Based on the overwhelming response to last year’s inaugural Halloween Stroll, Downtown Tempe is pleased to announce its not‐so‐scary return this year to the downtown district. Now considered one of Downtown Tempe’s signature, family‐friendly events, the Halloween Stroll takes place Sunday October 27th, 2019 starting at 2pm. The self‐guided stroll is free to attend and offers families and kids a safe and engaging way to celebrate the spooky holiday during daylight hours and includes festive crafts, games, trick‐or‐treating and a costume contest. Attendees of all ages are encouraged to dress up in costumes and are reminded to bring their own goodie bags, which can be filled by visiting various participating businesses and merchants within the district.
The event begins at 2pm in Hayden Station; the public park and amphitheater located at 404 S. Mill Avenue next to the newly opened Ted’s Refreshments and the Hayden Square Parking Garage. Attendees will be entertained by local radio station sponsors K‐LOVE 89.1 and Air1 105.5, and will receive a map of participating downtown businesses for families to visit for trick‐or‐treating. The radio stations will MC the costume contest, which takes place back at Hayden Station no later than 4:30pm. The contest features multiple categories with the top three contestants in each category awarded prizes for Cutest, Most Scary, Most Creative, Best Group, Funniest, Best Pair. Prizes consist of gift card giveaways to local businesses valued at over $300.00. While the programming and costume contest are geared primarily towards kids, the event is open to all ages and well‐behaved adults and dogs are welcome at the event.
In addition to the contest and trick‐or‐treating, there will be festive holiday crafts and games on site. Event organizers are expecting a few hundred people this year, and invite families to make a day of it in Downtown Tempe with special “bounce back” offers on the backs of the Halloween Stroll maps. Offers include things like $5 hot dogs and chips at Ted’s Refreshments, and waived gaming fees at Snakes & Lattés. Downtown visitors will notice a distinctly festive atmosphere with downtown businesses competing in a Halloween decorating contest. The rivalry will heat up on the streets of Tempe and online voting for the best Halloween displays will take place on Facebook.
“We hope families come early and come hungry,” said Event Operations Manager for the Downtown Tempe Authority, Kim DeMeritt. “Last year’s event was such a resounding success and we love hosting the community. Many people think only of the bars and college students, but we have a lot to offer the thousands of local families, and hope they enjoy our numerous restaurants and dining options before or after the Halloween Stroll.”
For more information about the Halloween Stroll, please visit: https://www.downtowntempe.com/events/Halloween‐stroll
For more information about transportation options and parking, please visit: https://www.downtowntempe.com/get‐around
For more information about the merchant Halloween decorating contest, please visit: Facebook.com/DowntownTempe