Sedona residents love Halloween.
It’s perhaps the only time of year when the city’s colorful cast of characters, crazies and creative types can walk down the street without garnering second looks.
Only the tourists seem to notice the difference — locals seem acclimated to costumed street-walking prophets in
bathrobes, face-painted superheroes playing classic rock songs and the sight of hippies hauling didgeridoos down State Route 89A.
Halloween, however, adds ghosts, ghouls, goblins, Jedis, Prohibition-era gangsters and X-men to the city’s eclectic body politic.
All-Age Events
Halloween is a children’s holiday so all-age events on Saturday, Oct. 31, are the highlight around the Verde Valley.
n Sedona’s largest kid-friendly event is the 23rd annual Safe & Fun Trick or Treating.
Hosted by the Sedona Main Street Program, the event gathers all of Sedona’s children into one convenient location, reducing the distance they must walk to gather enough Halloween candy, sweets, gifts and freebies to keep them on a sugar high until Thanksgiving.
Most businesses in Uptown Sedona participate in the event that runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
n From 4 to 8:30 p.m., New Frontiers Natural Marketplace will give all-natural, tasty treats to all costumed visitors. New Frontiers is located at 1420 W. SR 89A, 282-6311.
n The Old Town Center for the Arts presents a Halloween Variety Show with poets Sevan “Apollo Poetry” Aydinian, Sean Mabe and Kayt Perlman, magic
and yo-yo tricks with Magical Michael Steele, DJs Mr. Fritz and DJ Stlinder, musicians John Dumas and Three Trees and mask-maker Pash Galbavy. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 for kids under 12.
The Old Town Center for the Arts is located at 633 N. Fifth St., Cottonwood, 634-0940.
n Sedona Heritage Museum presents Mysteries of the Mogollon with performer Michael Peach. He will tell humorous and scary stories of Sedona’s historical figures, from deadly cowboys to contemplative man-eating bears.
Tickets are $7, with children under 12 free.
n Studio Live features Kingman slam poet Mikel Weisser teaching young poets to “Spit Words!” with his performance poetry workshop at 2 p.m. Studio Live is located at 215 Coffeepot Drive, 282-0549. Admission is $10 with a discount for students.
Weisser continues the theme with a Halloween Day Poetry Open Mic at 4 p.m. at Java Love Café, 2155 W. SR 89A, 204-1500.
Sedona Nightclubs
n The Barking Frog offers a three course meal, live music and a costume contest.
The Barking Frog is located at 2620 W. SR 89A, 204-2000.
n The Gypsy Lounge at Ken’s Creekside hosts a House of Bliss Halloween Dance Party with DJ Mixtress Hava.
One of Sedona’s longtime DJs, Hava plays a nuanced mixture of transcendental dance music. Prizes include $100 each for most original and sexiest costume, $150 for best duo. Ken’s Creekside is located at 251 SR 179, 282-1705.
n Oak Creek Brewing Co. features Winter & the Ice Men. The brewery is located at 2050 Yavapai Drive, 204-1300.
n Olde Sedona Restaurant
presents a Halloween party with DJ Rafael and prizes. Olde Sedona is located at 1405 W. SR 89A, 282-5670.
n Relics Restaurant & Nightclub and the Sedona Pride Association hosts the third annual HallowQueen dance party. There will be a DJ and costume contest starting at 8 p.m. Admission is $10.
Support the local food bank by bringing nonperishable food items or cash for donation.
Relics is located at 3235 SR 89A, West Sedona. For more information, visit www.sedonapride.org.
n Szechuan Restaurant & Martini Bar features DJ Soulece with a dance costume party beginning at 10 p.m. Szechuan
is located at 1350 W. SR 89A, Suite 21.
Verde Valley Parties
n One of the largest adult Halloween parties in the Verde Valley is the Asylum Restaurant’s costumed ball.
The Asylum is located at the Jerome Grand Hotel, 200 Hill Street, Jerome. Admission is $10.
n Headlining at the Dragonfly Lounge is a Sedona favorite, the rock band Radio Dogma. The foursome will play a KISS tribute show on Halloween.
The casino offers cash prizes for attendees including a $2,500 grand prize for best costume.
The Dragonfly Lounge is located at Cliff Castle Casino, Middle Verde Road off I-17, Camp Verde, 567-7991.
n For a more subdued party, the Jerome Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary hosts the 36th annual Halloween Dance at Spook Hall with music by Major Lingo starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10. All proceeds go to the Jerome Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
Spook Hall is located on Hull and First avenues in Jerome.
