SEASON OF DARKNESS
We've come to the time of year when the Druids, the ancient Celtic priests, would usher in the season of darkness. They would venture into the oak forest and dance around the fires, offering sacrifices of plants and animals to the gods. In the morning, each family would leave with an ember to kindle new cooking fires and ward off the evil spirits.

These days, only some people do that. You can find them at an occult bookstore near you. Most of us just dress the kids as Spider-Man or a princess and go trolling around for fun-sized chocolate bars.

That delicious annual ritual takes place in the city of Pittsburgh Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the first evening of darkness, as the clocks are falling back Saturday night. You might have noticed that these trick-or-treat hours pose a dilemma for Steelers fans, who planned to spend the evening watching Big Ben try to terrify the bothersome New England Patriots.

Steelers ... candy? Steelers ... candy? Bush ... Kerry? What decisions we have to make in the next few days.

LAST CALL FOR HORROR
By now, you've either visited a local haunted house, planned on it for the weekend or decided that daily life is scary enough without people in greasepaint jumping out at you.

Just to review, the Romero Fright Fest, Tom Savini's "TerrorMania," the Art Institute's Khymira, the Scream Asylum and more are all still up and running.

CHILLY BILLY
Back in the day, Saturday nights between 11 and 11:30 used to be an anxious time for your Hot List writer. Those were the minutes when I tried to make it through the seemingly endless news (with Adam Lynch) to get to Chiller Theater with Chilly Billy Cardille. Remember when he used to just light a match and hold it to his face? If you made it to that point, he was sure to keep you awake with a cool monster or horror feature like "House on Haunted Hill" or one of the Frankenstein movies. Tonight, Chilly Billy Cardille and the old cast climb aboard the Clipper for the Return of Chiller Theater Halloween Dance Cruise with music by Sputzy, a costume contest and prizes. It boards at 7 and sails from 8 to 11. Tickets are $18.

On Saturday night, the Billy Price Band boards the Clipper for the Shiver on the River cruise from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $20.

'FORBIDDEN ZONE'
Here's that late-night bit of chiller theater. How can you resist the following movie description? "Dubbed 'The "Citizen Kane" of Underground Movies' (Film Threat), 'Forbidden Zone' delves into the world of the Sixth Dimension, a kingdom ruled by a horny midget and his commandeering Queen, where a California teenager finds there is no turning back to her familiar suburban surroundings when she is flung headlong into the nonsensical world where obese maidens in bikinis, a dancing frog, robot-like boxers and degraded beings of all kind run wild!" It's directed by Richard Elfman, brother of Oingo Boingo founder and composer Danny Elfman, who wrote some of the music. It is being screened at the Oaks Theater in Oakmont at midnight Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday. There also will be music by the Gothees Saturday. Tickets are $5. Call 412-828-6311.

OTHER HAUNTS
Kids who just can't wait another day for candy can head for Station Square, the site of Kidtoberfest, from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Kids can dress up and enjoy trick-or-treating in the Freight House Shops & Bessemer Court (2-4 p.m.), hay rides, the Witch Hazel Stage Show, CreepyTime Puppets Shows, inflatable play areas, crafts and more. The first 200 kids to arrive in costume will receive a free prize. There will also be free parking and a free train ride.

The Kidtoberfest activities can be combined with a cruise on the Gateway Clipper for the Halloween Monster Party, where there will be prizes, treats and "frightfully friendly characters" Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.

A floral Halloween? A little odd, but OK. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens invites kids to wear their costumes to Halloween Happenings for crafts, face painting, games, pot-a-plant, storytelling and snacks. It's free with paid admission Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.

There are a few spaces left for Creatures of the Night, a non-scary Halloween event for families with night hikes on the trails at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Fox Chapel. Times are 6:30 and 7:30 tonight. Advance registration is required. Call 412-963-6100.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington features a Trick-or-Treat route Saturday around the property for children (4:30-6:30 p.m.), Family Halloween Party (6:30-8:30 p.m.; $20) and Monster Mash at the Hitchin' Post Saloon (8 p.m.-1 a.m.; $10; $5 in costume). Call 1-866-399-6957.

BLOODSUCKER
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre puts one of our most elegant monsters on stage this weekend in an encore performance of "Dracula." A full-length ballet produced in conjunction with the Houston Ballet, it debuted in 1997 to sold-out houses. "Dracula" is choreographed by Ben Stevenson, using the music of Franz Liszt and John Lanchbery. Performances are at the Benedum at 8 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $14 to $117. Call 412-456-6666 or go to www.pbt.org.

The Dance Alloy gets into the haunted holiday spirit with Beth Corning's "Standing Room Only," described as "a moveable performance throughout the Dance Centers studios, nooks and crannies, lit only by flashlights held by members of the audience." Performances are at 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m. Sunday at the Dance Alloy Studios, 5530 Penn Ave., Friendship. Admission is $10; $5 kids 12 and under. Call 412-363-4321.

