This is possibly my favorite month of the year. Well, December wins, but October is a very close second. There are so many things about the month that make me excited. It’s officially fall now, so you can start pulling out the scarves and boots that you pushed to the back of the closet. It's also, for all the college students, prime time football season, with games almost every weekend. Then of course, the best part: Halloween awaits at the end of the month. I love all holidays, but there is something special about Halloween. There are so many events and activities leading up to it. Especially in college, Halloween is more than just a day or the weekend; it's the entire month. I mean, who doesn’t love dressing up?
Therefore, I decided to compile a list to keep you busy this month with exciting adventures, festivals, and Halloween traditions.
1. Find an Oktoberfest celebration:
A lot of cities will have something going on to mimic the traditional German Oktoberfest. Grab some friends and some beer and spend a day enjoying Oktoberfest. Take advantage of carnival games, music, and a lot of beer. In
2. The Arizona State Fair: It comes late to Arizona to avoid the heat the summer months offer. Therefore, it comes at just the perfect time.
It is open from October 11th through November 3rd. There is a free concert series, thrill rides, and of course, the best part: deep fried food. If you go on Sunday, you can pay $35 to get an unlimited ride wristband. If you get there before 2 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday, you only pay $2 for admissions.
3. Fear farm, 13th Floor, The Crypt, Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill
Whatever it may be, a haunted house of some sorts is a definite must. Even if you are easily scared, it’s way too fun and thrilling to pass up. It even serves as a great date night. Fear Farm is located in Phoenix at 2209 N 99th Ave.
4. Escape the Room AZ
Open from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and 5:30 a.m. to
5. Going to a pumpkin patch is a must.
Whether it is spending the day going through corn mazes or just picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve, it’s a good way to spend a fall afternoon. There are many in the Phoenix area, one of the larger ones is Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek.
6. A night in with your roommates: You can make all of your favorite fall foods, bake cookies (my favorite are the Pillsbury sugar cookies with the pumpkin faces on them), and drink apple cider.
It’s a perfect way to spend an October day and an excuse to stay in.
7. Decorate your house:
Even if you are in an apartment or a dorm, no one can resist putting up a couple decorations to get excited about Halloween. It's as simple as swinging by the local convenience store to find decorations to add to your place.
8. Another part of October that gets me excited is designing my Halloween costumes.
Figuring out if you are going to do something classic or try to be unique (but in the end someone usually is wearing my so called “creative” costume). However, it is still enjoyable to look around stores with your friends, from Party City to goodwill to your best friend’s closet.
9. Watching your favorite Halloween movies:
I can’t go through October without watching "Halloweentown," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and "Hocus Pocus" a couple of times. Also, it’s a must that I turn on ABC family to watch their "13 Nights of Halloween." If you aren’t about these corny but lovable movies, have a scary movie night. Netflix has a pretty unique list of thriller and horror flicks.
10. Old Tucson Studios and Bird Cage Theatre are a few of the haunted wanders Southern Arizona holds. Take a weekend trip to check out these freaky sites.
11. Visit one of the many ghost towns Arizona has to offer.
Take a day away to venture off to one of the unique ghost towns in the area. They are endearing little places with also a creepy side to them. Such as the abandoned city of Jerome and it’s haunted Grand Hotel.
