Put an extra touch of class in your Halloween celebrations this year, as Edmonton’s finest cultural purveyors get into the spooky spirit:

On October 24, 27 and 29 the Edmonton Opera presents Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Jubilee.

One of Verdi’s finest and darkest works, Rigoletto is a world of decadence and depravity in the Duke of Mantua’s court. Life here swirls frenetically in a circus of deception, lust, betrayal and - eventually - murder. Rigoletto will invite audiences into a fantastical world where morality does not apply.

“Very modern and very dark” is how they described it to dEdmonton, and that sounds good to us!

On October 30th and 31st the Edmonton Symphony is having two programs to celebrate the season at the Winspear. On the Friday and Saturday night they have Halloween: The Concert for the grownups:

We’ve rounded up a frighteningly good mix of music – from classical to popular – that will send all the right chills down your spine! This concert mixes rousing spine-tinglers by Mussorgsky, Dukas and Bach with chills from Phantom of the Opera and music from Psycho.

And then on the afternoon of the 31st there is Spooktacular! for the whole family:

Just before the kids go trick or treating, we’ve got musical tricks and treats! Dress up in your Halloween costume, and haunt the concert hall with us. Pre-concert activities start at 1:15 PM in the main lobby and include an instrument petting zoo and craft making of masks and percussion instruments.

Also on the 31st the Art Gallery of Alberta will be busy fending off a invasion of art-appreciating Zombies:

It’s a nightmare at the Museum! Visit the AGA’s art-inspired Haunted House on Halloween Day from 1-4 pm! Spooky sculptures, petrifying portraits and an army of zombies will fill the gallery on this special HSBC All Day Saturday for families and people of all ages. Come for tricks and treats and resurrect artists from the past by making your own scary mask.