From all-out family-friendly pumpkin fun to spa treatments that benefit Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here is how your favorite Valley resorts are ringing in the new season.
Known for its epic annual Christmas at the Princess, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess welcomes its fall-season celebration: Pumpkin Nights #AtThePrincess. From Sept. 17 to Oct. 31, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 6 to 10 p.m., the Scottsdale resort transforms into a pumpkin paradise. Pumpkin Nights features the Pumpkin Patch Farm for picking pumpkins and sipping cider; rides on the Jack-o-Lantern Lawn; the Haunted Plaza; fireworks at 9 p.m.; a hay maze; and much more. There will even be fall-friendly spa and restaurant offerings to truly get in the spirit. Perhaps the most magical aspect of Pumpkin Nights is Lanterns of Hope. Each festival guest receives a complimentary lantern to decorate with messages of hope, healing, love and peace and will launch their lanterns with others in a ceremony at Sunset Beach. The ceremony takes place every 15 minutes. Admission is complimentary for resort guests. For non-guests, valet parking and admission is complimentary with a $60 minimum spend at any of the resort’s signature restaurants; admission and self-parking is $40 for up to four for non-guests; or $10 per person for walk-in or rideshare guests.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 10 percent of select services at Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia will benefit the H.E.A.L Foundation (Happily Ever After League) which helps provide financial support to mothers receiving cancer treatment. Guests can choose from the ever-relaxing Pink Himalayan Salt Stone Experience, Positively Pink Facial and Pretty in Pink Manicure or Pedicure. Joya Spa is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Halloween candy is cool, but have you had a Show Stopper Shake? ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho is dishing up four new shake flavors in October. The “Show Stopper” of the month is Every Day I’m Wafflin’, a Mexican spiced chocolate shake topped with a waffle triangle, pressed cinnamon roll waffle, dipped waffle cone, spiced chocolate sauce, whipped cream, candied chili threads, freeze-dried mandarins and orange supremes. Best of all, $1 of each shake sold in October will go to Ballet Arizona. A mini version of the popular desserts—“Short Stopper” Shakes—are available for both dine-in and curbside pickup. In October, choose from Strawberries + Cream, a strawberry-and-cream shake topped with a strawberry ice cream bar, strawberry milk crumble and Harry’s Berries strawberries; Hazelnut Dream, a Nutella shake topped with toasted hazelnuts, a Nutella brownie skewer, Rocher candy balls and truffles; or Banana Split, a vanilla shake topped with fudge sauce, banana slices, candied peanuts and cherry.
Kicking off Oct. 1 and taking place through Halloween, Great Wolf Lodge (pictured at top of page) in Scottsdale is decked out for fall and celebrates Howl-O-Ween with a lineup of not-so-spooky delights for guests. One of the most beloved Howl-O-Ween events is the Trick-Or-Treat Trail, where kids are invited to wear their costumes and collect candy—safely distanced—at stops throughout the Lodge and meet Great Wolf Lodge characters, also dressed in their Halloween garb. Note the teal pumpkin stops that will offer non-food treats for kiddos with allergies. In addition to enjoying the on-site water park, Howl-O-Ween attendants also get to enjoy arts and crafts and games (like Boo Bingo and Candy Corn Counts). Come evening, the kids live it up during the nightly Costume Parade and Monster Bash Dance Party. Parents, take note: Great Wolf Lodge will also be dishing up seasonal baked goods and festive cocktails like the Spooky Mule and Pumpkin Spiked Latte. All events require advanced reservations to attend; there is physically distanced marked viewing/participation areas for attendees.
Revive Spa at JW Marriott Resort Desert Ridge Resort & Spa invites guests to get gourd-geous via its seasonal Pumpkin Spice Pedicure and Pumpkin Enzyme Facial, which features a purée of yam and pumpkin that leaves skin looking firm and radiant. The pumpkin-themed spa treatments are available through the end of November.