It’ll be a thrilling Halloween extravaganza as darkness falls on Uptown with the city of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Trick-or-Treat on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The popular event is a collaboration between local businesses and the city that spreads the holiday chills to between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees who come from around the Verde Valley.

“Uptown Trick-or-Treat is a tradition in Sedona, where all of the kids, families and community come out to Uptown, and our merchants are our neighbors offering tricks and treats,” Parks and Recreation Special Events Coordinator Jason Vargo said. “We’re going to have, as we have in past years, the Sedona Fire [District] … with their haunted ambulance, with the Sedona Police Department managing traffic and crowd movement, but also handing out candy.”

“I will be part of the Parks and Recreation group costume, which includes some otherworldly aspects that you’ll just have to come and see for yourself,” Vargo added.

For the third year, the Sedona Dance Academy will be performing at Sinagua Plaza to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” every 20 minutes throughout the event.

“It’s a flash mob and the whole school student body is learning it these next two weeks,” Jessica Phillips of the Sedona Dance Academy said. “What makes it a flash mob is [our dancers are] amongst the crowd, and then we start dancing.”

“There will also be a community favorite costume contest, for kids as well as adults, in which participants can take a photo, post it onto social media and use the hashtag #SedonaHalloween,” a Parks and Recreation press release stated. “The costumes with the most likes from our community will win a prize.”

“You can use the Sedona Shuttle Connect to arrive stress-free at the event,” Vargo said, but noted that parking for the event has not been an issue in previous years. “But there’s lots of free parking. There’s a map available on our website for the event of the free parking lots throughout Uptown as well at SedonaAZ. gov/parkevents.”

For more information, contact the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department at (928) 282-7098.

Clarkdale Trick-or-Treat Halloween

The town of Clarkdale will be hosting its annual “Safe Trick-or-Treating” on Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m.

“We close some of our upper Clarkdale streets to make it a safer environment for the 1,500 who travel along the streets,” Parks and Recreation Director Joni Westcott said.

“The trick-or-treating route includes: Main Street, First North and First South Streets in Upper Clarkdale,” a town pamphlet stated. “These streets will be closed and blocked from vehicular access from 4:30 to 7:15 p.m. and will only be accessible on foot. Please do not park along these streets. Parking will be available at Town Hall and Clarkdale-Jerome School. Bring flashlights, and please leave pets at home.”

A costume contest will be held in the Clarkdale Town Park at 5:30 p.m. No fee is required to participate and categories will be offered for different age groups as well as for group costumes.

The Clarkdale Downtown Business Alliance will also be holding a trunk-or-treat at the intersection of 10th Street and Main Street from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“The town, through donations and sponsors, supplies Upper Clarkdale residents with supplemental candy because there are so many kids,” Westcott said.

Camp Verde

Over 5,000 people usually attend the Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Department Main Street Trunk-or-Treat Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m. Main Street will be closed from Hollamon Street to S. Nichols Street from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. for the event.

This year’s event will includes a free screening of the 2012 Adam Sandler led comedy “Hotel Transylvania” at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Field. A concession stand and food trucks will be present from 4 to 8 p.m.

For more information, contact Camp Verde Parks and Recreation at (928) 554-0820 ext. 3 or parks@ campverde.az.gov.

Cottonwood

The city of Cottonwood will be holding its Trunkor-Treat event from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Cottonwood Recreation Center at 150 S. 6th Street with a theme of the filmography of Tim Burton.

“This event is free and open to the public for trickor-treaters of all ages. If you would like to decorate your car trunk and pass out candy, be sure to contact Travis Wilson via email at twilson@cottonwoodaz or call (928) 639-3200 ext. 3210,” the city’s website stated. The

Historic Old Town Cottonwood Association will also be hosting trickor-treating from 5 to 7 p.m. with participating merchants along Main Street.

Verde Villages

The Verde Village Property Owners Association will host a Trunk-or-Treat at the Duck Pond, at 3901 E. Del Rio Drive, from 6 to 8 p.m., with candy and trunks decorated by local businesses. Visit vvcc.life or email info@vvcc.life.