Prescott is gorgeous in any season: spring, summer, winter or fall. And no matter what time of year you visit, you’re sure to find something fun to do, but that’s especially true in October. Fall is upon us, which means that the leaves are changing color (except the Ponderosa pines, of course), a chill is in the air, your favorite pumpkin-spiced latte is back, and you’re finally free to start bundling up in comfy layers.

October in Prescott is as exciting as it is lovely. You can take a stroll through downtown Prescott, go to a farmer’s market, or visit a corn maze and enjoy other spooky activities. The options truly abound. But with so many seasonal events starting up, it’s hard to know where to start, so we’ve picked 10 must-do activities you can’t afford to miss when you’re in Prescott this fall.

Walking Tours of Prescott start at 10:00 AM every day up until October 31 most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Be sure to call ahead to confirm at (928) 445-2000. If you’d like to enjoy a special, historic walking tour with a group of 5 or more, the cost is $5 a person.

The Prescott Farmers Market is the perfect way to enjoy everything the fall season has to offer. There is plenty of delicious homemade and home-grown food to whet your appetite there, so grab a sweater and some coffee and come on up and join us!

The Big Sting is a country music festival that’ll take place at Watson Lake in Prescott. Join 3,000 of your closest friends and enjoy country music concerts from October 14th at 5:00 PM to Saturday, October 16 at 11 PM. This event is sponsored by the Shadows Foundation. Expect concerts, food, drinks, camping, horseshoe tournaments, corn hole, and more! The Shadows Foundation is a Flagstaff-based nonprofit. Its mission is to help those affected by life-threatening diseases.

Fall just isn’t complete without corn mazes and pumpkin patches—which is exactly why the Pumpkin Fest & Corn Maze at Mortimer Farms runs all month long, from October 1-31. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when the sun sets, they’ll also have fire dancers, karaoke, barn dances, pig races, and more. If that’s not fall fun, we don’t know what is!

In early October, the FallFest in the Park will be at the Yavapai County Courthouse. This festival will be from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, October 2. It will resume on Sunday, October 3, from 9 AM to 3 PM. Come down for this fun arts and crafts show. They’ll even have old west re-enactments by The Prescott Regulators and their Shady Ladies!

This family-friendly street festival will take place on October 16 from 2 PM to 7 PM, and is located on North Cortez Street between Willis and Sheldon. There will be plenty of music and activities, including Kids Music Time with Stephy Leigh and music by XIXA, a new-Southwest band. Don’t miss Polynesian Siva dance from 2 to 3 PM. Admission is $8 in advance and $10 at the event. Kids 12 and under are free. Get tickets here.

Spooky events are more fun in Prescott because towns with historic buildings offer a fun touch to the festivities. One of the best streets for trick-or-treating in Prescott is Mount Vernon Avenue, but Whiskey Row and Heritage Park also offer Halloween fun. In years past, we’ve even had a “Nightmare on Goodwin Street” at El Gato Azul.

All the events in this section are on Halloween night, October 31.

Mount Vernon Avenue in Prescott’s Historic district really leans into Halloween. Homeowners go all-out with the candy and festive costumes. Spooky lawn ornaments and accents make the night unforgettable for kids… and it doesn’t hurt that many homeowners offer full-size candy bars. The street closes at 3 PM on Halloween to grant the pedestrians full rein and reopens at 11 PM.

The local stores set up booths for kids and organize skill games with prizes. The festivities are complete with face painting, pumpkin carving, and a costume competition. There’s music and small rides for kids as well. It starts at 11 AM. At night, the festivities are better suited to adults.

The Prescott Gateway Mall hosts an annual Scream Factor Haunted Attraction every year. It was closed in 2020 but is expected to return in 2021. It’s not recommended for kids under 12. This event is scary, so avoid it if you’ve got a heart condition or are pregnant. They use strobe lights and fog machines, so avoid it if you’ve got a medical condition that’s worsened by them.

Heritage Park hosts Boo at the Zoo every year on Halloween. It starts at 5 PM for families with children 6 and under, and at 6 PM for all ages. You can come in costume and trick-or-treat at different stations around the Sanctuary. Bring a flashlight and see all the nocturnal residents. Don’t forget to check out the new Boo Zone. Special admission prices are $7 for members and $10 for non-members.