The early-costume crowd

Contrary to popular belief, little kids and drag queens aren't the only people who love putting on crazy costumes for no particular reason. Verily, there is a nation of us who run 10-kilometer races in "Borat"-style banana hammocks and throw dictator-themed cocktail parties. Well, maybe not "us" literally, but we identify strongly with the beautiful freaks who do.

Why not join the fun this weekend at one of several costume-themed bacchanals planned across the Valley? After all, it's still three long weeks until Halloween.

TOUR DE FAT

Part kegger, part parade, part bike show, this annual, all-day affair from the beer-bottling gear-heads at New Belgium Brewing defies easy description. Here's what you need to bring: 1) a bicycle; 2) an outlandish costume; and 3) a parched palate. Rest assured, you will find occasion to use all three. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Tempe Town Lake, followed by a family-friendly bike parade at 10 a.m. that lasts roughly a half-hour. Then it's back to the park for live music and friendly, beer-soaked revelry. All proceeds benefit charity.

The Tour de Fat begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Tempe Town Lake, near Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Admission is free. Visit tour-de-fat.com for more information.

ARIZONA FETISH BALL

Dust off your latex chaps and head down to Old Town Scottsdale for the Arizona Fetish Ball. Billed as "the largest fetish event in the Southwest," this yearly caucus of the Valley's sexy sartorial fringe is open to everybody - so long as the "body" in question is wrapped in some form of rubber, latex, vinyl or ultra-formal costuming. There will also be vendors, stage performances and live music from such industrial dance acts as Android Lust and Mankind Is Obsolete. Afterwards, you can get Philly cheesesteaks up the street - that is, if you can get the ball gag out of your mouth!

The Arizona Fetish Ball starts at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Venue of Scottsdale, 7117 E. Third Ave. Tickets start at $30. Visit azfetishball.com for more information.

MUCCA PAZZA

Imagine if John Philip Sousa was knocked up by Sid Vicious. Not just once, but repeatedly. The offspring would probably look something like Mucca Pazza, a Chicago-based punk rock marching band playing tonight in Tempe. Formed by composer Mark Messing and comprising some 29 musicians, Mucca Pazza (it means "mad cow" in Italian) is known for a lively and no-holds-barred live show - in other words, the kind of show where you could wear, say, a head-to-toe bunny outfit and no one would raise an eyebrow. You could also just wear a T-shirt and cargo shorts, but where's the fun in that?

Mucca Pazza and Gram Rabbit are playing 9 p.m. Friday at Stray Cat Bar & Grill, 2433 E. University Drive, Tempe. Tickets are $6. Call (480) 967-1040 or visit myspace.com/muccapazza for more information.