If you’re already looking forward to Halloween, you’re in luck. We’ve got a list of all the spooktacular events happening around the Valley. So grab your pets, kids and friends for a wide array of things to do.

10/6: Spooks De Ballet

Studio R Ballet is putting on a special Halloween performance at Apache Junction High School. Beautiful dance and creepy themes combine for a memorable evening with the “Spooks de Ballet.”

Details: 7-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction. $10 adults; $5 ages 3-12. 480-580-2996, studiorballet.com.

10/6: Monsters Menagerie Opening Reception

Celebrate the return of the 16th Monsters Menagerie at an opening reception at Alwun House Foundation. The evening will feature Datura, a multimedia group that uses analog and digital instruments to inspire improvisational performances. Monsters Menagerie is a display that features a variety of creepy, unworldly and sarcastically political forms of art.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. Alwun House Foundation, 1204 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. $6 in advance, $10 at the door. 602-253-7887, alwunhouse.org.

10/6-8: ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’

Calling all witches, wizards and muggles: Grab your wand and join the Phoenix Symphony as they perform John Williams’ mesmerizing score from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” 

Details: Oct. 6-8: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. $30-$99. 602-262-6225, phoenixsymphony.org.

10/13: Kid’s Cauldron Mug Painting Party

Time to create a vessel for your very own witches’ brew! Children will use bubbles to paint a cauldron mug. The $25 fee covers the cost of the mug and paint. Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Details: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. As You Wish, various locations. $25. asyouwishpottery.com.

10/14: BARKtoberfest!

Bring your furry, four-legged friend to BARKtoberfest, a dog friendly festival that both your dog and you will enjoy. There will be live entertainment, a dog wash, agility course, adoptions and costume contests. All funds raised will go to Friends for Life, a no-kill animal shelter. 

Details: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Gilbert Town Center, 50 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert. Free; some activities may require small fee. 480-497-8296, azfriends.org.

10/14-15: Spooktacular Kids Night Out

Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics and Dance Center will be holding a spooktacular kids night out. Kids will enjoy trampolines, foam pits, obstacle courses, pizza and lots of fun. Participants to opt to spend the night will enjoy a late night and morning snack.

Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 through 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics & Dance Center, 3110 E. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix. $50 sleepover; $30 kids night out. 602-992-5790, facebook.com/ArizonaSunraysGymnasticsDanceCenter/.

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10/20: Halloween Spooktacular and Car Show

This free family event features a Halloween-themed car show with trunk or treating, live music, games, food samples and a costume contest for kids, families and their four-legged friends. Enjoy the chance to win prizes and eats lots of tasty candy during the fun evening.

Details: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20. The Shops at Norterra, 2460 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix. Free. norterrashopping.com.

10/20: Halloween Harvest Festival

Kids and adults of all ages are sure to enjoy El Mirage’s annual Halloween Harvest Festival. The event features a pumpkin patch—with free pumpkins for the first 500 families, a haunted house, large corn maze, inflatables and a costume contest for multiple age groups.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20. El Mirage Gentry Park, 14010 N. El Mirage Road, El Mirage. Free. 623-876-2942, cityofelmirage.org.

10/20-21, 10/29, 10/31: Orpheum Theatre Ghost Tours

Just in time for Halloween, the 60-minute tour of the Orpheum Theatre will feature stories of ghostly people who seem to still visit the theater, even after their deaths. The tour, which will include historically accurate facts about the theater, is hosted and sponsored by Phoenix Ghost Tours and The Friends of the Orpheum Theatre.

Details: 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 29 & 31. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $25. orpheumghosttours.com.

10/20-21, 10/27-28: Haunted Harbor at Lake (Un) Pleasant

For two weekends in late October, Lake Pleasant transforms into a spooky and haunted harbor. Enjoy cruises on the lake for kids and adults, live entertainment and Halloween festivities galore.

Details: 12:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21, and 27-28. Lake Pleasant, 40202 N. 87th Ave., Peoria. facebook.com/pleasantharbormarinaaz.

10/21: Halloween Party and Ghost Hunt Night Hike

Celebrate the start of the Halloween season with games, music and dancing, live creepy crawlies, crafts and of course – trick or treating at Estrella’s Nature Center. Come in costume and stay for a ghost hunt night hike—just be sure to wear close-toed shoes.

Details: 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. 623-932-3811, maricopacountyparks.net.

10/21: Teen Fright Night

Teenagers will take over the library during a ghoulishly fun evening of team competitions, music, prizes and tasty pizza. Teens are encouraged to wear costumes, but it is not required. Registration is open now.

Details: 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Velma Teague Branch Library, 7010 N. 58th Ave., Glendale. 623-930-3438, glendaleaz.com/library.

10/21: Town of Queen Creek Trunk or Treat

Children walk down “Trunk or Treat Street” visiting the uniquely decorated car trunks to get their bags filled with candy provided by the town of Queen Creek. Expect lots of other spooky activities as well. Last year’s event include a zombie haunted tour, bubble zone and tot spot play area.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Town Center, 21802 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek. Free; some activities require a minimal fee. queencreek.org.

