By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Halloween weekend in Rio Rancho is stacked — and not just with candy. Professional hockey brings themed nights to the Events Center Friday and Saturday, with half-off draft beer for Oktoberfest Night and indoor trick-or-treating for Peanuts Halloween Night. Quezada’s Comedy Club turns the holiday into a tribute show featuring 13 local comics channeling everyone from Richard Pryor to Mitch Hedberg to Fozzie Bear. The BLOCK goes all-in on Oct. 31 with face painting, a kids costume contest and a 10 p.m. adult throwdown. And on Sunday, New Mexico United opens playoff soccer, Cars & Coffee rolls into The BLOCK and Coco plays under the stars for Día de los Muertos.
Friday, Oct. 30: Spooky Night, puck drop and comedy
A Park Above hosts Spooky Night from 5 to 9 p.m. — a family-focused charity event with a costume parade, pumpkin and face painting, local vendors, a cakewalk, trick-or-treat stations and music by DJ LUCA2.
The Goatheads open their second homestand of the 2026-27 ECHL season at 7 p.m. at the Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center Circle NE, hosting the Rapid City Rush for Oktoberfest Night. Fans 21 and older get half-off draft beer throughout the arena all night. It’s the first home game since the inaugural opening weekend drew more than 16,000 fans over three games. Tickets at nmgoatheads.com.
Quezada’s Comedy Club opens “Night of the Living Cover Comics” at 7 p.m. at 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Rd., Bernalillo — a Halloween showcase built on a gloriously weird premise: 13 local New Mexico comics doing their best impressions of comedy legends, living and dead. The lineup includes Royal Wood, Bryan Lambe as Victor Borge, AJ Mathews as Richard Pryor, Bryan Valencia, Campbell Scott as James Adomian, Jesse Barben as Marc Maron, Jesus Santillanes as Fozzie Bear, June Opal, Nax Davis as Meg Stalter, Jake Boor-Morris as Mitch Hedberg, Aurora Simpson as Towelie, Traye Holland as Rodney Dangerfield and Gian Carlo as Bill Burr. Tickets at quezadas.holdmyticket.com.
The Honkey Tonk Jukebox takes The BLOCK Main Stage at 7 p.m. at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE. Resonance plays live at The Hopper starting at 6 p.m. Café Bella Coffee hosts Tacos & Rides at 7 p.m. Brewlab 101 has live local music at 7 p.m. Ten Pins & More hosts a space-themed Glow Karaoke costume party at 7 p.m. Elevate Trampoline Park runs a Junior High Lock-In starting at 9 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31: Halloween
The BLOCK goes all day Halloween at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE: Witch Scavenger Hunt runs all day, Andrea’s Face Painting runs noon to 5 p.m., the Under 12 Costume Contest hits the Main Stage at 4 p.m., Tiny Trick or Treat for ages 5 and under runs 4:30 to 6 p.m., DJ Hump takes over for an All Ages Dance Party at 7 p.m. and the Adult Costume Contest moves upstairs to the Top of THE BLOCK Bar at 10 p.m. (18+ to enter the bar).
Dia De Los Perros (Y Gatos) Pet Fiesta & Adopt-a-Thon runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sabana Grande Recreation Center, 4114 Sabana Grande Ave. The center is decorated with traditional Día de los Muertos symbols; community members can set up photos of departed pets alongside mementos, toys and treats. The event includes a pet-friendly vendor market, photo ops, a pet costume contest and animals available for adoption from local rescue groups and shelters. All pets must have current vaccination proof to register and must remain on leash throughout the event. On-site costume contest registration is $5 per pet, cash or check only. Info: 505-892-4499 or cabezon@rrnm.gov.
The Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch closes out its season in the Events Center parking lot, 3001 Civic Center Circle NE — last day for rides, treats and pumpkins.
The Goatheads return to the ice at 7 p.m. for Peanuts Halloween Night, presented by New Mexico Air National Guard, against the Rapid City Rush at the Events Center. Kids are encouraged to come in costume; indoor trick-or-treating gives them a chance to collect candy before puck drop. Tickets at nmgoatheads.com.
