East Valley Fall Events & Trunk-or-Treats (October 2026)

by Jerry Elizabeth Sharp

Where can you find trunk-or-treats and fall events in Mesa and the East Valley in October 2026?

The biggest free ones are Haunting on Main in Downtown Mesa (Oct. 24), Chandler's Halloween Spooktacular (Oct. 30), and the Haunted Hangar at Falcon Field (Oct. 31). Schnepf Farms, Vertuccio Farms, and Mother Nature's Farm run all month long.

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so most of the best events are packed into the last two weekends of October. Here is what is worth planning around, sorted by date. (Note: Details were checked October 9, 2026, so give the official event pages a quick look before heading out!)

Oct. 15 to 17

Mesa Music Festival

When: Oct. 15 to 17
Where: Downtown Mesa
Cost: Free Three days of up-and-coming bands playing around downtown. Pair it with dinner on Main Street for a great outing!

Teen Pool Party at Greenfield Pool

When: Sat., Oct. 17 · 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Where: Greenfield Pool, Gilbert
Cost: Free for Gilbert high schoolers Snacks, games, pumpkin decorating, and pool time. One of the few October events tailored specifically for teens who have outgrown traditional trunk-or-treating.

Oct. 23 to 24

Pro-Tip: Saturday, Oct. 24 is the busiest day of the month in Mesa! Most morning events wrap up by early afternoon—making it super nap-friendly for younger kids.

Boo Bash

When: Fri., Oct. 23 · 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Freestone Recreation Center, Gilbert
Cost: Free / Town of Gilbert event Games, crafts, inflatables, and a petting zoo. A perfect warm-up for little kids.

Haunting on Main

When: Sat., Oct. 24 · 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Main St. and Macdonald, Downtown Mesa
Cost: Free Downtown shops hand out candy to kids in costume, complete with games, crafts, and cotton candy along Main. Treats last until they run out, so be sure to get there early!

Trunk or Treat Car Show

When: Sat., Oct. 24 · 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Friendly's Auto, 5026 E. Main St., Mesa
Cost: Free Hot rods, decorated trunks, food trucks, and a Kid's Choice award. Made for the car-obsessed kid!

Mesa Cemetery Tour

When: Sat., Oct. 24 · 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Where: Mesa City Cemetery
Cost: Free A self-paced walk where narrators tell the stories of Mesa pioneers, lawmen, and World War II-era Royal Air Force cadets. Great for older kids, and it ends right as Haunting on Main begins.

Full Moon Hike at Usery Mountain Regional Park

When: Sat., Oct. 24 · Evening
Where: Usery Mountain Regional Park, Mesa
Cost: Registration required A ranger-led 2.2-mile sunset and full-moon hike. Spots are limited, so sign up early!

Also watch for: Mesa Arts Center's free Día de los Muertos Festival, usually held during the last full weekend of October.

Oct. 30 to 31: Halloween Weekend

Halloween Spooktacular

When: Fri., Oct. 30 · 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler
Cost: Free Chandler's biggest Halloween night: a massive trunk-or-treat with 300+ pounds of candy, carnival games, and a costume parade at 6:15 PM and 7:30 PM (no sign-up needed). Kids 5 and under get their own Little Monsters Zone. Don't forget to bring a candy bag!

Haunted Hangar at Falcon Field

When: Sat., Oct. 31 · 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Where: Historic WWII Hangar, 4626 E. Fighter Aces Dr., Mesa
Cost: Free Trick-or-treat with City of Mesa departments and airport businesses inside a historic World War II hangar, then see private planes up close. A North Mesa gem that leaves the rest of Halloween evening open for your neighborhood trick-or-treating!

All Month Long: Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes

Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party

When: Through Oct. 31 (Wednesdays to Sundays)
Where: 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd., Queen Creek
Cost: Ticketed (Kids 2 and under are free) The 30th year of this East Valley classic! Features a corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo, pig races, 25+ included rides, and their famous chili. New this year is a 100-foot slide (42-inch minimum). Wednesdays open at 4:00 PM, which is great for after school.

Vertuccio Farms Fall Festival

When: Through Oct. 31
Where: Power Road, Southeast Mesa
Cost: Ticketed The closest big farm festival for most of Mesa and Gilbert. Includes a corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, ropes course, barrel train, giant slide, and mini-golf.

Mother Nature's Farm

When: Through Oct. 31
Where: Gilbert
Cost: $15 (under 42 inches), $17 (42 inches and up) The top choice when you want a classic pumpkin patch experience without a full-day festival commitment. Admission includes a pumpkin, a hayride, farm animals, and a straw bale maze.

Fall in Gilbert's Heritage District

When: All Fall
Where: Water Tower Plaza and the Heritage District
Cost: Free Look for the return of the Great Gilbert Gourd Hunt, then catch the Celebration Soundscape light-and-music show at the top of each hour from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (except Thursdays during Concerts in the Park). An easy evening walk once the weather cools off.

Good to Know Before You Go

Queen Creek's town trunk-or-treat is no longer active. The town stopped hosting it in 2024 after drawing over 20,000 people. Beware of old event listings!
Check local community boards. Churches, local schools, and HOAs host plenty of great trunk-or-treats that don't make it to big public event calendars.
Dress for the afternoon heat. October days in Arizona can still run warm. Bring water and save warm or heavy fleece costumes for after dark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are trunk-or-treats in Mesa free?

Yes, most community-hosted events are free, including Haunting on Main, the Haunted Hangar at Falcon Field, and Chandler's Spooktacular. Farm festivals, however, do require admission tickets.

What's the best day for Halloween events in Mesa in 2026?

Saturday, October 24th! That day features Haunting on Main, the Mesa Cemetery Tour, and the Trunk or Treat Car Show all in one day.

Does Queen Creek still have an official town trunk-or-treat?

No, the official town event ended in 2024. However, Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek hosts its annual Pumpkin & Chili Party throughout the month of October.

Know an Event We Missed?

If your local school, church, or neighborhood is hosting a public trunk-or-treat or fall event, let us know and we'll gladly add it to the list!

And if you're new to the East Valley or deciding between moving to Mesa, Gilbert, or Queen Creek, I am always happy to answer questions and help you explore what living in these communities is like.

Jerry Sharp

Sharp Dwellings at Real Broker

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📸 Instagram: @sharpdwellings