Southern Arizona Offers Haunted Trails, Masquerade Balls and Día de los Muertos Events This Halloween Weekend

Residents looking for Halloween plans in southern Arizona have plenty of options this weekend, with events stretching from Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1, according to 13 News and its SoAz Weekend roundup.

Drivers should plan around a street closure in downtown Tucson. Part of Congress Street, from Toole Avenue to just east of Scott Avenue, will be closed to vehicles from 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, until 3 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

Several venues are offering programming all weekend. Stacks Bookstore is hosting costumes, themed drinks and spooky activities at its Oro Valley and Broadway locations. The Oro Valley event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 30, and the Broadway event runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 31. Tomb Town Tucson's Terror Trail, a haunted trail at 8343 N. Wanda Rd., is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is a $1 donation that benefits the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank and Tucson Action Team's spay and neuter fund. Groundworks is holding all-ages Halloween nights with music, with doors opening at 6 p.m., while the ground level of Playground becomes a haunted video store pop-up from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

On Friday, Oct. 30, The Monica is hosting a Pup Paint & Sip from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., where guests paint their pets. Tickets are $65. Desert Drifter coffee shop is holding a Trunk-or-Treat from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with costumes, candy, drinks and games. Unscrewed Theater is staging a family-friendly improv comedy show at 7:30 p.m., which can be watched in person or by live stream.

Friday night also brings several masquerade and costume events. Brandylion is hosting a vampire-themed masquerade ball from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a formal Victorian gothic dress code, and fangs are encouraged. Hotel Congress is holding its own masquerade from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a costume contest, vendors and cabaret. The Sonoran Sapphics are hosting a dance party at Arizona Theater Company from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. with trinket trading and tarot readings, and Tucson Goth Ghoulies will gather at The Rock at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31, offers a mix of family and nightlife options. Park Place Mall is hosting indoor trick-or-treating with a car show from noon to 2 p.m. Flandrau Science Center is running spooky science activities from noon to 5 p.m., including slime play and lessons on tarantulas with help from University of Arizona clubs. Manual Cinema, a retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth with live music and puppetry, takes the stage at Centennial Hall at 2 p.m., and a few tickets remain. Pima Community College's production of Frankenstein's Monster, based on the original text, begins at 7 p.m., and tickets are still available.

For evening plans on Saturday, the Rialto Theatre is hosting a Znora Halloween party, with doors at 6:30 p.m. and music from Custom, The Pitts, Znora, Flying Half Full and others. R Bar is throwing a throwback party from 7 p.m. to midnight with spooky cocktails and Y2K horror. Hotel Congress will hold a party with rotating DJs and three stages from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., and The Royal Room is hosting an Indie-themed party over the same hours. A Downtown Tucson bar crawl package, with check-in starting at 4 p.m., includes no cover charges and drink specials.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, the focus shifts to Día de los Muertos. Tucson Botanical Gardens is offering flower displays, an ofrenda, face painting and puppets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hacienda del Sol is hosting a meal with mariachi music and Mexican food favorites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.