Celebrate Halloween around Phoenix
If you’re already looking forward to Halloween, you’re in luck. We’ve got a list of all the spooktacular events happening around the Valley. So grab your pets, kids and friends for a wide array of things to do.
10/27-28: Haunted Harbor at Lake (Un) Pleasant
For two weekends in late October, Lake Pleasant transforms into a spooky and haunted harbor. Enjoy cruises on the lake for kids and adults, live entertainment and Halloween festivities galore.
Details: 12:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21, and 27-28. Lake Pleasant, 40202 N. 87th Ave., Peoria. facebook .com/pleasantharbormarinaaz.
Through 10/29: Enchanted Pumpkin Garden
The Enchanted Pumpkin Garden returns to Carefree for the third year. The public can tour the four-acre pumpkin garden. On October 25 and 25, sculptor Ray Villafane and the YMCA is hosting two family instructional carving nights. Reservations recommended. Kids can participate in a new costume contest for families, and parents can get in on the fun too with an adult costume contest. On Halloween, the town will partner with local boutique Bella Donna and Cane to coordinate a “Trunk or Treat” event along Carefree’s Easy street.
Details: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 29. Town of Carefree’s Enchanted Pumpkin Garden, 101 Easy St., Carefree. Free. 480-488-3686, carefreepumpkingarden.com.
10/28-29: Brick or Treat! At LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona’s Brick or Treat celebration is serving up frightening, festive fun for two backto-back weekends in October. During regular business hours Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 and 22, and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28 and 29, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona will host a Halloween extravaganza complete with unique Halloween-themed sets and a variety of family activities for all ages to enjoy. Guests can win annual passes by taking part in a special themed scavenger hunt throughout MINILAND.
Details: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 and 28. 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 22 and 29. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe. Included in admission. $22, online discounts available. 877-526-3960, legolanddiscovery center.com.
10/26: Costume Parade Storytime
This may be the one time of the year you don’t have to whisper in the library. The Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library will be holding a costume parade, trick or treating and a Halloween story time for children ages 2-6.
Details: 11:15 a.m.-noon; Thursday, Oct. 26. Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale. Free. 623-333-2601, avondaleaz.gov.
10/27: Chandler Halloween Spooktacular
Any age group can have fun at Chandler’s Halloween Spooktacular, featuring food, games, arts and crafts, costume contests, photos and a haunted house. Bring a trick-or-treat bag to collect candy won through games including pumpkin bowling, broom races and scary piñatas. Some activities, such as face painting, require a small fee. Food and drink will be available for purchase from the Willie Dog Cart and Tubby D’s.
Details: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Downtown Library Plaza, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2665. chan dleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=605.
10/27: Monster Ball
The family-friendly event features drinks and pizza, spooky snacks, games and plenty of activities. Enter the costume contest — if you dare — for a chance to win a prize.
Details: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Community Center, 41130 N. Freedom Way, Anthem. $22 for a family of four, $14 per pair, $8 for singles, free for age 2 and younger. Prices increase the night of the event. 623-879-3011. onlineatanthem .com.
10/27: Zombie LARP VII: Inferi Invade Hogwarts!
Teens and tweens ages 12-18 are welcome to use their wizard skills to prevent a Hogwarts invasion of Inferi. Dress up in your Harry Potter-themed finery, invite your pals and get ready to save the library from its seventh invasion of dead bodies that were reanimated by dark magic. Registration begins at 10 a.m. on October 12.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Glendale Main Library, Meeting Room Wing, 5959 W. Brown St., Glendale. glendaleaz.com/library.
10/27: Creepy Candy Crawl
Trick or treat from store to store at the Tempe Marketplace for the first ever Creepy Candy Crawl. The first 1,000 guests will receive a free reusable trick or treating bag. There will be a costume contest, photo booths and plenty of spooky entertainment.
Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Tempe Marketplace, The District Stage, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. Free. 480-966-9338, tempemarketplace.com.
10/27-28, 10/30: Terror Nights Haunted House
Arizona’s premier home haunt, “Terror Nights,” is back for the eighth time. Walk through different themed rooms modeled after movies such as: “The Conjuring,” “Halloween,” and “Jeepers Creepers.” Join the zombies, dolls and scarecrows for a screamingly fun time.
Details: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 27, 28, & 30. 511 E. La Donna Dr., Tempe. Free, donations appreciated. 480-276-7054, facebook .com/Terror-Nights-157207600964517/.