10/21: Library Murder Mystery Night

Come enjoy a night of “whodunit” at the library’s 4th annual Murder Mystery Night. The event, which is for adults 21 and over only, features interactive fun and snacks. Everyone is a suspect in the murder, and guests will try to figure out clues and solve the mystery. Registration is required.

Details: 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale. 623-333-2644, avondaleaz.gov.

10/21: Goofy Ghost Walk

Ghosts big and small will have a blast celebrating the Halloween season with a quarter-mile walk through the nighttime desert. Ghost Rangers will select the best child, teen and adult costumes; enjoy spooky-fun stories around the bonfire, a marshmallow roast and seeing animals. Be sure to bring a flashlight as it will be dark.

Details: 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa. Free. 480-984-0032, maricopacountyparks.net.

10/21-22: Autumnfest Arts & Crafts Fair 

Residents of Anthem along with others from around the Valley will enjoy a couple of days celebrating anything and everything to do with fall. The family-friendly event includes carnival and hay rides, pumpkin picking and arts and crafts vendors. Once they have chosen the perfect pumpkin, kids can decorate it at the festival or take it home.

Details: Oct. 21-22. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. ACC Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway. Free admission and parking; $5 to decorate a pumpkin. 623-742-6050, onlineatanthem.com/autumnfest.

10/26: Costume Parade Storytime

This may be the one time of the year you don’t have to whisper in the library. The Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library will be holding a costume parade, trick or treating and a Halloween story time for children ages 2-6. 

Details: 11:15 a.m.-noon; Thursday, Oct. 26. Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale. Free. 623-333-2601, avondaleaz.gov.

10/27: Chandler Halloween Spooktacular

Any age group can have fun at Chandler’s Halloween Spooktacular, featuring food, games, arts and crafts, costume contests, photos and a haunted house. Bring a trick-or-treat bag to collect candy won through games including pumpkin bowling, broom races and scary piñatas. Some activities, such as face painting, require a small fee. Food and drink will be available for purchase from the Willie Dog Cart and Tubby D’s.

Details: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Downtown Library Plaza, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2665. chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=605.

10/27: Monster Ball

The family-friendly event features drinks and pizza, spooky snacks, games and plenty of activities. Enter the costume contest—if you dare—for a chance to win a prize.

Details: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Community Center, 41130 N. Freedom Way, Anthem. $22 for a family of four, $14 per pair, $8 for singles, free for age 2 and younger. Prices increase the night of the event. 623-879-3011. onlineatanthem.com.

10/27: Zombie LARP VII: Inferi Invade Hogwarts!

Teens and tweens ages 12-18 are welcome to use their wizard skills to prevent a Hogwarts invasion of Inferi. Dress up in your Harry Potter-themed finery, invite your pals and get ready to save the library from its seventh invasion of dead bodies that were reanimated by dark magic. Registration begins at 10 a.m. on October 12.

Details: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Glendale Main Library, Meeting Room Wing, 5959 W. Brown St., Glendale. glendaleaz.com/library.

10/27-28: Salt River Fields Balloon Spooktacular Festival

Satisfy your sweet tooth when more than 20 hot-air balloons will hand out more than 4,000 pounds of candy to trick-or-treaters in Scottsdale. Get a fright at the haunted house or take a ride in a tethered balloon. Catch live music and see a fireworks display to close the evening. Written waiver required for balloon rides.

Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 27-28. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. $15 adults; $10 for children ages 3-12; balloon rides $25 for adults, $15 for ages 10 and under. 480-270-5000, srfballoonfestivals.com.

10/27-28, 10/30: Terror Nights Haunted House

Arizona’s premier home haunt, “Terror Nights,” is back for the eighth time. Walk through different themed rooms modeled after movies such as: “The Conjuring,” “Halloween,” and “Jeepers Creepers.” Join the zombies, dolls and scarecrows for a screamingly fun time. 

Details: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 27, 28, & 30. 511 E. La Donna Dr., Tempe. Free, donations appreciated. 480-276-7054, facebook.com/Terror-Nights-157207600964517/.

MORE: 9 haunted houses for Halloween 2017 around metro Phoenix

10/28: Halloween Pancake Run in Gilbert

If you’re looking for an active way to prepare for Halloween, register for the Gilbert High School orchestra’s annual Pancake Run fundraiser event. Runners often don costumes as they run/walk either a 5k or 10k race. After the run, a pancake breakfast will be served while the orchestra students perform. Kids and non-runners can also participate in a costume walk following the runs that shows off the event’s best costumes.

Details: 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. $25 per individual per race, includes pancake breakfast, $20 student price, $5 for non-runners pancake breakfast. Gilbert Riparian Preserve, 2757 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert. https://www.active.com/gilbert-az/running/distance-running-races/halloween-pancake-run-2017?int=.

10/28: Downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk

The Arizona Hemophilia Association and Downtown Phoenix, Inc. will be hosting this year’s downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk. There will be live bands, a costume contest, food trucks, a zombification station and John Holmberg from KUPD as grand marshall. Follow the Downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk page for more updates.

