SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2011 >>>

1, A bevy of local Pierce County farms will take part in a joint vision brought to you by the WSU Extension, Pierce County Conservation District and Cascade Harvest Coalition: the HarvestFest 2011 Farm Tour. Expect farm tours (naturally), chef demos, wine tasting, hayrides, corn mazes and all the like - in addition to plenty of learning. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., experience local farms from the Puyallup Valley to Orting and beyond, including Picha Farms and Terry's Berries in P-Town, Sholz Farm and Tahoma Farms in Orting, and Blue Willow Lavender Farm on the Key Peninsula. For more info visit county.wsu.edu/king/agriculture/harvestcelebration.

2. Yelm Farm and Pet will host a "Pink Pancake Breakfast" from 9 a.m. to noon as part of Purina's second annual "Pink 50 Campaign," an effort to unite animal lovers everywhere and raise awareness and support for breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

3. Beginning at 10 a.m. members of the CLAW (Cartoonists' League of Absurdist Washingtonians) will gather at Comic Book Ink to celebrate 24 Hour Comics Day, challenging themselves once again to complete a 24 page comic in only 24 hours. The event benefits CLAW's scholarship fund, raising money to help students with a passion for cartooning pay for things like tuition, books or art supplies. Local cartoonists RR Anderson is said to be planning a Wyatt James Boy Detective entry. Consider yourself warned.

4. The Weekly Volcano would travel to the ends of the earth for a savory helping of local craft brews and soft pretzels. We've proven it before. But thankfully, from 2-10 p.m. we only need to go as far as Tacoma's Opera Alley. Presented by the Triangle Business District, Amocat Café and The Mix, Oktoberfest Tacoma will feature local craft beer, pretzels, a pie-eating contest, chainsaw pumpkin carving and more.

5. The guys over at NWCZ Radio have claimed the first night of the month at Hell's Kitchen as Rocktoberfest - a night of devil horns and fist pounding (and beer pounding). Expect crushing sets from local-favorites Mahnhammer, Dethproof, Parlooka, Fox and the Law, Burn the Harbor and headliner, The Screaming Starts, beginning at 6 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: A bunch of wine tastings