Halloween events for kids in Scottsdale (2026)
Listings last checked · Covers Oct 16 – Nov 1, 2026 · Past events drop off automatically
Quick answer: We list 14 upcoming Halloween and fall events for kids in Scottsdale between Oct 16 – Nov 1, 2026. 9 are free, including Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market, Scottsdale Fall Festival, Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Appaloosa Library, Candy Crawl at Scottsdale Quarter, and 5 more. This weekend (Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18): MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch, Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market, Scottsdale Fall Festival and Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
This list covers family-friendly Halloween and fall events located in Scottsdale itself, from free city festivals and library parties to ticketed train rides and pumpkin patches. Each listing comes from the organizer's own page.
Free Scottsdale Halloween events
Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 · 10am–4pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
60+ craft vendors plus free kids' face painting, costume characters, trick-or-treating and costume contests.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Scottsdale Fall Festival
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 · Starts 5pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Free trick-or-treating, carnival games, hands-on arts & crafts, live band & DJ and food trucks.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Appaloosa Library
- When
- Tue, Oct 20 · 3:30pm (60 min, space limited)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 6-11 · Indoor
Build a DIY Halloween catapult and launch candy pumpkins and stretchy skeletons.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Candy Crawl at Scottsdale Quarter
- When
- Sat, Oct 24 · 1–4pm
- Cost
- Free (optional $18 Superhero VIP for kids)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Trick-or-treat at participating stores, character appearances, crafts, face painting, balloon twisters and a pumpkin-carving demo.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Arabian Library
- When
- Mon, Oct 26 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Mustang Library
- When
- Mon, Oct 26 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Appaloosa Library
- When
- Tue, Oct 27 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Halloween Family Fun — Civic Center Library
- When
- Tue, Oct 27 · 5:30pm (45 min)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 0-8 · Indoor
Costumed kids welcome for family-friendly Halloween games and activities.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Civic Center Library
- When
- Wed, Oct 28 · 4pm (60 min, space limited)
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- Ages 6-11 · Indoor
Build a DIY Halloween catapult and launch candy pumpkins and stretchy skeletons.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Ticketed or paid events
MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sat, Oct 31 (Daily except Tuesdays; closes 3pm on Halloween) · 9am–5pm (last entry 5pm)
- Cost
- $15 per person (under 2 free)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Petting zoo, gold panning, hay-bale maze, pedal cars, carnival games and pumpkins; pony and train rides extra.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sat, Oct 31 (October evenings; timed-entry wristbands sold online) · 6–9:30pm (entry 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30 or 8pm)
- Cost
- $15 per person (2 & under free)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Gently spooky train ride, carousel, storybook train and a haunted walk-through (best for older kids).
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival
- When
- Fri, Oct 23 – Sun, Oct 25 (Oct 23–25) · 5–9pm daily
- Cost
- Not stated. See the official page.
- Ages
- All ages (kids 3–12 child ticket, 2 & under free) · Outdoor
Glowing hot air balloons become trick-or-treat stations, plus a free kids zone with bounce houses and a family-friendly haunted trail.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Eek! At the Peak!
- When
- Sat, Oct 24 · 9–11am · registration required (ActiveNet)
- Cost
- Not stated. See the official page.
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Costume contests, treats, nature education and a Junior Ranger program at the trailhead.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Dunkin' for Pumpkins (floating pumpkin patch)
- When
- Sun, Oct 25 · Starts 1pm
- Cost
- $15 per pumpkin (register in advance)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Pick a pumpkin from the heated pool, then decorate it at activity stations. Advance registration required.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Frequently asked questions
What free Halloween events for kids are in Scottsdale in 2026?
Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Scottsdale Fall Festival (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Appaloosa Library (Tue, Oct 20, Scottsdale, Free); Candy Crawl at Scottsdale Quarter (Sat, Oct 24, Scottsdale, Free (optional $18 Superhero VIP for kids)); Halloween Family Fun — Arabian Library (Mon, Oct 26, Scottsdale, Free); Halloween Family Fun — Mustang Library (Mon, Oct 26, Scottsdale, Free); Halloween Family Fun — Appaloosa Library (Tue, Oct 27, Scottsdale, Free); Halloween Family Fun — Civic Center Library (Tue, Oct 27, Scottsdale, Free); Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Civic Center Library (Wed, Oct 28, Scottsdale, Free).
What Halloween events are in Scottsdale this weekend?
For Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18: MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch (Sat, Oct 17 – Sat, Oct 31, Scottsdale, $15 per person (under 2 free)); Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Scottsdale Fall Festival (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (Sat, Oct 17 – Sat, Oct 31, Scottsdale, $15 per person (2 & under free)).
Which Scottsdale Halloween events are best for toddlers and preschoolers?
These are aimed at young children: Halloween Family Fun — Arabian Library (Mon, Oct 26, Scottsdale, Free); Halloween Family Fun — Mustang Library (Mon, Oct 26, Scottsdale, Free); Halloween Family Fun — Appaloosa Library (Tue, Oct 27, Scottsdale, Free); Halloween Family Fun — Civic Center Library (Tue, Oct 27, Scottsdale, Free). All-ages events like the free festivals also welcome little ones.
Which events need registration or timed tickets?
Plan ahead for: Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park; Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Appaloosa Library; Eek! At the Peak!; Dunkin' for Pumpkins (floating pumpkin patch); Cauldron Catapults (Halloween STEM) — Civic Center Library. Check the official page for each.
How does Little Outings check these listings?
Every event here was checked on the organizer's official website or calendar, and each listing shows the date we last checked it and links to that source. Past events drop off the page automatically. Dates, times and prices can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website or calendar and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site. Price levels without a source are our estimates. Read how we verify listings.