Three October outings bring carnival rides, Día de los Muertos and Halloween fun to Yuma

From Fall Fest at the fairgrounds to a celebration along the Colorado River, families have three events to choose from before October ends.

By Dan Bustard | Yuma Informed

October brings three opportunities for Yuma families to get out of the house, with carnival rides and live music at Fall Fest, an evening celebrating Día de los Muertos, and a Halloween event where costumes and candy take center stage.

The events fall on three consecutive weekends, beginning Oct. 16 and ending Halloween night.

Admission ranges from $1 for Scary & Safe to $15 for the Día de los Muertos celebration. Fall Fest falls somewhere in between, although families planning to ride the carnival attractions will need to budget considerably more.

Here's what's happening, what it costs and what to know before heading out.

Fall Fest returns to the Yuma County Fairgrounds, Oct. 16–18

The fifth annual Fall Fest takes over the Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St., for three days of carnival rides, concerts, food vendors and family activities.

Gates open at noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

General admission is advertised at $9 for ages 13 and older and $7 for children ages 6 through 12. Children 5 and younger get in free.

There is a small difference between those advertised prices and the official online ticket page, which lists adult admission at $9.72 and children's admission at $7.56. The ticket selection page doesn't explain the difference, so check the final price before purchasing.

And here's where families should pay attention: Admission and carnival rides are two separate purchases.

Presale ride wristbands cost $35 per person, or $55 for a wristband with front-of-line access. Each wristband is valid for one person on the day it is redeemed, not for the entire three-day festival.

The fairgrounds makes clear that wristbands cover rides only. You'll still need admission tickets to enter.

Three nights of music and a demolition derby

Fall Fest has entertainment scheduled throughout the weekend.

Friday night's main-stage performance features Eve 6 at 8 p.m. The Millennium All Stars take the stage Saturday at 8 p.m., followed by Tropicalisimo Apache on Sunday at 7 p.m.

Sunday also brings a demolition derby at 5 p.m. Grandstand seating is limited, so anyone hoping to watch the action should plan accordingly.

For families interested in something a little quieter, Saturday offers Paint & Take classes at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building. Seating is first come, first served, with a maximum of 30 participants per class.

Pumpkin carving follows Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. next to the Theatre Building, also on a first-come basis.

Strolling entertainers, food vendors and commercial booths round out the weekend. The featured entertainment and activities are included with admission, while carnival rides, food, games and purchases from vendors cost extra.

Parents should also check the carnival operator's ride rules. Height restrictions apply, and some attractions prohibit open-toed shoes or require riders to have a companion.

One scheduling detail remains unclear. The fairgrounds calendar lists the event ending at 10 p.m. Sunday, while the carnival ticket website displays midnight closing times for all three days.

For nightly closing times and other questions, contact the Yuma County Fairgrounds at 928-726-4420 or ycfi@yumafair.com.

Día de los Muertos brings music, art and tradition to the riverfront, Oct. 24

The following Saturday, Yuma's attention turns toward a different kind of celebration.

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area will host its sixth annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Oct. 24, from 5 to 10 p.m., at Colorado River State Historic Park.

The park is located at 201 N. Fourth Ave., an important distinction because the event announcement appears on the Yuma Territorial Prison museum's website. The celebration takes place at the Colorado River park, not at the prison.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition honoring loved ones who have died. The Yuma celebration brings that tradition into a community gathering featuring music, dance, artwork and cultural activities.

The evening's entertainment includes the Chavez Family Band, headliner Amor Prohibido, folklórico dancers and mariachi performances.

Visitors can also expect an altar contest, a Catrina costume contest, a community mural and exhibits featuring local artists. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

General admission is $15, with youth tickets priced at $10 for ages 4 through 17, according to the official ticket page.

The youth ticket description includes face painting and arts and crafts, giving younger visitors something to do beyond watching the performances.

The organizers' published information doesn't specify admission for children younger than 4. Families with toddlers should check before assuming they can enter free.

These are special-event ticket prices, separate from the historic park's regular admission rates.

Individual performance times and contest entry procedures have not been announced in the reviewed listings.

The Arizona State Parks website confirms that the venue has accessible restrooms, although arrangements for temporary event seating and activities were not established.

For additional information, contact the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area at 928-373-5198 or yumacrossing@yumaaz.gov.

Scary & Safe brings trick-or-treating to the fairgrounds, Oct. 31

Halloween night offers one more family outing, and this one won't require much of a budget.

Scary & Safe returns to the Yuma County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event features booths, candy and an opportunity for children and families to show off their Halloween costumes.

Admission is $1 per person. For those who would rather spend less time waiting in line, a $5 fast pass provides access to the front of the line.

The fairgrounds says entrances will be off 32nd Street.

Unlike Fall Fest, Scary & Safe is a relatively short evening event, running three hours. Families planning to attend should keep that window in mind.

The published listing doesn't identify any age-based admission exemptions or provide an advance-ticket purchase link.

For ticket arrangements and accommodation questions, contact the fairgrounds at 928-726-4420.

A few things worth checking before you go

All three events have different ticket arrangements, and a little planning could save families an unpleasant surprise at the entrance.

For Fall Fest, remember that admission doesn't include carnival wristbands. A family buying both could spend considerably more than the advertised gate price.

Parking is another detail worth confirming. The fairgrounds facilities page identifies north and south parking lots, but the event listings don't establish parking fees, designated accessible parking or event-specific parking routes.

Parking arrangements for Día de los Muertos also remain unconfirmed. Anyone needing accessible parking, seating or routes through the grounds should contact the appropriate organizer in advance.

Refund policies deserve a look, particularly when buying several tickets.

The fairgrounds purchase policy generally treats sales as final, except where the fair provides otherwise or the law requires a refund. Bad weather and performer changes aren't grounds for requested refunds under that policy. Cancellations or rescheduling may lead to alternative arrangements or refunds at the fair's discretion.

The carnival operator separately states that its tickets are nonrefundable.

The Día de los Muertos ticket information reviewed doesn't specify a weather, cancellation or refund policy. Confirm those terms with the organizer before purchasing.

Between the carnival, the cultural celebration and Halloween trick-or-treating, Yuma families have three different ways to spend an October evening or weekend without leaving town.

Just make sure you're buying the right ticket.

Event schedules, admission prices and ticket availability were reviewed against official organizer listings and ticket pages as of Oct. 8, 2026. Details may change. All times are local.