The eerie ambience of the season will reach a crescendo on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. as the Uptown Trick or Treat event returns to the storefronts of Uptown Sedona.

On Halloween, Uptown merchants will again throw open their doors to distribute treats, providing an environment for trick-or-treaters of all ages to gather and revel in the holiday. The storefronts will be adorned with spooky decor, and employees and owners will be wearing costumes contributing to the festive atmosphere.

“Our favorite event of the year [is] Uptown Trick or Treating,” Vice Mayor Holli Ploog said during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10. “It’s taking place on Halloween in Uptown Sedona. Join us from 5 to 8 p.m. for a scary good time and make sure you wear your costume and have treats because we want to give them out to everybody.”

Once participants have consumed their treats, they can dispose of the remains as part of the Trick or Trash candy wrapper recycling program in a drop box at the Parks and Recreation Department’s booth at Sinagua Plaza or at several locations throughout the event, according to Parks and Recreation Special Event Coordinator Jason Vargo.

The Parks and Recreation booth is “a center point of a lot of the action, it’s going to have decorations and candy, and we’ll be able to answer questions,” Vargo said, and added that people should recycle their wrappers. “Because every opportunity we have to divert waste from landfills is a responsible and satisfying thing to do.”

“Sedona Recycles is also participating in the Trick or Trash wrapper collection,” the city’s Parks and Recreation website states. “You can take your wrappers to their Trick or Trash recycling box at 2280 Shelby Drive until” Wednesday, Nov. 15.

Attendees can also expect to see a flash mob of dancers from the Sedona Dance Academy perform in the center of Sinagua Plaza “Historically, there’s been a ‘Thriller’ dance,” based on the Michael Jackson song, Vargo said. “That is a large part of what they did last year. I’m allowing the dance troupe to just create their own experience. It’s going to be a periodic dance spectacle.”

Sedona Dance Academy founder Jessica Phillips said that the performance will be reminiscent of the 2004 Jennifer Garner movie “13 Going on 30.” Dances will be staged every half hour during the event, beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m.

“It’s a really fun, family friendly [event], but it’s fun for everyone at any age,” Phillips said. “It will warm your heart and get you into the real fall [spirit], and it’s a great way to get to know the local vendors.”

More details will be unveiled on the city’s social media pages as the event gets closer, including how prizes from sponsoring merchants will be awarded.

“We are going to have a haunted ambulance from the Sedona Fire [District] and hopefully even more involvement from community groups as we continue to communicate about the event,” Vargo said. “There’s going to be treats galore, so I think there’s going to be way more treats than tricks this year.”

Unlike in previous years, the city is not seeking donations of candy and there will be no scheduled road closures during the event. “Though there will be significant support from the Sedona police department to make sure that everyone stays safe where the crossings are,” Vargo said. “People should come out because it’s one of the most enjoyable community traditions in Sedona and families and folks can just have a great time together.”

The Sedona Fire District discussed Halloween safety tips during the September board meeting Halloween safety tips, including using battery-operated candles in place of real candles in Jack-o’-lanterns, choosing costumes without capes, testing smoke alarms and keeping costumes away from open flames.