For Friday

Dia de Los Muertos at SAM

This weekend, you can celebrate the Mexican holiday "Dia de Muertos," or Day of the Dead, by honoring those who have passed ... and visiting the Seattle Art Museum.

For the holiday, the Seattle Art Museum is holding its 15th annual Day of the Dead community reception featuring traditional Mexican music performances by the brass band Banda Gozona and artwork to highlight SAM's new Peruvian exhibit.

Dia de Los Muertos at Seattle Art Museum, Fri, November 1, 6–8pm, Seattle Art Museum, free.

For Thursday

Capitol Hill Ghost Tour

Celebrate this Halloween by learning about Capitol Hill's spookiest locations and haunted history.

This hour-and-a-half walking tour will take you around to locations such as the Harvard Exit Theatre, considered by some to be the most haunted theatre in the Northwest for a slew of paranormal activities that started in the 1920s, right after it was first built.

Capitol Hill Historical Ghost Tour, Thu, October 31, 5–6pm, starts at Elliot Bay Bookstore, $5 donation.

For Wednesday

Lessons from Bridge Engineering

In the wake of the Skagit River Bridge collapse, UW Professor John Stanton will give a lecture on what we've learned about bridge failures, and we can do with today's technology to improve tomorrow's bridges.

The lecture is part of UW's 2013 Engineering Lecture Series, exploring the future of local and national infrastructure.

Spanning the Gap: Lessons in Engineering Bridges, Wed, Octoboer 30, 7–9pm, University of Washington's Kane Hall (room 120), free.