Trick-or-treating is great, but it definitely isn't the only family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween. Arizona's Verde Canyon Railroad has a "spooktacular" Halloween train ride called the Haunted Halloween Express, featuring a costume contest, themed food and drinks, ghost stories, and tons more festive fun for all ages.
All aboard the Haunted Halloween Express for the most "spooktacular" train ride in Arizona!
With just the right amount of thrills and chills to remain family-friendly, this annual event on the Verde Canyon Railroad is tons of fun for ghouls and goblins of all ages.
Passengers are invited to don their best Halloween attire in hopes of winning the costume contest - but be forewarned: the competition is always fierce!
From scariest to funniest, there are several categories you can enter, so your options are only as limited as your imagination.
The employees join in the the fun, too!
Will your conductor be a green-faced witch, a creepy clown, or an Oompa Loompa from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?
You'll enjoy festive treats and beverages while listening to folklore about the history of the Verde Canyon, including tales of miners who met an early demise after suffering tragic accidents on the job.
As darkness falls, the moonlight casts eerie shadows on the towering canyon walls - or is it the moon? Perhaps something more sinister lurks about, shrouded in the mystery of nighttime...
So if you're in search of something a little different to make your All Hallows' Eve absolutely bewitching, the Haunted Halloween Express on the Verde Canyon Railroad has plenty of tricks and treats for the whole family.
Oh, and we'd be remiss not to mention that the costume contest awards prizes, so dress to impress!
If one of the costume categories was "Most Arizona," this would certainly take the blue ribbon.
What's the most unique Halloween costume you've ever seen?
October is when fall foliage peaks in the Verde Canyon, so you can expect to see a truly striking array of scarlet, amber, crimson, and gold hues.
The railroad also has a Fall Colors tour, as well as the ever-popular "Ales on Rails" event, which features festive, seasonal craft beer selections from local breweries. Whether you add one of these rides to your autumn bucket list or just admire the scenery on the Haunted Halloween Express, you'll never forget the experience.
A one-day event, the Haunted Halloween Express takes place on Sunday, October 31, 2021. Visit the Verde Canyon Railroad's website or Facebook page to learn more and/or purchase tickets when they go on sale (prices have yet to be announced).
Have you ever ridden the Haunted Halloween Express on the Verde Canyon Railroad? If so, what did you dress up as? Tell us all the "spooktacular" details of your experience in the comments section below, then check out our previous article to learn more about the railroad's Fall Colors Tour.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!