Halloween doesn't have to be about costumed ghouls and overloading on high-fructose corn syrup. For the artistically curious, Helen Day Art Center in Stowe is offering, on Halloween night, a visual smorgasbord of short films, accompanied by an original score by DJ Ikail del Toro. 

The second annual Magic Lantern Show Art Film Festival evokes the bygone tradition of magic lantern shows, which were an important precursor to cinema. The original magic lantern shows, which date back several hundred years, were often put on by itinerant impresarios, who would project light through fanciful, painted glass plates while providing an early form of voice-over narration. 

Here's a nifty website devoted to the history and technology of the magic lantern.

Helen Day's show, which runs from 5 to 10 p.m. on October 31, showcases 14 short films (12 juried, two invited) from national and international film and video artists. The films will run on a continuous, 47-minute loop and will be accompanied by a score composed for the occasion. All films will be projected onto the gazebo at the Stowe Free Library at 90 Pond Street.

Artists include Emilie Crewe, Brooke Schools and Yu-Wen Wu. 

So, if you're tired of those pesky trick-or-treaters ringing your bell — or if you've already devoured all the fun-size Snickers bars that you bought "for the kids" — consider heading to Stowe for some Halloween treats for your eyes and ears, not your belly.