11 brilliant things to do this weekend in Shanghai

Photograph: courtesy 247tickets

Halloween is less than a week away and festivities are in full swing this weekend. But if that's not your thing, Shanghai’s also got plenty of events over the next couple days that don’t involve pumpkins. Let loose with an unchoreographed dance event where all proceeds go to a good cause, browse a craft and farmers’ market or tuck into an autumnal Yunnan feast. Here are our top picks.

Dancelife

Photograph: UfaBizPhoto via shutterstock

A dance class of sorts, but not the kind you’re thinking of, at Dancelife the lights are off, the tunes are loud and you’re free to dance however the music moves you – whether that’s the Lindy hop, the lawnmower or swaying to a beat that’s all your own. All proceeds from this event go to Lifeline, a free mental health helpline service.

📍ZY Dance Studio, Room 304, Third Floor, 596 Yanan Zhong Lu, near Shimenyi Lu. Sun 27. 5.30-6.30pm. 50RMB.

Jingan Craft and Farmers' Market

Photograph: courtesy Jingan Craft and Farmers Market

Expect over 30 vendors offering food, drinks, crafts, design and handmade products. There will be a bouncy castle and activities for kids, plus an adoption day for our furry friends.

📍Zeitgeist, 537 Haifang Lu, near Xikang Lu. Sun 27. Midday-7pm. Free entry.

Bloc Party at The Cannery

Photograph: courtesy The Cannery

The Cannery presents its last instalment of its Bloc Party for the year – F*ck that’s Delicious: Food Court Kings. The event is bringing in 15 of Shanghai’s hottest chefs to put up food stands featuring food court-inspired grub. Only one food court king (or queen) will reign supreme.

📍The Cannery, Room 106, Building 1, 1107 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu. Sat 26. Midday-6pm. Free entry.

The Shanghai Ghost Tour

Photograph: courtesy Newman Tours

Brace yourself for an eerie tour of Shanghai after nightfall. Discover ancient Chinese superstitions, walk through Shanghai's alleyways and back-streets, visit the spirits at a cemetery and listen to stories about the ghosts that haunt The Paramount.

📍Jingan Temple Metro Station, Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu. Sun 27. 6-8pm. 190RMB. Extract the QR code above to purchase tickets.

Bloody Babes

Photograph: courtesy Roxie

LBT bar/club Roxie is throwing a Halloween party. On Friday, get two drinks for 100RMB, and on Saturday get a free shot if you dress in red.

📍Roxie, Second Floor, 359 Kangding Lu, near Shaanxi Bei Lu. Fri 25-Sat 26. 8pm-late. Free entry.

Jin Hua pop-up: Hairy Crab and The Southern Harvest

Photograph: Mae Mu via Unsplash

Even though Jin Hua has closed, the Yunnan joint is coming back for a two-night dinner pop-up at Egg. Expect a menu full of mushrooms, fresh fruit and veg sourced from the southern province and seasonal favourite, hairy crab.

📍Egg, 12 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. Fri 25-Sat 26. 8-10pm. 288RMB.

Chef + Cóctel: Phoebe Han + Koen Vessie

Photograph: courtesy el Willy

El Willy is having a first-of-its-kind event where chef Koen Vessies will team up with Healer's Phoebe Han for a menu that blends food and drinks from the East and the West.

📍El Willy, South Bund 22, 22 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, near Jinling Lu. Fri 25. 6.30-10.30pm. 498RMB.

Black Swan Party

Photograph: courtesy 3 1/3

The Black Swan Party is back this weekend. A black tie event, there'll be music all evening from four DJs, including Andrew Bull aka DJ El Toro, DJ Blueman, DJ Clef G (co-founder of Alter.) and DJ Zhengxuan Huang.

📍Club 3 1/3, First Floor, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu. Fri 25. 9pm-5am. 300RMB (including two cocktails).

Phil Kay Live in Shanghai

Photograph: Shanghai Comedy Bunker

From regular appearances on BBC1’s The Standup Show, Phil hosted his own comedy series titled Phil Kay Feels on Channel 4. Kay has also worked with Eddie Izzard, Harry Hill, Ardal O’Hanlon and Jonathan Ross, and has featured on BBC’s QI and Russell Howard’s Good News.

📍Shanghai Comedy Bunker, Third Floor, Jingan Sports Centre, 428 Jiangning Lu, near Wuding Lu. Fri 25. 9-11pm. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale). Extract the QR code above to purchase tickets.

Rocky Horror Drag Show

Photograph: courtesy 247tickets

An outrageously sinful, gender-bent reinterpretation of the ultimate smutty cult classic. Follow the light over at the Frankenstein place, find out what’s on the slab down in the lab and whatever did happen to Fay Wray in the end.

📍The Pearl, 471 Zhapu Lu, near Haining Lu. Sat 26. 10.30pm-12.30am. 250RMB; 200RMB (presale). Extract the QR code above to purchase tickets.

Dungeon Of Nightmares at Found 158

Photograph: The Creative Exchange via Unsplash

Found 158 and the restaurants inside are getting freaky with a midnight Halloween costume parade. As if this place wasn't spooky enough. The top costume will receive 4,000RMB in vouchers.

📍Found 158, 158 Julu Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu. Sat 26. 7pm-3am. Free entry.

More from Time Out Shanghai

Click below for more from Time Out Shanghai