66 spooktacular Halloween events & activities in Arizona

By Copper Courier Staff

October 21, 2024

Are you looking to make the most of Halloween in Arizona? Arizona has tons of spooky fun to offer from haunted places to last-minute costumes to family-friendly festivals this season. Below, we’ve compiled a list of articles covering Halloween events, attractions, and tips to help you make the most of your October.

Let’s start with haunted places to scare up some Halloween fun. Then, we’ll discover some quick and easy costume ideas — and budget-friendly ones, too. Lastly, we’ll look at family fun from pumpkin carving to movie nights to fall festivals across the state.

Photo courtesy of Boo & Brew.

Take a haunted road trip

Autumn has arrived in Arizona, along with all the hallmarks of fall: cooler temps, changing leaves (at least, in northern Arizona), and Halloween décor everywhere you look. If you’re trying to get in the spooky spirit, here are five places to go (or tours to take) that showcase Arizona’s most haunted scenes.

From the site of one of America’s most infamous cowboy battles to the “Wickedest Town in the West,” these haunted experiences help tell the stories of some of our spirits—that may still be around.

Visit one of Southern AZ’s most most haunted houses

From haunted houses that have been in business for more than two decades to a historic hotel in Tombstone, there are plenty of scary attractions in Southern Arizona.

Tucson’s Slaughterhouse was once the site of an old meat-packing plant—the perfect origin story for terror. The attraction capitalizes on its dark history and gives visitors the chance to check out more than 50 horror-themed rooms in indoor and outdoor spaces. Besides the aforementioned meat-packing plant, you’ll come across a graveyard, a creepy clown, an infested underground sewer, and more. And that’s just one of the many haunted houses you’ll find in Southern Arizona…

Face your fears at the spookiest attraction in Arizona

Days are shorter, the under breeze is cooler, and there is a hallowed feel in the air — not to mention ladies are busting out the uggs, fuzzy sweaters, and pumpkin spice-scented candles. This can only mean that Halloween is right around the corner!

Whether you celebrate the spooky season by watching scary movies, carving pumpkins, throwing parties, overeating candy, or attending haunted houses, October is full of fun that can be a welcome reprieve from reality. In fact, seeking spook can be a great way to relieve some anxiety from the crazy times that we live in. So take a break from the chaos of the world this spooky season and find the haunted house that’s right for your fright level.

Find a Halloween costume that’s uniquely Arizona

Spooky season is here! If you haven’t already enjoyed the scent of apple cinnamon everything, the taste of too much pumpkin spice, and the feel of the breeze developing the crisp undertones of cool, then I repeat: spooky season is here!

Halloween is just around the corner, and if you are like the rest of us, that means it is time to scramble to create the PERFECT costume quickly. If you don’t know what or who to dress up as, don’t worry; we’ve got your back! Here is a list of Arizona characters that you can dress up as in a pinch — likely with items in your closet or from the thrift — and still wow the crowds.

Carve a pumpkin

For many, carving a pumpkin is a beloved Halloween tradition. But for Ray Villafane, it’s an art form. As a pumpkin artist with numerous awards and a worldwide reputation, Villafane has turned this seasonal craft into a masterful expression of creativity.

One of his preserved pumpkin carvings is alongside a 1,700-pound pumpkin at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, but Villafane isn’t just about the grand spectacles. He believes that every pumpkin, regardless of its size, holds the potential for a masterpiece. For him, the joy of art comes from the process and not necessarily the end product.

Watch a Latino horror movie

We all know that Halloween is the best time to enjoy a scary horror fest.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a leading industry magazine, Hispanics command the highest share of audience in the horror/thriller genres—as much as 50% of the box office on any given weekend. So to satisfy the lust for blood-curling horror, we found five frightening Latino-themed movies ¡que te pondrán los pelos de punta!

Attend a fall festival

Autumn in Arizona means plenty of fall festivals. This year, we found 13 Arizona fall festivals worth checking out.

Fall is in full swing, and one of the perks of living in Arizona during autumn is that there are so many festivals Valley residents and visitors alike can enjoy. From the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix to Tucson’s All Souls Procession, here are 13 Arizona fall festivals that are worth your time.

Celebrate in Phoenix

If you want to get out of the house this All Hallows’ Eve, look no further than this collection of fun sights to see and spooky places to be.

October 31st is fast approaching, and there are plenty of spooky and family-friendly events to check out this year! Pick out your costume, grab a friend, and head to one of The Copper Courier’s top choices for day-of festivities.

We have included long-standing local favorites, as well as new-ish attractions! There is something for every age, so get ready for a spooky celebration. Updates are listed below.

Update: Orpheum Theater’s Haunted History Tours will be held Oct. 25-26, and their Light’s Out event will be held on Oct. 27. Event information and ticket prices can be found here.

Update: Arizona Science Center’s Halloween event for 2024 is Pumpkinferno. This all-ages luminary experience will run Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 27. Find more information here.