By Kevin Hendricks
East Mountain and Estancia Valley families can scream, carve and craft their way through October at a haunted farm, library workshops and a town-wide monster hunt. Here’s what’s happening and what to book first.
SCARE UP A PUMPKIN: McCALL’S, MORIARTY
McCall’s Pumpkin Patch & Haunted Farm runs through Oct. 31. The daytime patch is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, plus noon-6 p.m. on Fridays Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30. Expect corn mazes, hayrides and farm activities.
After dark, the Haunted Farm opens Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight. Its headliners are the Slaughter House haunted barn and the Field of Scream haunted cornfield. Nothing says fall like a cornfield that fights back.
Haunt tickets sell online by reservation only, and prices rise as Halloween nears. Dress warm, because night winds drop temperatures fast.
CARVE OUT TIME: EDGEWOOD PUMPKIN CARVING
The Edgewood Community Library hosts its annual pumpkin carving from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Registration opens Sept. 26 online. Each carver needs their own account and registration. The event is open to East Mountain residents only, and all supplies are included.
IT’S ALIVE: FRANKENTOYS, TIJERAS
Crafters and teens can turn old, broken toy parts into custom Halloween monstrosities from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, at the East Mountain Library, 487 NM 333. Resident “mad scientists” provide the tools.
MONSTER MASH-UP: EDGEWOOD LIBRARY HUNT
Kids can hunt hidden monsters around the Edgewood Community Library from Oct. 20 to 24 and win a prize if they find them all. The library is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Little monster-hunters can stay for Story Time at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.
HALLOWEEN NIGHT: TRUNK OR TREAT
Edgewood’s annual Trunk or Treat happens at Venus Park, 181 NM-344, from 6-8 p.m. Businesses that want to hand out candy from a trunk can call Parks & Recreation at (505) 286-4518.
Plan your Halloween:
McCall’s Pumpkin Patch & Haunted Farm
2 McCall Ln., Moriarty | (505) 595-7500 | mccallpumpkinpatch.com (tickets)
Edgewood Community Library (pumpkin carving, monster hunt, Story Time)
171B NM-344, Edgewood | 505-281-0138 | edgewood-nm.gov/library
Carving registration: secure.rec1.com/NM/edgewood-nm/catalog (opens Sept. 26)
East Mountain Library (FrankenToys)
487 NM 333, Tijeras | 505-281-8508 | abqlibrary.org/eastmountain
Edgewood Parks & Recreation (Trunk or Treat)
(505) 286-4518