A costume contest and “instrument petting zoo” will precede a Halloween-inspired concert by the Kansas University Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday.

The concert, titled “Wizards, Bats & Vampires” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Ave. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children, seniors and students.

The KU Symphony Orchestra will perform “Overture to The Bat” by Johann Strauss Jr., “Mina and Dracula” from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” by Wojciech Kilar, selections from “Batman” by Danny Elfman, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas and from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by John Williams.

Before the concert, children will have the opportunity to handle orchestral instruments during the “instrument petting zoo.” There will also be a costume contest beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Seymour Gallery in the Lied Center.

The contest is split into three categories: youth (ages 0 to 17), collegiate (ages 18 to 25) and adult (ages 25 and older). The winner of the youth category will receive a $40 gift certificate to The Toy Store, 936 Massachusetts St. The collegiate winner will receive a $50 gift card to Five 21 Restaurant, 1200 Oread Ave., and the adult winner will reeve a one-night stay at The Oread Hotel.