“Night of the Living Cover Comics” returns to Quezada’s for its second and final night at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1: Día de los Muertos and playoff soccer
The Corrales Growers’ Market closes out its 2026 season for the last time from 9 a.m. to noon at 500 Jones Rd., Corrales. That’s it until next year.
Cars & Coffee rolls into The BLOCK parking lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — the monthly gathering of classic and custom cars hosted by State Employees Credit Union with the High Desert Mustang Club of New Mexico and Chicky’s Coffee. Free; open to all car enthusiasts.
New Mexico United opens the USL Western Conference Quarterfinals Sunday at 3:55 p.m. at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, hosting Phoenix Rising FC. After a regular season that put United back in playoff contention, this is the first postseason home match with a championship run on the line. Tickets at seatgeek.com.
The Block closes the weekend with a free outdoor screening of Disney Pixar’s “Coco” at 8 p.m. at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE — the right movie for Día de los Muertos. Blankets and chairs welcome; no outside food or drinks.
What’s happening this weekend
New Mexico Goatheads vs. Rapid City Rush
Where: Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center Circle NE
Thu, Oct. 30 | 7 p.m. — Oktoberfest Night (half-off draft beer, 21+)
Fri, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. — Peanuts Halloween Night presented by NM Air National Guard (costumes encouraged; indoor trick-or-treating)
Tickets: nmgoatheads.com
New Mexico United vs. Phoenix Rising FC
What: USL Western Conference Quarterfinals
When: Sun, Nov. 1 | 3:55 p.m.
Where: Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, Albuquerque
Tickets: seatgeek.com
Night of the Living Cover Comics — Quezada’s Comedy Club
When: Thu, Oct. 30 & Fri, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. nightly
Where: 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Rd., Bernalillo (Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel)
Lineup: Royal Wood | Bryan Lambe as Victor Borge | AJ Mathews as Richard Pryor | Bryan Valencia | Campbell Scott as James Adomian | Jesse Barben as Marc Maron | Jesus Santillanes as Fozzie Bear | June Opal | Nax Davis as Meg Stalter | Jake Boor-Morris as Mitch Hedberg | Aurora Simpson as Towelie | Traye Holland as Rodney Dangerfield | Gian Carlo as Bill Burr
Tickets: quezadas.holdmyticket.com
The BLOCK — Halloween Weekend
Where: 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho
Thu, Oct. 30 | 7 p.m.: Honkey Tonk Jukebox (Main Stage)
Fri, Oct. 31 | All day: Witch Scavenger Hunt | Noon–5 p.m.: Face Painting | 4 p.m.: Under 12 Costume Contest | 4:30–6 p.m.: Tiny Trick or Treat (ages 5 & under) | 7 p.m.: All Ages Dance Party with DJ Hump | 10 p.m.: Adult Costume Contest (18+, Top of THE BLOCK Bar)
Sun, Nov. 1 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Cars & Coffee | 8 p.m.: “Coco” outdoor movie (free; blankets & chairs welcome, no outside food or drinks)
Dia De Los Perros (Y Gatos) Pet Fiesta & Adopt-a-Thon
When: Fri, Oct. 31 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: Sabana Grande Recreation Center, 4114 Sabana Grande Ave., Rio Rancho
Pet costume contest ($5/pet, cash or check, on-site registration only) | Vendor market | Photo ops | Adoptable animals
Vaccination proof required | Pets must remain on leash
Info: 505-892-4499 | cabezon@rrnm.gov
Cars & Coffee
When: Sun, Nov. 1 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: The BLOCK, 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho
Hosted by State Employees Credit Union, High Desert Mustang Club of NM & Chicky’s Coffee | Free | First Sunday of every month
Corrales Growers’ Market — Final Day of 2026
When: Sun, Nov. 1 | 9 a.m.–noon
Where: 500 Jones Rd., Corrales | 505-899-8900
Last market of the season — closes until 2027
Spooky Night at A Park Above
When: Thu, Oct. 30 | 5–9 p.m.
Where: A Park Above
Costume parade, face painting, vendors, cakewalk, trick-or-treat stations, DJ LUCA2 | Free family charity event
Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch — Final Day
When: Fri, Oct. 31
Where: Rio Rancho Events Center parking lot, 3001 Civic Center Circle NE
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