This Saturday, Maricopa County Department of Public Health is rolling out the welcome mat for families with a no-cost event packed with kid-friendly activities, treats, and a wealth of community resources—the 6th annual Spooktacular Fall Festival, as reported by Maricopa County's news release. Scheduled for the morning and early afternoon at ASU West, both outdoor spaces and indoor venues will be bustling with the Halloween-themed doings, where the department's WIC program plays host to a day designed for safe family bonding and interaction with helpful services.
WIC Outreach Manager, Jennifer Dykhuizen, shared with the community the goal of the festival, "We know that families are often looking for safe, fun, and free activities they can do together," adding that the festival is not just fun and games—it's also an opportunity for parents and caregivers to discover helping hands they might not have encountered elsewhere. The lineup includes crafting opportunities, games, trick-or-treating, creative workshops, and a slew of giveaways, and though children can don their costumes, the cloak of festivities covers a deeper intent to weave networks of support and smiles.
Over 70 different community organizations will convene at the event, such as Maricopa County Nurse-Family Partnership, Valleywise, and ASU's Edson College of Nursing, among others, turning ASU West into a veritable village where families can gather information and insights across a spectrum of health, educational, and social services. According to Dykhuizen, "It’s always exciting to see the community come together in this way," underlining the dual delight of procuring support resources alongside enjoying undiluted family time.
The details of the Spooktacular Fall Festival are forthright—taking place on Saturday, October 25, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at 4701 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale, at the ASU West campus, there's no entry fee, and the doors are wide open to families, parents, caregivers, and those expecting or simply seeking community connection. For more specifics on this family event or to catch a glimpse of what's in store, check out their official notification.
