Photo courtesy Enchanted Pumpkin Garden.
Editor Mala Blomquist’s top picks for weekend fun around the Valley.
It’s getting spooooooky
Halloween Spooktacular and Car Show (Fri. Oct. 19). 6-8pm. Free. Halloween-thmed car show with trunk-or-treating, costume contests, live music, games, prizes, giveaways, food samples and more. The Shops at Norterra, 2460 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix. norterrashopping.com
Enchanted Pumpkin Garden (Oct. 19-28). 10am-9pm. Free. Enjoy the pumpkin carvings of artist Ray Villafane throughout the 4-acre garden. Also photo opportunities, kid activities, family pumpkin carving nights, music and autumnal refreshments. Carefree Desert Gardens, 101 Easy St, Carefree. 480-488-3686 or carefreepumpkingarden.com
Ghostly Stories Festival (Sat. Oct. 20). 4-7pm. Free. Celebrate stories, books and reading with a spooky twist. Storytime, arts & crafts, free book giveaway, chalk art mural and more. Arizona Humanities, 1242 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. azhumanities.org/ghoststoriesfestival
Queen Creek Trunk or Treat (Sat. Oct. 20). 5-9pm. Free. Live entertainment, carnival games, trunk-or-treat street, pet costume contest and more. On Ellsworth Road between Ocotillo and Rittenhouse. queencreek.org/trunkortreat
Ghosts & Goodies (Sun. Oct. 21). 3-6pm. Free. Costume contests, treat bags, games, prizes and entertainment. Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Glendale. westgateaz.com/boo
Get a new plant for the garden
Fall Plant Sale (Sat.-Sun. Oct. 20 &21). 7am-5pm Sat., 7am-3pm Sun. Free. More than 30,000 plants and on-site horticulture experts to help you. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. 480-941-1225 or dbg.org.
Community fun
Celebrate Mesa (Sat. Oct. 20). 5-9 pm. Free. Live music, inflatables, movie, contests, giveaways, food trucks, information booths and more. Red Mountain Soccer Complex, 905 N. Sunvalley Blvd., Mesa. mesaparks.com
Fun race for kids and their parents
Kids Obstacle Challenge (Sat. Oct. 20). 8:30am-3pm. $45 & up; parents free. Designed for kids 5-16 and their parents to run together. 1.5-2 miles of mud, water and 13-15 obstacles. Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. N. Loop Road, Chandler. kidsobstaclechallenge.com
