Festival of Frights

Festival of Frights comes to the South Mountain Activity Complex on Friday, October 16, from 5 PM to 8 PM. It's a free, all-ages evening that leans on costumes and candy to welcome the season, and it's one of several family-friendly celebrations Phoenix Parks and Recreation is staging across the city this month.

The night mixes community trunk-or-treating with a trick-or-treat trail, so you can work your way through the candy from a few different angles. There are inflatables for the kids to bounce on, a pumpkin patch to wander through, and food and music to keep things going. Live performances are part of the mix too, so the evening doesn't just stop at the treats.

It's part of the Phoenix Parks Fall Fun program, which runs from October 16 to 31 and turns parks across the city into autumn-themed venues. This is one of the free, family-friendly celebrations they're staging as part of that, so it's a good way to get into the spirit without spending much. The whole thing is billed as an evening for all ages, from the little ones in costume to the adults who come along for the ride.

If you're planning to go, the South Mountain Activity Complex is at 10401 S. Central Ave. in Phoenix. The festival runs from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday, October 16, and admission is free.