MESA, Ariz. – Oct. 22, 2026 – Mesa Community College (MCC) is an important resource for not only the community’s academic needs but for its civic needs as well. Working tirelessly with community leaders, educators, businesses and organizations, MCC offers events that not only inform but entertain.
One of the most popular events sponsored by Student Life and Leadership on the Red Mountain Campus is the annual Halloween Extravaganza. This signature event is scheduled from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 at 7110 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa. This is the first time the event is being held a day prior to Halloween. It is completely free and open to the general public and students. The Extravaganza is a pet-free event.
Highly popular with local families, the Extravaganza has grown in attendance since 2011, attracting an estimated 1,500 people annually. “I think it’s popular because parents know it is a safe environment for their children to get a trick-or-treat experience, with the addition of games and activities,” said Erica Horihan, Student Life and Leadership coordinator. “It seems that each year fewer and fewer neighborhoods are leaving the lights on for trick-or-treaters.”
Geared for children, this year’s activities will feature 30 student-manned, trick-or-treat booths with themes including Stranger Things, Hocus Pocus, Western, Mad Science, Sesame Street, Monsters, Inc.; Scooby Doo, Superhero, Pirates and Scary Doctors, among others.
Horihan added that other free activities created and hosted by many of MCC’s clubs and organizations include:
Panning for "gold" with the Adventure Club
Minecraft "mine" hosted by Geology Club students
Making ice cream with liquid nitrogen, supervised by chemistry department faculty
Fishing for treasure and "walking the plank"
Video games created by the MCC Pixel Forge Gaming Club
Melted crayon pumpkins with the Education Club
Make-your-own slime and other arts and crafts
Games such as ring toss, corn hole and candy fishing
Families can also enjoy a photo booth sponsored by MCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, a live animal display, performances by MCC DJs and a haunted bus sponsored by local vendor Precision Martial Arts. Krazy Dog Kettle Corn can also be purchased.
The event is a campus-wide effort with approximately 120 students, staff and faculty involved in making the evening successful including operating booths, keeping candy bins full, decorating, cleaning up and welcoming guests. “It’s a good opportunity for students to work together on a project and give back to our community,” Horihan explained. “We have seen the event come full circle, with current students who came here to trick-or-treat as children. We also have students who graduated long ago but return to volunteer or bring their own kids to enjoy the night.
“One thing we’ve heard repeatedly over the years from families is “‘we’ve lived in this neighborhood for years and didn’t know there was a college here,’” she continued, adding that comments like those “remind us how important it is to find ways to welcome our local community to campus. These kids may not be thinking about college just yet, but now their parents know we’re here, hopefully they’ll think of us when it’s time to look for college for their kids.”
Horihan said that candy donations are still being accepted. To donate, contact Horihan at [email protected] or at 480-654-7759.
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Media contact: Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, [email protected]
Mesa Community College (MCC) is nationally recognized for its excellence in university transfer, career and technical programs, civic engagement, and innovative education. Serving more than 23,000 students annually, MCC offers a range of degree and certificate programs across its two campuses and additional locations. MCC students contribute more than 5,677 hours of community service annually. MCC serves as a key resource for education, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The college enhances student success through Guided Pathways with Integrated Support Services. A Hispanic Serving Institution, nearly 50% of MCC students are first-generation college attendees, and it boasts the largest Indigenous student population among Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) colleges, supporting students from 22 Arizona tribes and additional out-of-state tribes. Our award-winning faculty are committed to helping students achieve their goals through high-quality education, training and undergraduate research opportunities. Located in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona, MCC is one of 10 MCCCD colleges. Learn more at mesacc.edu/newsroom.
MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org.
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. MCCCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.