By Travis Barton | [email protected]

Day of the Dead at Utah Cultural Celebration Center

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will be celebrated on Sat., Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. 

Featuring traditional Mexican musical and dance performances, traditional food, a beer garden and a variety of hands-on activities for the whole family. There will also be a chance to win prizes in the Catrina dress-up contest.

It is not a Mexican specific holiday, but rooted in Aztec culture and widely celebrated in Latin America. The day is a celebration of ancestors and others who have passed on. The holiday was recently highlighted in the Disney Pixar film “Coco.”  

Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children under 12 and students with ID. 

Bewitching Breakfast

Saturday, Oct. 21 will prove to be a spooktacular day at the Family Fitness Center (5415 West 3100 South). 

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. will be a friendly neighborhood breakfast with warlocks and witches at the Bewitching Breakfast. 

While dining, warlocks, witches and sorcerers will entertain with tricks and spells. They’ll sign autographs, pose for pictures and show off their wickedly, wonderful talents. Face painting will also be available. 

Breakfast (served until 10 a.m.) will feature paranormal pancakes, spooky sausage, eerie eggs, and frightening fruit with potions of juice, milk, hot cocoa or coffee. 

Adults are $9, 4-11 years old is $7 and children 1-3 are $5. All children and youth must be accompanied by a paying adult. Register online at wvc-ut.gov by Monday, Oct. 16.

Halloween Safety Fair 

That very same Saturday, nay, that very same morning will include the Halloween Safety Fair also at the Family Fitness Center. 

From 11 a.m. to noon there will be a parade and costume contest. Categories include scariest, cutest and most creative. At 11:15 a.m. will have tips from police officers for safe trick-or-treating on Halloween, 11:25 a.m. is when the costume awards and treat bags are handed out, and from 11:30 to noon will be trick-or-treating around the fitness center. 

Participants may get to meet Patch, McGruff and other special guests. 

Nightmare Alley Haunted House 

But that’s not all the Family Fitness Center has cooked up in its pot for Halloween. On Oct. 27 from 7-10 p.m. and Oct. 28 from 6-9 p.m. is when the scares and screams come out for the Nightmare Alley. The haunted house began as an idea in 2007 and has become an annual favorite. 

Due to some intense scares, it’s recommended for ages 8 and up. A spook-free zone will be available in the child care area on Friday, Oct. 27 from 7-10 p.m. Children 8 and under can enjoy Halloween games, crafts and a movie. 

Nightmare Alley will be $5 per person, buy five tickets get the sixth one free. The spook-free zone will be free for members and $2 per child for non members. 

Valley Scare Mall

Valley Fair Mall will feature events all month long as “Valley Scare Mall” with its opening scaremony on Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the main entrance fountain. Activities will include:

Face Off

Every Saturday, Sept. 29 – Oct. 27, the mall teams up with BATZ entertainment where two local makeup artists go head-to-head in a special effect makeup competition at the Grave Stage (the center court) from 1-4 p.m. 

Headless Horseman

Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6-9 p.m. there will be an opportunity to take photos with the Headless Horseman. 

Haunted Hypnosis

Every Saturday at 7 p.m., Sept. 29 – Oct. 27, BATZ entertainment brings hypnosis to the Grave Stage. 

Movie Mondays

Every Monday at 6 p.m. from Oct. 1-29, will feature some of the best family friendly Halloween films at the Grave Stage. Movies will feature “The Haunted Mansion” (Oct. 1), “Halloweentown” (Oct. 8), “Nightmare Before Christmas” (Oct. 15), “Frankenweenie” (Oct. 22) and “Hocus Pocus.” (Oct. 29)

Halloween Characters Photos

Every Tuesday in October from 6-9 p.m. on the Grave Stage, the mall gives patrons a chance to get a professional photo taken with some of Halloween’s most iconic characters and monsters. 

Halloween characters feature Frankenstein (Oct. 2 and 23), The Addams Family (Oct. 9 and 30) and Dracula (Oct. 16).

Trunk or Treat

Every Wednesday from Oct. 3-31 will be trunk or treat night for all ages from 4-6 p.m. Wear a different costume each week, or the same one, either way be sure to bring a bag for all the sweets and treats. 

Halloween Trivia Night with Beetlejuice 

Test your Halloween trivia every Thursday in October from 7-9 p.m. at the Grave Stage as Beetlejuice hosts the ultimate test of Halloween trivia. Signups for participation are from 6-7 p.m.

Salem Idol 

Come with your own song (karaoke track) and performance ready to become Salem’s next Karaoke Idol. Valley Fair Mall combines with BATZ entertainment for a month long karaoke competition. Winners from each night (every Friday in October) advance to the finale on Oct. 26. 

Costumes are encouraged, registration starts at 5 p.m. and the competition begins at 6 p.m. 

Costume Contest

Every Saturday will feature a family friendly costume contest with a different group each week. Oct. 6 will have pets, Oct. 13 is for kids, Oct. 20 for families and Oct. 27 for adults/couples. Contests go from 11 a.m. to noon. 

The winners will have their photo taken and hung on the wall of the main entrance through the Halloween season. Each winner also gets an in studio photo shoot with Snap Shot Photo.