Why deal with wind, rain and unraked leaves when the kids can show off their costumes and imbibe a bit of culture during a "fiendishly fun, family-friendly" Halloween event at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts? The museum and adjacent Children's Theatre Company are throwing a Trick-Art-Treat party during which kids can look for black cats, pumpkins, bats and prizes on a Halloween gallery hunt. Or create their own bats during an art-making activity. Plus nibble cookies, candy and cider. At a CTC photobooth, they can show off their own costumes or try out fun stuff from CTC's hoard of disguises.
And for parents and other culture-vultures, admission to "The Audacious Eye: Japanese Art from the Clark Collections" is also free during the event. While the Clark show is chock-a-block with 1,000 years of sophisticated treasures, it does have delights for pint-sized visitors including lots of birds and animals, a couple of pink elephants rolling on their backs, some huge bulls, a big fat frog, and ghosts. Really.
Heads up: While costumes are encouraged, for safety and security reasons, full face masks or hoods cannot be worn inside the museum.
(5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Oct. 31, free. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. 612-870-3131or www.artsmia.org)
