Valley of the Sun offers a weekend full of Halloween fun

With Halloween falling on the weekend this year, many families are looking to create a weekend to remember. Economic pressure caused many families to fore-go travel this summer, and they are hoping to fill that gap with other activities now that the economy appears to be leveling off.

For Phoenicians, there are many options this weekend, valleywide. Starting tomorrow, The Escalante Community Center, in Tempe, will be hosting the Family Halloween Adventure from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Attractions will include activities like games and crafts, a haunted house, and Halloween themed music. Tickets start at just $5 and can be purchased at the event or by calling 480-350-5831.

For those looking for something a little more philanthropic, one could venture out to Peoria on the 31st for the Halloween Monster Bash and Balloon Illumination. Admission is free with the donation of a canned food item for St. Mary's Food Bank. Activities will include a costume contest, story time, puppet show, inflatables, and much more. Event is at the Peoria Sports Complex, and the gates open at 5pm.

Crosswalk Church, of South Phoenix/Laveen is hosting a "Trunk-or-Treat" event in the parking lot of Ace Hardware on the Northeast corner of Southern and 35th Avenue Saturday Afternoon. Just in time to give little ones time to practice their Trick-or-Treating skills before hitting the streets in your neighborhood.

Cave Creek is holding it's annual street festival "Cave Creek Wicked" again this year. As in the past there will be costume contests for adults, children, and pests. A new attraction this year is the Thriller street dance, inspired, of course, by the Michael JacksonMichael Jackson album and video, as well as a self-guided tour of the businesses in down-town Cave Creek, each of which will be having their own Halloween Themed festivities including more costume contests. Admission is free.

Fear not, strapped families, every corner of the valley is preparing for All Hollow's Eve, and inviting you to join in the festivities without busting the bank. My family and I will be heading first to the trunk or treat that Crosswalk Church is having in our neighborhood, and then out to trick or treat on Saturday. Tomorrow, we're off to the Downtown Phoenix Zombie Walk, at Heritage Square. It's expected to be ghoulishly scary, and frighteningly fun. Hope to see you there.