Thanks to invested communities, the Verde Valley is never short on Halloween options.
The fun begins in Cottonwood: On Friday, Oct. 27, Saturday, Oct. 28 and Tuesday, Oct. 31 the Cottonwood Youth Advisory Commission and the city of Cottonwood host the second annual haunted house at the Cottonwood Youth Center from 6 to 10 p.m. $5 gets you in the door, with $1 off each can of non-perishable food donated up to $4.
Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. The Cottonwood Youth Center is at 215 E. Pima St. The Jerome Chamber of Commerce and Jerome Historical Society host the annual Halloween Dance at Spook Hall from Saturday, Oct. 28 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 a.m.
The cost is $10 at the door. Spook Hall [Lawrence Memorial Hall] is at 260 Hull Ave., Jerome. Halloween night in Cottonwood, the Fall Celebration and Costume Contest Halloween takes place at the Old Town Square on Main Street — the open lot south of Pizzeria Bocce — from 5 to 8 p.m.
The event is sponsored by the Haunted Group, the Old Town Association, Verve Events and Tents, and Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Randy Garrison.
“The event will feature bouncy houses for kids and other activities, as well as a costume contest for all ages,” Cottonwood Mayor Timothy Elinski said. “The contest will start at 7 p.m. and will be judged by local leaders and business owners. Prizes will be awarded that evening.”
According to Elinski, the event is for families and coincides well with the Safe Night Halloween in Old Town event sponsored by the Old Town Association.
Halloween in Clarkdale takes place Halloween night from 5 to 7 p.m. The trick-or-treating route includes Main Street, First North Street and First South Street in upper Clarkdale.
These streets will be closed and blocked from vehicular access from 4:30 to 7:15 p.m. The town of Clarkdale reminds participants not to park on these streets.
Parking is available at Town Hall and Clarkdale-Jerome School. The event’s costume contest takes place at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Park Gazebo. The contest is free and there is no sign up.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entrants in the following age groups: 4 and under, 5 to 8 years, 9 to 12 years and 13 years and older. The Town of Camp Verde closes off Main Street for the annual Main Street Trunk or Treat Halloween Festival, 5 to 7 p.m.
“Last year saw the crowd grow to an estimated 3,000 kids and parents,” Town of Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Manager Michael Marshall said, adding that Main Street will be closed down from the Circle K store to the Camp Verde Feed Store to create a safe environment for businesses, organizations and individuals to pass out candy to children.
According to Marshall, Parks and Recreation provides most of the candy for the event by accepting donated funds to purchase candy. Donations this year include funding from local businesses.
“In addition to costumed candy gobbling, businesses and groups are gearing up their decorations and activities,” Marshall said. “AZ Central Land Realty will be doing their Halloween decoration extravaganza and there will be plenty of other decorated businesses and cars …. McDonald Brothers Construction will be bringing a giant piece of decorated construction equipment for the middle of Main Street.”
The Beaver Creek Halloween Spooktacular takes place Halloween night at Rollins Park at the Village Square in Lake Montezuma, 5 to 7 p.m. The free event features trunk or treating, music, games and free hot dogs, popcorn and witches brew. The event is hosted by Beaver Creek Community Association, Beaver Creek Kiwanis and Copper Canyon Fire and Medical Authority.
