Philadelphia is getting into the Halloween spirit. Haunted houses, themed movie screenings and family-friendly festivals are abundant. Celebrate Philly’s rich history of mural arts, Hispanic Heritage month, reptiles and fashion through new exhibitions in the city’s museums. Here’s our list of the best free and inexpensive events happening this weekend.

Menopause the Musical: The Penn’s Landing Playhouse is home to a new musical, running through November 22. Classic baby boomer songs make up the score as four women bond over all the fun that comes with menopause. Performances are at 2 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11. Tickets run $45-65 and can be purchased at http://plplayhouse.com/ or by calling 855-hit-show.

Halloween Boo Fest: It might be fall, but outdoor movie screenings are still happening at Weavers Way Farms. On Oct. 9, catch Curious George from 7-8:30 p.m. Bring the family, a picnic and blanket. The farmstand will be open until 7 p.m. The farm is located at 7095 Henry Ave. Philadelphia. For more information, contact skane@weaversway.coop or visit http://www.weaversway.coop/.

The Civil War Exhibition Lecture: UPenn’s Van Pelt-Dietrich Library on Walnut Street is hosting a special exhibit on Civil War era ephemera – printed objects like handbills, sheet music and envelopes – which shed light on daily life during the war. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A special lecture will be delivered at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9 by Professor Edward L. Ayers from the University of Virginia. The lecture will take place at the Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion in the Kislak Center for Special Collections.

Terror Behind the Walls: It’s the 25th anniversary season of Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary. The historical prison hosts a terrifying theatrical production through November, including an interactive show and a prison-break style adventure. Tickets run from $13 during the week to $45 on a Saturday night, although purchasing online saves you $6. Visit http://www.easternstate.org/ to purchase.

Sesame Place Halloween Spooktacular: Running through November 1, Sesame Place in Langhorne celebrates Halloween with parades, contests and costumes. Check out Abby Cadabby’s Magical Halloween Maze, dance parties and hay rides. There are three holiday-themed shows and special programming on specific dates. Tickets run $65 a person. For more information, visit www.sesameplace.com.

Fright Factory: One of Philly’s scariest events, a 25,000-square-foot haunted house in South Philadelphia. Shows run 7:30 to 11 p.m. on weekend. Tickets for Oct. 9 and 10 are $28 ($34 at the door) and $26 on October 11 ($32 at the door). For more information, visit http://frightfactory.tv/.

Open Source Trolley Tours: Explore Mural Arts through trolley tours on Oct. 9 and 10. On Oct. 9, from 1-3:30 p.m., take in projects in south Philly by Odili Donald Odita, Michelle Angela Ortiz and the Dufala Brothers, among others. Saturday’s 9:30 a.m. to noon tours explore mural projects to north of Philly by Keir Johnston and Shinique Smith. Tours meet in the Hamilton Building of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Tickets are $35 for the individual tours or $65 for both.

Immortal Beauty at Drexel University: Drexel’s latest exhibit, Immortal Beauty: Highlights of the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection runs through Dec. 12. The exhibit is free to attend at the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery of Drexel’s Antoinette Wesphal College of Media Arts and Design. The exhibit features designs from Oscar de la Renta, Halston, Alexander Wang and Elsa Schiaparelli, among other great fashion designers. Visit http://drexel.edu/ for more info.

Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly: The Academy of Natural Science’s exhibit highlights reptiles from around the world. Running through Jan. 10, the exhibit’s general admission is $22.95 ($5 for members). For more information, visit www.ansp.org.

Hispanic Heritage Month Walking Tour: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a walking tour on Oct. 10 and 11 (also runs Oct. 19, 20, 24, 25) at 2 p.m. The free one-hour tour will focus on the contribution Spain and her colonies made to the United States’s success in the American Revolution. Meet at Signer’s Garden on the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets.

By Dorothy Sasso

For Weekender

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Enjoy a weekend in Philadelphia.
http://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_libertybell.jpg.optimal.jpgEnjoy a weekend in Philadelphia.