Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Halloween

Celebrate Spooky Scottsdale Events this Halloween

Whitney Willis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:23 +0000

With Halloween less than a week away, it’s time to start looking at all of the spooktacular events that Scottsdale has to offer.

Start out the Halloween season by visiting the Desert Botanical Garden’s 8^th annual Great Pumpkin Festival Oct. 22-Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Experience a weekend festival that brings the true feel of autumn to the desert. The Great Pumpkin Festival comes to life with pumpkins, hayrides, country-western entertainment and carnival games. Don’t miss the hay bale maze and the Arizona Big Train Operators’ interactive exhibit. All activities are included with Garden admission. Prices are $15 for adults, $13.50 for seniors, $7.50 for students ages 13-18 with proper I.D., $5 for children ages three to 12 and children three and under are free.

Halloween Day festivities begin 10 a.m. and continue through 5:30 p.m. as Adelante Gallery at el Pedregal celebrates the Dia De Los Muertos holiday featuring Day of the Dead Art and Imagery by four local artists and festive live music by Louis Castro on the courtyard stage. View unique, hand-crafted works of art such as paintings, custom-made sugar skulls and jewelry showing the holiday’s famous skeletons. Specialty margaritas will be available in addition to homemade “Pan de Muertos” (Day of the Dead Bread) by Chef Christine Wieland. Admission is free.

And to finish off your spooky night, attend The Fairmont Scottsdale’s Haunted Hotel Halloween Ball at Stone Rose Lounge. Starting at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 Scottsdale’s most sophisticated Halloween event begins featuring music, classic cocktails, celebrity guests and the Valley’s best costume contest with a variety of cash and prizes. The Haunted Hotel Halloween Ball in partnership with 944 Magazine offers a lavish twist on classic Halloween festivities with a decadent “Haunted Hotel” theme hosted by one of Scottsdale’s hottest outdoor nightlife destinations. Fortunetellers and tarot card readers will entertain partygoers throughout the evening along with a surprise live act by performance artists, and the best part is – admission is free!

Frightfully Fun at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

Josh Kenzer — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:40:04 +0000

Stay at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa this Halloween from $299 a night starting on October 31 for a weekend filled of tricks and treats. Halloween at the Kierland Resort offers a host of FUN and fright for all ages! Kids can join the FUN Team for frightfully FUN games and activities including a costume relay race, pass the pumpkin activity, a mummy relay, spooky s’mores, trick-or-treating, a Monster Bash, fun with caramel apples and much more. Families can enjoy Kierland “Klue” a family FUN game to figure out just how the Halloween crime took place, or take part in the annual pumpkin decorating contest and see them on display in the Kierland Mining Co.

Annual Doom, Goblins and Goo at Rawhide

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:37:48 +0000

Rawhide’s annual Doomtown event returns this year, adding extra goblins and goo to compliment the already haunting experience. The Halloween season brings a new saga for Digger Payne and the other residents of Doomtown. The Rawhide Roughriders brings you the ultimate Halloween show with fantastic stunts and bone rattling explosions, while Doomtown’s mortician, Dr. Mortimer Morbius, shares his passion for the human body with unsettling experiments and preservations of the dead. All aboard for the spine-chilling Train of Terror where passengers can view the resting place of the dead. Rawhide will be decorated in a Halloween theme with glowing Jack-O-Lanterns and spider webbing, while headless horsemen and other creepy western characters will be disbursed throughout the eerie town. Children and adults alike are invited to experience the two spine-chilling haunted houses this year, brought together by Cryptic Illusions. Look out for the patients who have escaped from the confines of the asylum and are running free, plus one never knows when they may run into the Crypt Keeper himself!

Perfect Pumpkins at the Desert Botanical Garden

Josh Kenzer — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:34:29 +0000

The search for the perfect pumpkin will be at The Great Pumpkin Festival on October 24 – 26, 2008. Visit the Desert Botanical Garden’s very own pumpkin patch, where each day children aged 12 and under can choose their own free pumpkin. Children also can enjoy face painting, the Amazing Bale Maze, balloon artistry, pumpkin decorating and carving demonstrations.

Strike a Halloween Pose at Canal

Josh Kenzer — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:25:47 +0000

On Halloween Old Town Scottsdale’s hottest restaurant, CANAL, hosts a Halloween Costume event. The restaurant is a fusion of food, fashion and entertainment, playing host to acclaimed DJs and dazzling on a regular basis with fashion shows on the illuminated runway. In typical “fashion” there is a stylish “costume walk-off” competition on the runway, with a cash prize for the best costume! In addition, the restaurant will be decorated in chic festive décor while Chef Justin Beckett prepares a specialty-themed menu. The 30-inch projection screens also will broadcast the 1970’s Addam’s Family favorite television show.

Halloween Themed Cocktail Recipes from the Sanctuary

Kelly Tope — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:48:04 +0000

Sanctuary’s jade bar has a “spirited” group of special Halloween cocktails that also will be available at the new edge bar, making its formal debut in October. They have graciously provided the recipes below. Make your own, then head to edge bar to compare the results.

Mixologist: Jason Asher

ghostini

1 oz. Godiva White Chocolate
1 oz. White Cream de Cocoa
1 oz. Stoli Vanilla Vodka

witch’s brew

2 oz. Kettle One Citron Vodka
¾ oz. Lime Juice
½ oz. Blue Curacao
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
Garnish Dry Ice

pumpkin-tini

2 oz. Pumpkin Infused Vodka
1 oz. Cream
½ oz. Simple Syrup
Garnish Allspice Sugar