PHOTO SHOWS
Duane Michals, son of a McKeesport steelworker, went on to become a world-renowned artist with more than 20 books in print. He is well known for his surrealistic and dream-like images, as well as his cover of The Police's "Synchronicity" album, covers of Life magazine and fashion spreads for Vogue. The New Gallery at Pittsburgh Filmmakers will exhibit eight images each from two new series, "Jonathan Kills a Fly" and "Cavafy Imagines He Is a Priest." The opening is from 7 to 9 tonight, with a talk by Michals at 8. A documentary about him called "Duaneland" will close the Three Rivers Film Festival Nov. 18.

In the classic song by the Five Man Electrical Band, they are "breaking up the scenery, blocking my mind." To the Pittsburgh Signs Project, they are a thing of beauty. We're talking about signs, ones we pass every day often without taking much notice. The PSP sent a call out for the most striking, the most iconic and the most evocative, and the collective photos of them make for art in Pittsburgh Filmmakers' Melwood Gallery, opening with the Michals exhibit tonight. According to the Project, "Signs are always trying to say something. Signs make our spaces a mongrelization of type-styles, graphics, and fashions: The futuristic becomes the modern becomes the dated becomes the retro."

URBAN SOUNDS
Aussie singer Keith Urban gives new meaning to the term "country stud." Urban not only has the looks, he writes most of his own songs and can play guitar, too. He recently told the PG about the juggling act a country star plays: "The thoughtful songwriter crowd, the yee-haw-Friday-night crowd, the Sunday-night crowd, people who like straight country, people who like country and classic rock. We appeal to all of them, but it's hard to know how to combine those things on different nights. We're still working that out." He works it out at the A.J. Palumbo Center at 7:30 tonight. Tickets are $30-$35. Call 412-323-1919.

A Beatles tribute? Of course. A Hendrix tribute? Why not. A nationally touring Dave Matthews Tribute Band? A bit absurd, frankly. If you're game, it's at the Rex Theatre, South Side, at 9 tonight. $8. Call 412-323-1919.

The tireless Warren Haynes -- in demand from both the Dead and the Allmans -- hits the Byham at 8 p.m. Saturday with his band Gov't Mule. The All Music Guide recently wrote that, with its new album, "Deja Voodoo," "Gov't Mule takes a giant step forward while retaining the gritty, powerful blues-rock base that is the hallmark of the band's sound." Tickets are $28. Call 412-323-1919.

In the clubs, gothic chamber-pop trio Rasputina is joined by Skeleton Key at Mr. Small's Theatre at 9 tonight; Lotus, a jazz quintet from Philly that embraces house and trance beats, plays Mr. Small's at 8 p.m. Saturday with Borderless Puzzle and 3 Apples High; and hardcore punk-metal band Dillinger Escape Plan headlines Halloween at The World with Everytime I Die, Zao and Misery Signal at 7 p.m.

POLITICS AND MUSIC
Love it or hate it, you've got to admit that the Bush administration has been good for The Capitol Steps. The political satirists, who formed in 1981, have captured the past four years on their latest CD, "Between Iraq and a Hard Place," with songs such as "Talk 'bout Saddam" (to the tune of "Walk Like a Man"), "Korea" ("Maria") and "Condoleezza" ("Mona Lisa"). They've recently added songs like "I've Taken Stands on Both Sides Now," about John Kerry's positions, and, taking off on a recent Bush malapropism, "Don't Go Fakin' Your Smart." They've performed for the past five presidents, and now they perform two days before the election at the Byham at 3 p.m. Sunday. The show marks the centennial of the theater, originally known as the Gayety. Tickets are $27 and $37. Go to www.pgharts.org or call 412-456-6666.

HEAVY NIGHT
Rusted Root's Jim Donovan hosts an evening of "heavy music, heavy magic and a toast to some heavy hitters in the alternative/holistic community" at Club Cafe Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. The evening features the CD release of The James Harvey Band's "Message to the Underground" as well as Kim Chestney's recently published book, "The Psychic Workshop." The Pittsburgh Healer's Network, The Marchbein Center and Journeys of Life will present the first annual Community Achievement Award to Sven Hosford and Kathy Briar, publishers of Point of Light Magazine. Tickets are $5 each; go to www.clubcafelive.com.

DRUM CIRCLE
Drums can be a lot more than a source of rhythm. They can be the source of conservation. That's the mission at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater for Talking Drums, a performance produced and directed by Elie Kihonia, founder of Afrika Yetu and the Umoja African Arts Company. It will feature Youssoupha Lo, a master drummer, dancer and acrobat from Senegal who has performed with Youssou N'Dour; Cheick Mbaye, a griot, or storyteller, from the Mandingue people of West Africa, who has led many drum circles in the United States and performed with Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart; Liberian multi-instrumentalist Kaikpai Paasawe; and Pittsburgh Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist Cico Valdez. Audience members will be given a drum, guided and readied to play in 5 minutes. It's at 8 tonight and Saturday. Tickets are 412-281-3100.

WHAT ELSE?
What's up with the pantyhose filled with sand at the Carnegie International? Find out when artist Senga Nengudi appears in a program with filmmaker Linda Goode Bryant, who documents Nengudi in "Making the Private Public." It's at 2 p.m. Saturday at Carnegie Lecture Hall. It's free.

Comedian Brian Regan, last seen on Letterman making fun of pet psychics and cooking shows, plays the Byham at 7:30 tonight. Tickets are $28. 412-323-1919.