Calgary is closing out October with a busy stretch of news, and a few of these stories are actually worth planning a trip around. Here's what's happening in the city right now.

Start with the beer. Establishment Brewing Company has been named Alberta Brewery of the Year at the Alberta Beer Awards for the fourth time in six years — a run that makes it arguably the province's most consistent brewery right now. The taproom is a easy add to any Calgary itinerary, especially if you like hop-forward styles, which is the house specialty.

The city's Culture and Entertainment District also has a new honorary leader: Dogtor Conrad Sparkles, a nine-year-old miniature schnauzer who won a public election with thousands of votes. It's a lighthearted stunt, but there's a real travel hook — Conrad will appear as the official dog of the Grey Cup Festival this November, so if you're in town for the Canadian football final, expect to see him around.

Wine drinkers have a bigger reason to book a late-November visit. Grape Escape returns to the BMO Centre on November 20 and 21 with more than 125 vendors pouring wine, beer, spirits, seltzers and non-alcoholic options. Saturday's session has already sold out, so Friday is the safer bet for anyone still looking to get tickets.

If you're in Calgary in the final days of October, the Halloween circuit is still running until October 31. Pumpkins After Dark at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park runs until Saturday with admission from about $17 for adults and free for kids three and under. Heritage Park hosts When Dark Things Dwell, an evening game-style experience at 8 and 10:30 p.m. for $54.95. Screamfest takes over GMC Stadium near Stampede Park from 7 p.m. to midnight, with general admission from around $35 and fast-pass and haunted-house combos available. For an adults-only night, Spruce Meadows runs an 18-plus horror event at 6 p.m. for $110, and if you'd rather spend nothing, Frights and Delights at The Confluence on October 30 and 31 is free.

Beyond Halloween, the calendar keeps filling. Disney's Beauty and the Beast plays the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium from November 10 to 15, with tickets on sale now. And just outside the city, a Christmas market with more than 300 vendors returns next month — a solid excuse to extend a winter trip into the foothills.

Why care? Calgary often gets treated as a stopover on the way to Banff, but this stretch of events shows it can anchor a weekend on its own: a top-rated brewery, a large-tasting festival in November, theatre at the Jubilee, and free and ticketed seasonal events across the city. Late autumn into the Grey Cup window is shaping up as a good time to be there.