WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: Nov. 2-4

*FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2

MASS-MEX FIESTA “As you wash off the remnants of All Hallow’s Eve, join us as we feast, mix and mingle with some real cool souls. Because the dead can’t eat – only smell (the ultimate sense memory) – there will be plenty of Taza chocolate chicken mole, tomatillo pork verde, handmade tortillas, Ocean Ave Pops corn paletas and other ofrendas for you to fiesta upon Skeletal servers will save you before you hit the dancefloor with Mariachi Estampa de America — Somerville’s premiere DotD party band. Giveaways from Kitchensurfing for best costume are just icing on the sugar skull.” Nov. 2, 7—10 p.m. Tickets $45 all-you-can-eat, available through website. Center for Arts at the Armory Performance Hall, 191 Highland Ave. www.artsatthearmory.org

SPREAD THE LEAVE AROUND “Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica presents its fall concert of global jazz and exotic chamber music at the Nave Gallery, featuring Siamese cats, George Gershwin preludes, ethnic tambourine solos, and original music from a forthcoming PBS documentary. Led by percussionist & artistic director, Brian O’Neill (“a first-rate composer”-Huffington Post) along with Geni Skendo (bass flute, flute), Jason Davis (bass, Earthsounds, Ten Tumbao), and Noriko Terada (percussion, Women of the World).” Nov. 2, 8—9 p.m. Tickets $15 advance; $5 18 & under w/ adult. Nave Gallery at Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powderhouse Blvd. www.orchestrotica.com

*SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3

OF COURSE What do Zach Galifianakis, Walt Whitman and ZZ Top all have in common? Their facial hair is an inspiration to the contestants in this year’s BEARDFEST, brought to us by The Somerville Arts Council. The contest will produce five winners in five categories: Natural Full Beard, Free-Style Full Beard, Free-Style Mustache, Free-Style Partial Beard (including, but not limited to, goats, sideburns, pencils, handlebars, twizzlers, “The Vinnie Paul,” etc.) and Best Fake Beard (for the follicle-challenged, women, babies, fish, etc.). Come join the fun and witness art as facial hair (or facial hair as art) and see who stands triumphantly as winner. Nov. 3, 3—7 p.m. Tickets $5. Center for Arts at the Armory Performance Hall, 191 Highland Ave. www.artsatthearmory.org

AROUND THE WORLD What Julian Lage of the New York Times called, “almost miraculous,” finally comes to Somerville. Julian Lage Group & Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio light up the stage at the Somerville Theatre with two creative guitar virtuosos, Lage and Pascual, going at it. Lage comes with his 5-piece group that helped earn him a Grammy nomination, while Pascual is with his newest project. Nov. 3, 8 p.m. Tickets $18—38. The Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq. www.somervilletheatreonline.com

*SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4

STYROFOAM PLATES A year, almost to the day, after his divorce from Zooey Deschanel (yes, the actress!) Ben Gibbard, lead front-swooner of Death Cab For Cutie, comes to The Somerville Theatre as a solo artist. The first album bearing his birth name, Former Lives, was just released last month and no doubt deals with the break-up. Sometimes a dude’s just gotta vent. Wonder which Death Cab gems will pepper the set list. Advance Base opens.  Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $39.60 (including fees), available on Tickmaster. The Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq. www.somervilletheatreonline.com