Halloween is Monday, October 31, but don’t worry. That only means you have a whole weekend to celebrate. You’ve got your costume ready, right? Now's the time to plan where you'll be on (or leading up to) the most frightening night of the year. Not sure where to begin? Well, here's your guide to a Vampire Ball, an Edgar Allan Poe festival, and a quintessential horror movie screening, along with 17 more things to do in metro Phoenix over Halloween weekend.
Bright Night
An exhibition and fundraising event for the Phoenix Art Museum, Bright Night celebrates the work of Kehinde Wiley starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 28. See more than 60 works of art in "A New Republic," and enjoy custom cocktails, wine, and hors d’oeuvres with DJs and a steel drum band – while dressed in colorful cocktail attire. Tickets are $750, with all proceeds benefitting the museum. Visit the Phoenix Art Museum website for more.
Comedy On Fire 43: The Final One
This is seriously the last Comedy On Fire show at The Firehouse Gallery, ever. Expect 12 local comics and — because it’s Halloween weekend — a costume contest and Halloween raffle. The show runs from 9 to 11 p.m. on Friday, October 28, and entry is $5. Visit the Facebook event for more.
Ghost Story Campfire
If it’s been a while since you’ve told spooky stories around a campfire, or really, had DIY s’mores – check out the free Ghost Story Campfire at Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear. Spin your best tales from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 28. Visit the Maricopa County Parks website.
Howl-O-Ween
Urban Legend Lane, Haunt for Dead October, Post-Apocalyptic Train Tour, and EVP recordings from Phoenix Arizona Paranormal Society — if this sounds like the kind of stuff you’d like to see in the middle of the Phoenix Zoo, then check out Howl-O-Ween from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29. Tickets are $12 for general admission. Visit the Phoenix Zoo website.
The Vampire Ball
We just don't get it when people think they're “too cool” to dress up at Halloween parties, but thankfully that won’t be the case at Vampire Ball – presented by Scorpius Dance Theatre and Davisson Entertainment. Costume styles will include Vampyre, Dorian Gray, Venetian Carnival, drag, or a black suit or dress. The Vampire Ball is from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, October 28, in the Grand Ballroom at Club Palazzo. Tickets are $29 to $40, VIP admission is $49 to $80, and after midnight is $20 at the door. Visit the Vampire Ball website.
Arizona State Fair
Big headliners, whirling rides, fried Oreos; the Arizona State Fair is there for you every Halloween weekend. Hit the Arizona State Fairgrounds from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 30. Adult prices are $6 online and $10 at the gate. Visit the Arizona State Fair website.
Pumpkin & Chili Party
The Pumpkin & Chili Party at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek has pumpkin, chili, and pumpkin chili – plus rides and a dog show. Hit the hay from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, and 10 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sunday, October 30. Entry is $18. Visit the Schnepf Farms website.
Scarizona Scaregrounds
A combination of two haunted houses – Epic Fear and Slayers Slaughter House – and an interactive zombie paintball experience Operation Zombie Storm, Scarizona Scaregrounds is open all Halloween weekend, October 28 through 31, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7 to 10 p.m. on Sunday and Halloween night. Tickets are $20 for both houses, $20 for Operation Zombie Storm, and $35 for both. Visit the Scarizona Scaregrounds website.
Veronica's Room
Produced by iTheatre Collaborative, Veronica's Room is a mysterious story of the living resembling the dead – and written by the same author as Rosemary’s Baby. Showtime is 8 p.m. for Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, on the Kax Stage at Herberger Theater Center. Tickets are $20. Visit the Herberger Theater Center website.
Halloween
Move over AMC, Carpenter's baby will screen at FilmBar – where beer is also served. So, they win. Settle in at the one-screen theater to watch 1978’s Halloween at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, October 28, and 10:10 p.m. on Monday, October 31. Tickets are $9 per screening. Visit the FilmBar website.
"Alien Worlds and Androids"
The Arizona Science Center is hosting the "Alien Worlds and Androids" exhibit with areas like Are We Alone? and Artificial Intelligence and Robots. Expect life-size replicas of Iron Man, C-3PO, R2D2, and T-800. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, is Weird Science Halloween – complete with “weird” science exhibits, activities, demos like exploding pumpkins, and ROBOTS 3D in the Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater. Tickets are $24 for adults. Visit the Arizona Science Center website.
"Frankenstein at 200"
Your favorite monster is 200 this year, and to celebrate, ASU is celebrating by hosting the "Frankenstein at 200" exhibit. This free, public display showcases how Frankenstein still affects today’s culture with works by students and faculty. "Frankenstein at 200" is on the first floor of Hayden Library and open from 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday, October 28, and Monday, October 31, 9 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, October 29, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday, October 30. Visit the ASU Libraries website for more.
Poefest 2016
Happening all Halloween weekend, Poefest 2016 is acted-out Edgar Allan Poe tales held in the Ghost Lounge at Hotel San Carlos. There’s also a performance of "The Raven" at Rosson House, and the PoeFest Séance in the Hotel San Carlos Senator's Room. Tickets and packages range from $22 to $79.95. Visit the PoeFest website.
The Crypt
Fiesta Mall in Mesa will be home to The Crypt, Chaos maze, and The Asylum during Halloween weekend. Hours are 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday, October 28, Saturday, October 29, and Monday, October 31, and 7 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, October 30. Entry is $5 for the Chaos maze, $18 for a single haunted house, $25 for the Ultimate Fright Pass (all three), and $35 for a VIP Fast Pass. Visit the Crypt Haunted Attractions website.
Four Peaks Fall Festival
This free event features a costume contest, food trucks, music by a DJ team and Hoss & Keen, Four Peaks brews, and the grand event: the Four Peaks Fall Festival Pumpkin Carving Contest – looking to pay out big time for the best carvin’. Celebrate autumn with Four Peaks at the Tasting Room on Wilson in Tempe from 2 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. Visit the Four Peaks website.
Gilbert "Off the Street" Art Festival
The Gilbert Heritage District is hosting the Gilbert "Off the Street" Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. Find live music, street performers, arts and crafts for sale, and all kinds of food. The free Off the Street Art Festival will also feature live chalk art murals. Visit the City of Gilbert website.
Tempe Halloween Carnival
Kiwanis Park in Tempe plays host to the 39th annual Tempe Halloween Carnival. Be sure to dress up for live entertainment, food booths, and games. This free carnival is happening from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. Visit the City of Tempe website.
Halloween Fright Hike
Get on your Halloween costume – but leave the sexy heels or Frankenstein boots in the trunk – for the free, one-mile, one-hour Halloween Fright Hike at San Tan Mountain Regional Park in Queen Creek. Meet at the main trailhead at 7 p.m., and hike till 8 on Saturday, October 29. Visit the Maricopa County Parks website.
Monsters Ball
The 17th annual Monsters Ball at Alwun House is one of those raucous Halloween parties with extremely imaginative costumes, prizes, dancing, live music, finger food, and libations at the cash bar. The party starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 day of, or reserve a table for up to four people for $175. Visit the Alwun House website.
Zombie Walk 8
Phoenix’s annual Zombie Walk is herding through the Warehouse District at Fourth and Jackson streets starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. The event is free, but $5 donations to Arizona Hemophilia Association are encouraged. Festivities include a costume contest at 7:30, and the adults-only Blood (Pub) Crawl, which covers nearby bars in downtown Phoenix and costs $20. Visit the Arizona Hemophilia Association website.