Yes, zombie snacks will be served

SILVER SPRING, MD.

Silver Spring Zombie Walk: Massachusetts has a good number of its own zombie marches, but this one has the benefit of being close to our nation’s capital. It starts at 7:30 p.m. with snacks (tots and brains, they say). It continues with a rally for the undead, and an “attack of people on Ellsworth Drive.’’ Then there’s a break for “zombie shots’’ and a screening of “Shaun of the Dead’’ at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Kids are welcome to participate. Just make sure everyone is dressed for the occasion - good and gory. Starts at Quarry House Tavern, 8401 Georgia Ave., www.silver springzombiewalk.com.

OCT. 17-18

BANNER ELK, N.C.

Woolly Worm Festival: In Punxsutawney, Pa., a groundhog named Phil predicts the length of winter. In Banner Elk, N.C., a worm predicts the severity of winter. Apparently, the woolly worm has 13 dark segments on its body, which parallel the number of weeks of winter. The darker the worm’s segments, the worse the winter’s weeks. This festival celebrates the theory with worm races, crafts, and weather predictions that are taken pretty seriously. Saturday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sunday 10-4. 828-898-5605. www.woollyworm.com.

OCT. 20-24

PHILADELPHIA

Terror Film Festival: A week before Halloween, Philly gets scary with an international lineup of horror films. Weekend screenings include the Spanish film “Zombies and Cigarettes,’’ the New Jersey-made “A Far Cry from Home,’’ which connects homophobia to horror, and “Evil Angel,’’ a film out of Utah that stars Ving Rhames. There are some mild movies and campy thrillers in the mix, so don’t expect to be too petrified. www.terrorfilmfestival.net.

NOV. 6

SAN FRANCISCO

Three-Minute Film Festival: Three minutes goes fast, which is why most directors would shake their heads at the thought of making a film so short. But in San Francisco, budding filmmakers meet the challenge with quickies that often tell an entire story in less time than it takes to microwave a frozen dinner. Entries, which are being accepted through mid-October, fall into four categories: drama-documentary, comedy, animation, and music video. In November, you can see about 15 films chosen for the juried screening. 7 p.m., Bimbo’s 365 Club, 1025 Columbus Ave.. www.radioalice.com.

PLAN AHEAD

DEC. 11-13

MONTEREY, CALIF.

11th annual Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival: This festival guarantees one thing - lots of men and women who like to wear big hats. There’s sensitive cowboy poetry, music, and plenty of western gear. Music performers include J Parson, a cowboy from Bakersfield who actually worked on a ranch running cattle to the Mojave Desert. (He also has a really fantastic cowboy mustache.) Poets include Doris Daley, a cowgirl who writes on her website, “May green grass and gentle breezes prevail . . . Ride tall, ride true, and try to stay outta jail.’’ Quite obviously, she’s the real deal. Tickets: $25 and $35 for individual events, $200 for all-event package. www.montereycowboy.org.

Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; check online. Meredith Goldstein can be reached at mgoldstein@globe.com.