Here are the best places to trick-or-treat (or trunk-or-treat!) in metro Phoenix this year
Trick-or-treating with your little ones is always an interesting adventure. There are so many questions! What costume should they wear? Who will take them out to make the rounds? What spots are the best for getting the giant Snickers candy bars?
You don’t have to limit yourself to your specific block to have fun. There's a host of events throughout metro Phoenix where kids can trick-or-treat, trunk-or-treat, and show of their best spooky season looks.
From Glendale to Phoenix to Mesa, here's where your kids can bounce on inflatables, carve pumpkins, hear stories and gather all the candy their hearts desire.
Pumpkin patches, corn mazes: Hayrides, petting zoos and loads of family fun in Phoenix for Halloween 2023
Halloween 2023: Trick or treating in metro Phoenix
Spooktacular Fall Festival and Trick-or-Treat Event: The Glendale Adult Center will host trick-or-treating, giveaways and activities for the whole family. There will also be community resources, COVID and flu vaccines, booster seat information, pictures with superheroes and princesses, a firetruck, live music, dancing, and story time.
Details: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Glendale Adult Center, 5970 W. Brown St. Free. 623-930-4321, visitphoenix.com.
Trunk or Treat 2023: The First United Methodist Church of Mesa is holding its annual Trunk or Treat Festival. They will have trick-or-treating, live music, a photo booth, inflatables, food trucks and trackless train rides.
Details: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. First United Methodist Church of Mesa, 15 E. First Ave. Free. 480-969-5577, firstchurchofmesa.com.
Family Storytime and Costume Parade: Put on your costume and enjoy a Halloween story, parade and trick-or-treat at Sam Garcia Library in Avondale. The interactive story time will have songs, rhymes, flannel stories and fingerplays.
Details: 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 26. Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale. Free. 623-333-2665, avondaleaz.gov.
Family Fun Halloween Bash at Arizona Boardwalk: The Arizona Boardwalk will host a costume contest with a $1,000 cash prize. There also will be trick-or-treating, bouncy houses, slides, face painting, live entertainment, family-friendly performances, shopping and raffles.
Details: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale. Free. 480-951-2100, azboardwalk.com.
Halloween Festival: There will be lots of excitement at Apache Junction's Halloween Festival. With trunk-or-treating, a costume contest, a pumpkin-carving contest, bounce houses, games and vendor booths, there’s a lot to keep your family busy. Looking to dress your furry friend up as well? Enter them in the Howl-o-ween Canine Costume Contest. Food and games will be available for a small fee.
Details: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Superstition Shadows Park, 1091 W. Southern Ave., Apache Junction. Free. 480-982-8002, apachejunctionaz.gov.
Trunk-or-Treat & Halloween Family Fun: Dozens of car trunks will be decorated and filled with treats for kids to collect at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church. There will also be crafts, inflatables, a train ride and a haunted house. Food and drinks include hot dogs, chips, water and cotton candy. Admission is free; bring nonperishable food items for St. Mary’s Food Bank and other nonprofits around the Valley.
Details: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, 4455 E. Lincoln Drive. Free. 602-840-8360, eventbrite.com.
Free Trick or Treat & Halloween Party: Success on the Spectrum – Mesa will host this social event that is open to those with autism as well as their family and friends. Food, games and holiday fun are on the agenda.
Details: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Success on the Spectrum – Mesa, 1303 S. Longmore Road, Suite #2, Mesa. Free. 480-712-5181, eventbrite.com.
Haunting on Main Street in Mesa: Downtown Mesa merchants will hand out individually wrapped treats to kids in costumes. There will also be kid-friendly activities, food and music near the north side of Macdonald. Many downtown businesses will have decorated window displays and you can vote for your favorite. The winner will be announced Nov. 1.
Details: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Downtown Mesa, 100 N. Center St. Free. 480-890-2613, downtownmesa.com.
Adults only: Best Halloween events in Phoenix for adults: Ghost tours, bar crawls, haunted houses
Trick-or-Treat at the Museum: Head to the Children's Museum of Phoenix for three days of Halloween fun. There will be a dance floor, an art studio where kids can create a Spooky Tree, a fashion fright show and three floors of exhibits. Costumes are encouraged, but no masks that cover your face or prop weapons.
Details: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28; Sunday, Oct. 29; and Tuesday, Oct. 31. Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. Seventh St. $17 for age 1 and older. 602-253-0501, childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.
Reach the reporter at dina.kaur@arizonarepublic.com. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best places to trick or treat in the Phoenix area for Halloween 2023
