– 2023 Halloween Events In and Around Scottsdale –
Fall has arrived! And with the arrival of Fall comes a large number of Fall Festivals and Halloween events.
We have pulled together a collection of upcoming events going on around the Valley to celebrate this time of year. Some are family friendly and some are for the braver folks who love to be frightened.
Halloween and Fall Festivals in Scottsdale and Greater Phoenix
- Mother Nature’s Farm – September 23rd – October 31st – Mother Nature’s Farm is back with another fun pumpkin patch! Take a hayride, pick your pumpkin, bounce around in the bounce house, visit the corn pit and more. There are concessions offered (cash only), but you are encouraged to bring your own picnic and make a day of it. (Open daily)
- Vertuccio Farms’ “Cooler Days in the Corn Maze” Festival – September 29th – October 29th – Vertuccio Farms in Mesa is a great place to celebrate Fall. They have the longest-running hay maze and also offer lots of fun interactive things like the “Mega Slide,” carnival games, a jump pad, a petting zoo and so much more. Want to try the corn maze at night? Bring a glow stick or flashlight. They are also offering special times when you can paint your pumpkin. Not in the mood for the festival but want a pumpkin? You are welcome to purchase a pumpkin without having to pay the entrance fee. (Closed Mondays)
- MacDonald’s Ranch Annual Pumpkin Festival – September 30th – October 29th – MacDonald’s Ranch in North Scottsdale brings back a lot of fun memories for me. This pumpkin patch event also features a ton of activities.You can can pick out your pumpkin, take a pedal car for a ride, play lawn games, pan for gold, visit the petting zoo, participate in a scavenger hunt and more. There will also be food for purchase and more. This year, they are offering a season pass for $50 that will get you five visits to the event and a small pumpkin on the first visit. (Closed Tuesdays. Some activities, like hayrides and pony rides have an additional cost. Please see the website for pricing, including special discounts.)
- Tolmachoff Farms’ Pumpkin Days – October 4th – 29th – Wednesdays through Sundays – Another year of a jam-packed selection of things to do and experience! There are multiple mazes, (family and mini), train rides, a jumping pillow, a pedal cart track and more. (Note: Some activities like the train ride and tomato cannon have an additional cost.) And if you dare, the farm transforms in the evening into the AZ Field of Screams with a Haunted Corn Maze. (Tickets are sold separately for this and this runs from October 6th through the 31st.)
- Pumpkin and Chili Party at Schnepf Farms – October 5th – 29th – Thursdays through Sundays – Queen Creek’s top destination for all things pumpkin is Schnepf Farms. Get ready for a day filled with all kinds of fun and activities. Experience carnival rides, a petting zoo, zip lines, two corn mazes, bonfires, lawn games, pig races, Stuntmaster’s Dog Shows and way too many other activities to list. At night, visit the Wreckoning to get your scare on. There are lots of venues with food for purchase as well. They have introduced season passes as well as private bonfires. (Some activities have an additional fee and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as they do sell out.)
- Strange Garden at the Desert Botanical Garden – October 27th – 28th -Take over the Desert Botanical Garden in your Halloween best. There will be live performances, food vendors and a Monster Bash with a DJ. Kids get to pick a pumpkin for free while supplies are available!
- Spooktacular Balloon Festival at Salt River Fields – October 27th- 29th – Over 20 hot air balloons will be on site and each one will serve as a trick-or-treat station. Participate in the costume contests and if you are up for it, try taking a tethered hot air balloon ride for an additional fee.
- City of Scottsdale’s Fall Festival – October 28th – This free event will hit its 52nd year this year. The City of Scottsdale’s Fall Festival will take place in Chaparral Park form 4 to 7PM. There will be games, costume and pumpkin carving contests, trick-or-treating, food trucks, live entertainment and more.
- Cave Creek Wicked – October 28th – The 21+ Cave Creek Wicked bar crawl and costume contest is back. There are eight stops on the bar crawl and will showcase Cave Creek’s top watering holes. Get ready for fun and enjoy the drink specials. There is a free party bus for participants.
- Nightmare on Princess Drive– October 28th – This is another party for the 21+crowd. The party will take place at the Scottsdale Princess Resort’s Plaza Bar. This year’s theme is High Noon at the Haunted Saloon and will feature a costume contest, DJs and specialty drinks.
Like to Be Scared Out of Your Wits? These Haunted Houses Are Not for the Faint of Heart
If zombies, ghouls, terrifying creatures and getting frightened out of your mind are your preferred way to celebrate Halloween, you are in luck!
Here is a website that has listed all of the haunted houses, scary events and more. There are several events all over the Valley, feel free to visit them all and scream your heart out!
Arizona Haunted Houses
Also, AZ Central has pulled together a great list as well. AZ Central’s Guide to Haunted Houses.
This collection only includes a small number of Halloween and Fall festivals and events. If you have any others that you would like to add, please feel free to do so in the comments section!
Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Event dates, times and pricing subject to change. Most events are paid admission and some may sell out in advance.
