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The Town of Taos presents a Taos Halloween Community Event along with Taos Plaza Merchants, Teresina Lane Merchants, Juan Largo Lane Merchants, John Dunn Shops, Bent Street Merchants, Taos Milagro Rotary Club, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Taos High School Cheer, Taos Alive and Taos Dance Booster.  This huge FREE community-wide event is for children of all ages and their families.    

On Monday, October 31, 2022, from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, the ghoulish fun will spill from the Taos Plaza over to Teresina Lane, to Juan Largo Lane, slithering its way to the John Dunn Shops and Bent Street.  

Merchants from all around the Taos Historic District (Taos Plaza, Teresina Lane, Juan Largo Lane, John Dunn Shops and Bent Street) will be handing out treats to trick-or-treaters.  Local businesses, organizations and church groups will provide decorated “trunks” full of treats for trick-or-treating and various carnival games with prizes.  

We are excited to be hosting the annual costume contest for children up to 12 years old, teens, families, and pets (no registration needed).  Prizes will be awarded to the child, teen, family, or pet with the best costumes.   Judges will be roaming throughout the Taos Plaza from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.    This will allow everyone attending the event a chance to be part of the contest.   The judges will be wearing a sash labeled “Costume Judge” and will be handing out prizes to the winners.   

Free Halloween bags filled with treats and goodies will be handed out to the first 1,000 children.  DJ Miles Bonny from Taos Alive will be on Taos Plaza Gazebo providing music including Halloween dance mixes for all ages!  On the John Dunn pathway, Tatyana will be doing Free Face Painting compliments of the John Dunn Shops. 

NEW:  Thea’s Zoo carnival ride is a unique spin ride, every arm has a different animal in what they call ‘Thea's Zoo,' named after the owner’s daughter.  The four very colorful animals are a dog, a dragon, a monkey and a penguin.  The Thea’s Zoo carnival spin ride is the only one in the United States. There is a 36” height requirement with an adult for children to ride.     

Elephant Tower carnival ride is five flying pink elephants.  It has a high-rise up to 12’ moves in a clockwise motion.  There are only three in the United States.  There is a 36” height requirement with an adult or 42” without an adult for children to ride.  Both rides are family friendly rides.      

Taos Plaza and Bent Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM; however, the Taos Plaza Merchants and Bent Street Merchants will be open to foot traffic. FREE event parking will be available at our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Loretto Parking Lot, Town Hall, and Taos Public Library. AFTER 5:00 PM all metered parking lots will be free. For handicapped parking and for people requiring ADA access to the event, there will be parking at the McCarthy Parking Lot directly behind the old County Courthouse. 

Every year this event keeps growing in attendees, games and “trunks” for an amazing Halloween Event for our community.  We are super excited about the new addition of the carnival rides, and we cannot wait to see all the creative costumes on Halloween. As the Town of Taos Community Events Coordinator, I would like to thank everyone participating in this fun-filled event that is so magical and wonderful for the children and families of our community.  The event is made possible because of all the many volunteers, staff, judges, police, fire, security, merchants, business owners, organizations and sponsors that work together to bring the community a fun, safe, and supervised Halloween event.  

For more information contact Judy Esquibel at 575-751-2037 or at jesquibel@taosgov.com.  Visit us at Town of Taos Events Facebook.