Hot Halloween Events in Tucson

Tucson locals have certain expectations of the Halloween season. First, the crazy heat of the desert sun is finally giving all a well deserved rest. Once the temperatures begin to drop, anticipation mounts as folks await announcements of the annual Pumpkin Festival, Nightfall, and more.

Family Friendly Events: Ages 12 and Under

Get ready for Halloween at the adventurous "Halloween in the Wild" at the International Wildlife Museum. The movies "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" will be shown. Activities include crafts, games, glow in the dark cave, face painting, cake walk, live animals, and more.

Where: International Wildlife Museum, 4800 W. Gates Pass Road, Tucson, AZ 85745, phone: (520) 629-0100. When: "Halloween in the Wild" is Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Members get in free. Non-members pay regular admissions: Adults: $7, Seniors (62 and over): $5.50, Students/Military (with ID): $5.50, Children (4-12): $2.50, Children (3 and under): FREE

The "Pumpkin Festival" invites young and old to ride horse-drawn wagons for its 20th year at Buckelew Farm to pick their own in the pumpkin patch acres. Another fun option is a stroll around Buckelew Farm's eleven acre "Corn Maze," feed the animals, eat homemade pumpkin pie or roasted turkey legs.

Where: Buckelew Farm, 17000 W. Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ, "Pumpkin Festival" admission price $4.00 (children in diapers are free), pumpkins are 40 cents per pound; "Corn Maze" admission prices: Adults - $8.00, Children 6 to 12 yrs - $6.00, Children 5 yrs & under (must be accompanied by an adult) - free, Groups of 10 or more - $1.00 off admission price. Info: 822-2277, Directions: The farm is 30 minutes from downtown Tucson. Take Ajo Way (state Route 86) west for 22 miles. 10/11 & 10/12, 10/18 & 10/19, 10/25 & 10/26 Times: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Then on Halloween night, bring the young ones to Tucson Children's Museum for a marvelous "Not so Spooky Halloween." The fun is non-stop with costume contests, treats, face painting, and making spiders with the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute.

Where: Tucson Children's Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave. $1.00 admission to "Not so Spooky Halloween." Phone 520- 792-9985 When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., October 31, 2008.

Grown-up Halloween Events: Age 13 and Over

Come sundown, Buckelew Farm's corn maze becomes the "Field of Screams," on Friday and Saturday nights for the last three weeks in October. Zombies, chain saw wielding stalkers or other scary night surprises may jump out at any turn in the maze.

Where: Buckelew Farm, 17000 W. Ajo Way Info: 822-2277, Directions: The farm is 30 minutes from downtown Tucson. Take Ajo Way (state Route 86) west for 22 miles. Dates: Friday & Saturday nights the last 3 weekends in October, 10/10 & 10/11, 10/17 & 10/18, 10/24 & 10/25 Times: After dark (6:30'ish) to 12:00 midnight (farm closes at midnight) Price: $18.00 per person (children 12 yrs & under must be accompanied by an adult) the "Field of Screams" price includes the Haunted Corn Field AND the entire Corn Maze experience by flashlight. Two events for one low price! Early Bird Special: first weekend only (10/10 & 10/11) "Buy 2, get 1 free". Buy 2 admission tickets and get the 3rd free.

Hauntworld Magazine ranked "Nightfall at Old Tucson Studios: Release the Beast" among the top ten Halloween amusement parks in America. You just might be scared out of your wits.Set at the town of Nightfall, people keep turning up missing. Goulliard gargoyles, a manimal, and Dr. J. Hyde's escapees from his asylum are loose. Horror-themed shows include a "symposium of atrocities" where insane asylum inmates on the loose make an unimaginable situation totally insane! Watch out for the haunted walk-throughs and live shows featuring Hollywood-style makeup and special effects.

Where: Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road; When: Oct. 3 - Oct 31. Hours: 6-10 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays; 6 p.m. - midnight Fridays & Saturdays; and 6-10 p.m. Oct. 30-31st. "Nightfall at Old Tucson Studios: Release the Beast" Price: $24 with tax for 12 and older, $20 with tax for children 4-11. Discount tickets available for Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Phone: 520- 883-0100.

The Loft Cinema is celebrating its 30th annual Rocky Horror Picture Show tradition in Tucson. Every 1st and 3rd Saturday at midnight The Loft Cinema shows the Rocky Horror Picture Show for only $5.00. Additionally, die-hard cult fans gather at 10 p.m. on Halloween night for "The Rocky Horror Halloween Bash." Anything goes on this 30th milestone birthday with lots of prize give-aways and Frank-n-Furter adult fun!

Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85716, Phones: 520-795-7777 Showtime Recording, 520-795-0844 Box Office, 520-322-LOFT(5638) for all other inquiries. When: 'Rocky Horror Picture Show - movie only - every 1st and 3rd Saturday at Midnight, Price $5.00; 'Rocky Horror Halloween Bash' - Halloween night party/movie -October 31, 2008 at 10 p.m., Price $5.00