Weekend event picks: Apple festival, mermaids & more

Crashing from your Halloween sugar high doesn't have to be a bore. This weekend will be stacked with tons of good times, naturally.

The very short Philadelphia run of "Newsies" (probably a bit too short for our liking) at the Academy of Music (240 S. Broad St.) wraps up this weekend with a 7:30 p.m. show on Thursday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m. performances on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m. curtains also on Saturday, Nov. 1, and a 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. showing on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The 2014 debut of Phila. Flea's indoor season at the Fed Ex Service Center (820 Spring Garden St.) is Saturday, Nov. 1. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., browse through setups from various vendors including Antique Rescue, The Pony Shed and more.

Pies, fritters, dumplings, cider, butter — all of the apple variety at Peddler's Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, Pa.). A plethora of musicians, kids entertainment and performers (no seeds included) will reign supreme at Saturday, Nov. 1 and Sunday, Nov. 2's Apple Festival, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Look out for the opening of a new Saxbys coffee location in the Village, too.

We're not condoning any reckless behavior here, but maybe you need an early-morning beer pick-me-up on Saturday, Nov. 1. Wilmington Beer Week officially starts at 10 a.m. with a build-your-own flight at Chelsea Tavern (821 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.). The boozy events — like crafts and drafts night, cheese night and Mexican night — continue until Saturday, Nov. 8 at venues throughout Wilmington.

The 34th incarnation of the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, featuring 17 films with settings in Nazi era, before a Bar Mitzvah and Israel, kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 1 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 16. Many of the films screen at the Gershman Y (401 S. Broad St.), though others play at other locations at various times throughout the festival.

Newsflash: Mermaids exist. And they're at the Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Dr., Camden) from Saturday, Nov. 1 until Sunday, Nov. 9. The Weeki Wachee Mermaids will perform synchronized aquatic routines in the midst of the aquarium's sharks, turtles and stingrays. Check them out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for performances and meet the tailed beauties between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

A hint of nostalgia comes to Sts. Neumann-Goretti High School (10th and Moore Streets) at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. Paying tribute to the days of Dick Clark's Philadelphia Bandstand are classic musical acts The Dovells, Charlie Gracie, Philly Cuzz, Frankie and the Fashions and Four Seasons tribute group Lights Out.

For more costumed shenanigans, XFinity Live (3601 S. Broad St.) will be back at it again on Saturday, Nov. 1 for Nightmare on Broad Street. Dance all night in your most scandalous getup and rub shoulders with Playboy Playmate Colleen Shannon. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Keep the kids entertained on Sunday, Nov. 2 with a completely free park festival in Liberty Lands Park (926 N. American St.). No need for convincing, this gathering, beginning at 1 p.m., will have face painters and a moon bounce. Dream come true.

Don't forget: There are tons of costume parties in both Philadelphia and Atlantic City, Day of the Dead celebrations and live musical performances all devoted to Halloween.