Two very different sides of Yellow Springs will be on display this weekend. One side is light and airy, focused on the village’s thriving visual arts scene, while the other is a seemingly-creepy-yet-altruistic event featuring average folks in zombie drag prowling the streets for charity.

Yellow Springs Arts Council has three days dedicated entirely to local artists and galleries. The weekend begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, with the Art Stroll, followed by the popular Artist Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21. Both events give participants opportunities to sample the work of eight local artists and 19 guest artists currently on display in a variety of Yellow Springs galleries. The 8th annual studio tour and sale runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

“There’s something going on every weekend the entire month of October,” said Holly Simpson of the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce. “The artist studio tour the weekend after Street Fair is a really big event for us. The Art Stroll is Friday night and people can go from gallery to gallery for the shows. Then Saturday and Sunday is the studio tour and Saturday night is the Zombie Walk, which has been growing every year.”

The Zombie Walk was an instant hit when it launched in 2009, but the number of participants and curious observers continues to grow. Rather than sending fear into the hearts of every resident in Yellow Springs, however, now the annual sighting of hundreds of hideous zombies shambling through town is a highly anticipated event. It’s not too late to get decked out like the walking dead and take part in this unique evening on the town.

The fourth annual Zombie Walk, which is a benefit for Home Inc. and local food pantries, returns to Corry Street in downtown Yellow Springs from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday. The fundraiser also features live music from local acts such as progressive rockers By Means of Words and hip-hop group Grey Market.

The fun in Yellow Springs doesn’t end at 11 p.m. Late-night activities include an 11:30 p.m. screening of “ParaNorman” at Little Art Theatre and rockers Animal Grace performing until closing at Peach’s Grill.

Another added bonus to the weekend festivities is the chance to see the entrants in the second annual Scarecrow Festival.

“All the local businesses make scarecrows,” Simpson said. “We had really great participation last year for it being the first year. We’re looking forward to seeing what everybody comes up with this year.”

Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.