10/28: Halloween Pancake Run in Gilbert
If you’re looking for an active way to prepare for Halloween, register for the Gilbert High School orchestra’s annual Pancake Run fundraiser event. Runners often don costumes as they run/walk either a 5k or 10k race. After the run, a pancake breakfast will be served while the orchestra students perform. Kids and non-runners can also participate in a costume walk following the runs that shows off the event’s best costumes.
Details: 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. $25 per individual per race, includes pancake breakfast, $20 student price, $5 for non-runners pancake breakfast. Gilbert Riparian Preserve, 2757 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert. https://www.active .com/gilbert-az/running/distance-runn ing-races/halloween-pancake-run -2017?int=.
10/28: Downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk
The Arizona Hemophilia Association and Downtown Phoenix, Inc. will be hosting this year’s downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk. There will be live bands, a costume contest, food trucks, a zombification station and John Holmberg from KUPD as grand marshall. Follow the Downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk page for more updates.
Details: 3-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Meet at Fourth and Jackson Streets in downtown Phoenix. $10; 12 and under free. Canned-food donations welcome. 602-254-8696, arizonahemophilia.org/ zombie-walk/.
10/28: Howling Night Run
Walk or run in the dark during the 5K event, which is a fun way to kick off Halloween weekend. Dress in costume or your regular exercise duds, and enjoy a haunted hayride while you are there. Bring along a headlamp to get through the unlit course.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Hayrides are at 7:10 and 7:40 p.m. Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. $6 per car entry fee. 623-932-3811, howlingrun.phx fr.org.
10/28: Cave Creek Wicked
Saturday, Oct. 28. Most times and locations to be announced soon; pub crawl starts at 7 p.m. cavecreekmer chants.com/cave-creek-wicked/.
10/28: Creepy Candy Crawl
Dress to impress for the Creepy Candy Crawl, formerly known as “Malloween” held at the Desert Ridge Marketplace. There will be a costume contest in four different categories, music, candy and plenty of family friendly fun. Trick or treaters can go from store to store collecting candy. Don’t forget to take a complimentary downloadable photo before the night is over.
Details: 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Desert Ridge Marketplace, The District Stage, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. Free. 480-513-7586, shopdesertridge .com.
10/27-28: Howl-O-Ween
The Phoenix Zoo’s Howl-O-Ween offers the best of both worlds—activities that are scary or merry. The spookier things to do—which are meant for kids 8 and up— include walking down Urban Legend Lane looking for characters typically heard about in mythical stories and encountering zombies on Walking Dead Way. Those who like a tamer evening will like the family-friendly camel rides, and character meet-and-greets with the Arizona Avengers and Arizona Ghostbusters.
Details: 6:00-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway. $12.95 general admission, $9.95 for members, free for age 2 or younger. 602-286-3800, phoenixzoo.org.
10/28: City of Tempe’s 40th annual Family Halloween Carnival
Gather together the kiddos and head to Kiwanis Park for a free and familyfriendly festive fall event. Try your luck at carnival games, enjoy live entertainment and face painting, jump on the inflatables and, when hunger strikes, check out the food booths. Everyone is also welcome to dress up and take part in the Halloween costume contest.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Kiwanis Park, Guadalupe Road and All American Way, Tempe. Free admission, tickets for attractions cost 25 cents each. 480-350-5200, tempe.gov.
10/28: Halloween Scorpion Scavenger Hunt
Put on your Halloween finery and head to Queen Creek for a night of searching for scorpions on a one-plus mile trail. Use black lights to look for the arachnids, which are fluorescent under the special lights. Costumes must include closed-toe shoes and allow for a free range of motion.
Details: 8-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Road, Queen Creek. 480-6555554, maricopacountyparks.net.
10/28: Scottsdale’s Fall Festival
The annual fall festival features plenty of spooky and free fun. Check out the haunted forest, enter a costume contest and try to win candy at game booths. Finish off the night with a fireworks show.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Eldorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale. Free. scottsdaleaz.gov.
10/28: Halloween Monster Bash
Bring the kids along for some scary Halloween fun where they can play all night on inflatable activities, carnival games, a rock wall, the scare walk and more. This event will donate canned goods to St. Mary’s Food Bank. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase.
Alison Stanton contributed to this article.