.” and “Auditioning for Film and TV” (whose advice you may want to take or leave, depending on what you think of her vapid vampires); and special effects make-up artist John Rusnak leads a horror make-up workshop. Spooky special movie screenings include indie or limited release flicks like Trick ‘r Treat (starring True Blood’s Anna Paquin, appropriately enough), Deadfall Trail, Sauna and Evil Things. A haunted Halloween party follows Saturday’s films. Oct. 23-25, Mark Durso and Lana Veenker Workshops 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun., The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg; Horror Fest Screenings, 7 and 9 p.m. Fri. –Sat., John Rusnak Workshop, Noon, Sat., Muvico Baywalk 20, 151 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg; $8 per movie; $25 four-movie pass and make-up workshop; $125 full access pass, visit sunscreenfilmfestival.com for detailed schedule. – Franki Weddington

Loyal fans of the influential writer – who is remembered as being the father of the beat generation – are bound to be moved by The End of the Road: An Evening with Jack Kerouac on the 40th Anniversary of his Death, an After Hours Series production at American Stage. The one-man play by Steve A. Rowell and David A. McElroy begins in July 1969, several months before Kerouac died. The audience will get a look into Kerouac’s mind as he neared the end of his life and reflected on the work he created, his life and other events that unfolded during his time. Even the most hardcore Kerouac fans might be surprised at what they learn about this inimitable, unconventional artist. Oct. 21-25, 9 p.m. Weds. -Thurs., 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 5 p.m. Sun., American Stage, 163 Third St. N., St. Petersburg, “pay what you can” admission, americanstage.org. – Lily Reisman

Let’s be honest, the annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival seems a little tepid this season. To celebrate its 28th year, this seaside shindig is pulling out all the stops, including a bloodmobile on hand for your donating pleasure, a children’s Halloween costume contest (screw you, adults), 60 artists peddling seascapes and driftwood sculptures, and a street dance. Not to mention this year’s theme: Fishermen Lost At Sea. Woo-hoo? But one glimpse of the star of the show — the seafood — and all that fancy folderol falls by the wayside. There’s tons of local seafood steamed up and served out to festivalgoers, along with a lot of educational examples on the proper way to gut, shell, and shuck our native foodstuffs. Celebrate the start of stone crab season right: donate a little blood, dance in the streets, and eat a bunch of seafood on John’s Pass. Oct. 24-25, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, Madeira Beach, free, johnspassfestivals.com. – Brian Ries

Stage treatments have graced the most unlikely of films — Legally Blonde, When Harry Met Sally, The Wedding Singer — so George Romero’s cult classic zombie flick, Night of the Living Dead, had no chance of escape, and neither do you. Seven people trapped in an isolated warehouse must fend off a mob of flesh-eating zombies — and as the night wears on, they’re forced to fight off each other, as well. Visit jobsitetheater.org for more info. Oct. 22-Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 4 p.m. Sun., Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa, $24.50.

The Women’s Chorus of the Master Chorale and the Tampa Bay Children’s Chorus join mezzo-soprano Suzanne Mentzer and The Florida Orchestra  for Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. The show visits several venues this weekend: Fri., Oct. 23, 8 p.m., Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; Sat., Oct. 24, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg; Sun., Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. Visit floridaorchestra.org for more info. $20-$67.

The name “Celtic Thunder” sounds pretty cool for a soccer team.  But when the bombastic appellation describes five attractive guys from Ireland and Scotland who sing an odd mix of pop hits and traditional Irish songs, it’s hard not to think someone dipped into the same well of kitsch that inspired over-the-top names like “Lord of the Dance.”  Be that as it may, when Celtic Thunder takes to the stage at the Mahaffey this Friday, they’ll bring with them impressive credentials.  Two of their CDs reached number one on the Billboard World Music Charts, and each of the group’s members had respectable success with singing and live performances prior to joining the manufactured quintet.  Renditions of “Danny Boy” and “Love Thee Dearest” may keep the Irish eyes smiling, but I suspect that a heavy dose of mainstream fare like “Puppy Love,” “I Wanna Know What Love Is” and “Desperado” are more indicative of the group’s target demographic.  Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, Ticket prices range from $39 to $79. 727-892-5767. – Anthony Salveggi

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