Xu Wei/Shanghai Daily news

One of the world's greatest clowns, Slava Polunin, unfurls "Slava's SnowShow" at Xintiandi, featuring more clowns, mime, Russian tunes, spectacular shifting images and artificial snow.

Halloween night is fun. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, watching horror movies, visiting "haunted houses" and generally having a good time.

For this year's Halloween celebrations, Xintiandi presents family entertainment, "Slava's SnowShow," an outdoor show created by Russian artist Slava Polunin, one of the world's greatest clowns.

The show runs through Sunday and moves on to the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on November 18.

The hour-and-a-half performance, with a funny 20-minute intermission, combines comedy and sentiment in a setting of stunning extravagance and beauty.

To the music of Russian tunes, clowns in different costumes will showcase Russian folk dance and hilarious mime.

Many of the scenes are surreal and dreamlike, one astonishing image melting into the next. A bed becomes a boat and a web envelopes the audience. the show's memorable leaves most of the audience knee-deep in artificial snow.

Ever since its debut 14 years ago in Moscow's Pushkin Center, the production has been staged in 100 cities of more than 30 countries and regions. It won the York Drama Desk Award of "Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience" in 2005 and the Moscow Stanislavsky Award and Raikins Award in 2001.

Taiwanese singer Evonne Hsu will perform. "I was impressed by the happy mood of the show," Hsu says. "The audience can also have fun in the interactive games with the clowns."

Anyone who spends 500 yuan (US$67) at any two or more shops or restaurants in Xintiandi or Corporate Avenue can get a ticket to the show and take part in the Snow Blizzard lucky draw for free tickets.

Date: through November 4, 12-11pm
Venue: South Block Piazza, Xintiandi, 123 Xingye Rd
Tel: 6386-1818, 6323-6006