Don't wait to get your spook on. There are a ton of things to do near campus in preparation for Halloween:
Salt River Fields ‘Spooktacular’ Balloon Festival
Featuring over 20 hot air balloons and 4,000 pounds of candy, the Salt River Fields Spooktacular Balloon Festival is a safe bet for anyone hoping to lift their Halloween spirit. The two day festival will include live music, vendors, fireworks and $25 balloon rides. Before the balloons take off to light up the sky, they will be fully stocked with thousands of pounds of candy to serve as trick-or-treat stations.
Date: Oct. 26, 2018 and Oct. 27, 2018 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each day
Location: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
Price: General Admission adult tickets cost $15
PoeFest
Take part in one of the Valley’s most loved Halloween traditions for its 10th anniversary: PoeFest. A poetically haunting celebration of one of the most influential 19th century American writers, the festival takes part throughout the month of October with main stage productions performed every weekend.
On the last two Saturdays of the month, Oct. 20 and 27, crew members take a dive into the sixth sense and attempt to make contact with the wandering soul of Poe for the PoeFest Séance.
The month long festival comes to a close at the historic Rosson House Museum on Halloween night with performances of ‘The Raven’ every 20 minutes.
Date: Oct. 26-27 and Oct. 31, 2018
Location: Raven Readings: Rosson House Museum, Mainstage and Séance: Hotel San Carlos
Price: Tickets vary
Visit a pumpkin patch
If the spine-chilling Poe performances and Séance aren’t your thing, there are a wide range of pumpkin patches scattered throughout the Valley each with their own unique twist.
Find the closest pumpkin patch to your campus:
Carve a pumpkin
What better way to get your spook on than to carve a jagged face into a large gourd?
Grab a pumpkin on your next grocery trip or on your visit to a local pumpkin patch and get creative with this iconic at-home Halloween activity.
For the less artistically inclined, there are tons of videos to walk you through the process and even stencils to pin on your pumpkin for the detail-oriented carver.
If you want to put your skills to the test, Four Peaks Brewing Co. will be hosting its annual Pumpkin Carving Contest on Tuesday Oct. 30, 2018 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Entry is $10 and includes a six pack of pumpkin porters and a Halloween beer and candy pack for during the event.
See a haunted classic
Horror movie fans have the opportunity to re-watch many of their favorite classic horror films on the big screen with special Halloween-themed screenings saturating theaters near campus.
In addition, new Halloween movies including Halloween (2018) and Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween are now screening in theaters across the Valley.
Tuesday Oct. 23
The Shining at Harkins Tempe Marketplace starting at 7 p.m.
Beetlejuice movie party at Alamo Drafthouse Chandler starting at 7:30 p.m.
Friday Oct. 26
The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Frankie’s Fishnets at Alamo Drafthouse Tempe starting at 8 p.m.
Sunday Oct. 28
It (2017): Clown Screening at Alamo Drafthouse Tempe starting at 7 p.m.
Halloween (1978) 40th Anniversary at Filmbar starting at 8 p.m.
Monday Oct. 29
Halloween (1978) 40th Anniversary at Filmbar starting at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday Oct. 30
Nightmare on Elm Street at Harkins Tempe Marketplace starting at 7 p.m.
Go to a haunted house
Looking to get your blood pumping? Phoenix metro is well-known for its multiple award-winning haunted houses.
Located on McDowell Road and Ninety-ninth Avenue, Fear Farm features six different attractions in one place. Ticket prices increase closer to Halloween, so buy tickets early and online to save money.
The 13th Floor Haunted House has two haunted houses in one 60,000 square foot location. Located at I-17 and Bell Road, this haunted house has been recognized by publications across the nation for its blood curdling horror. Similar to Fear Farm, ticket prices increase the day of the event and when purchased in-person.
Scarizona Scaregrounds is another staple haunted house widely recognized across the Valley. Located in Mesa, Scaregrounds features four unique attractions and ticket prices vary depending on the number of attractions you want to visit.
Reach the reporter at goldham@asu.edu and follow @graceoldham123 on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