Details: 3-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Meet at Fourth and Jackson Streets in downtown Phoenix. $10; 12 and under free. Canned-food donations welcome. 602-254-8696, arizonahemophilia.org/zombie-walk/.

10/28: Howling Night Run

Walk or run in the dark during the 5K event, which is a fun way to kick off Halloween weekend. Dress in costume or your regular exercise duds, and enjoy a haunted hayride while you are there. Bring along a headlamp to get through the unlit course.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Hayrides are at 7:10 and 7:40 p.m. Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear. $6 per car entry fee. 623-932-3811, howlingrun.phxfr.org.

10/28: Cave Creek Wicked

What do you get when you combine an amazing costume contest with a pub crawl? Cave Creek Wicked, of course! Billed as the state’s only all-day, all-night Halloween event, Cave Creek Wicked features family-friendly daytime activities as well as nighttime stops to at least five local bars. Party buses will be provided to transport revelers to the various pubs.

Details: Saturday, Oct. 28. Most times and locations to be announced soon; pub crawl starts at 7 p.m. cavecreekmerchants.com/cave-creek-wicked/.

10/27-28: Howl-O-Ween

The Phoenix Zoo’s Howl-O-Ween offers the best of both worlds—activities that are scary or merry. The spookier things to do—which are meant for kids 8 and up— include walking down Urban Legend Lane looking for characters typically heard about in mythical stories and encountering zombies on Walking Dead Way. Those who like a tamer evening will like the family-friendly camel rides, and character meet-and-greets with the Arizona Avengers and Arizona Ghostbusters.

Details: 6:00-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway. $12.95 general admission, $9.95 for members, free for age 2 or younger. 602-286-3800, phoenixzoo.org.

10/28: City of Tempe’s 40th annual Family Halloween Carnival

Gather together the kiddos and head to Kiwanis Park for a free and family-friendly festive fall event. Try your luck at carnival games, enjoy live entertainment and face painting, jump on the inflatables and, when hunger strikes, check out the food booths. Everyone is also welcome to dress up and take part in the Halloween costume contest.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Kiwanis Park, Guadalupe Road and All American Way, Tempe. Free admission, tickets for attractions cost 25 cents each. 480-350-5200, tempe.gov.

10/28: Halloween Scorpion Scavenger Hunt

Put on your Halloween finery and head to Queen Creek for a night of searching for scorpions on a one-plus mile trail. Use black lights to look for the arachnids, which are fluorescent under the special lights. Costumes must include closed-toe shoes and allow for a free range of motion.

Details: 8-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Road, Queen Creek. 480-655-5554, maricopacountyparks.net.

10/28: Scottsdale’s Fall Festival

The annual fall festival features plenty of spooky and free fun. Check out the haunted forest, enter a costume contest and try to win candy at game booths. Finish off the night with a fireworks show.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Eldorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale. Free. scottsdaleaz.gov.

10/28: Halloween Monster Bash

Bring the kids along for some scary Halloween fun where they can play all night on inflatable activities, carnival games, a rock wall, the scare walk and more. This event will donate canned goods to St. Mary’s Food Bank. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase.

Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. Free admission with canned food items, some activities require a minimal fee. 623-773-7137, peoriasportscomplex.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/183/1225.

10/28: Costume Day at Butterfly Wonderland

Celebrate the season of dressing up and creatures big and small by coming to Butterfly Wonderland dressed in an insect or rainforest animal costume. Enter a costume contest while you are at it—the event is open to people of all ages. No masks or props will be allowed.

Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Butterfly Wonderland, 9500 W. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. $21.95, $14.95 ages 3-12, $19.95 students and seniors. 480-800-3000, butterflywonderland.com.

10/29: North Scottsdale United Methodist Church Trunk or Treat

This kid-friendly trunk or treat will feature a costume parade and contest, games, food trucks and plenty of candy. Donations will go toward Vista del Camino Children’s After School Recreation Center in Scottsdale. 

Details: 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. North Scottsdale United Methodist Church, 11735 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Free; canned and dry goods donations appreciated. 480-948-0529, nsumckids.info/trunk-or-treat.html.

10/31: Trick or Treat Main Street

Enjoy fun and safe trick-or-treating in downtown Mesa. The family-friendly event is great for kids of all ages; stop in at the participating downtown businesses for a treat. When hunger strikes the ghosts and goblins, enjoy kettle corn and candy while watching a balloon artist.

Details: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. Main St. between Center St. and Country Club Drive, Mesa. 480-890-2613, downtownmesa.com.

Through Oct. 31: Spooktacular Mini Golf

Every night in October starting at sundown, one of the mini-golf courses at Golfland will become a spooky place for 18 holes of Halloween-themed golf. Spooktacular Golf is a family-friendly event—just be careful not to step through one of the graveyards. Costumed characters will be present to say hello and hand out treats.

Details: Oct. 1-31, starting at sundown. Golfland, 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa. $9.99 for adults, $7.99 for kids. 480-834-8319, golfland.com/frightnights/spooktacular-mini-golf/.

Alison Stanton contributed to this article.

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