Ohhhh, lovely, pretty, possibly even perfect Prescott.
Literally my favorite lil’ city. In fact, one of the major pulls/reasons I love this Arizona mountain town so much is its dedication to being festive and to the seasons. It’s actually heralded as Arizona’s Christmas City, but honestly? I can easily argue that they take Halloween a lot more seriously than Christmas.
It has become a bit of a tradition of mine to flock to Prescott for Halloween with my sisters, mom and niece–you know, a big basic fall B hurrah–but now I’m dragging my husband into that tradition with me. Typically that tradition involves traipsing around Courthouse Square where, you know, we desert rats can actually experience FALL and ooh and ahh at leaves! Fall foliage! Then we’ll eat lunch at one of its quaint restaurants, visit a bakery or two, and then (gasp!) shop for Christmas at Joann/At Home/Hobby Lobby etc. etc. ( I know, shopping for Christmas on a Halloween trip? The AUDACITY!) But right when the witching hour begins–you know that magical time of dusk when the moon slightly appears in the darkening sky and the Autumnal air is extra crispy–that is when we head over to the historic neighborhoods a.k.a thee trick or treating neighborhoods.
Not gonna lie, this year the neighborhoods were kiiiiinda having an off year. Not as many homes were decorated this year to my utter dismay. My theory is that it was because Halloween fell on a Monday and possibly people weren’t up to treating thousands (literally there are thousands) of trick or treaters coming to their home on a Monday night. But even with all things considered, it was still beyond extra and all things wonderfully Halloweeny.
But alas! Our trip to Prescott:)
Look at these two dorks posing in the gazebo LOL.
Ohhh, just David traipsing through Courthouse Square.
Panera Bakery! Okay so remember when David and I fell in love with this bakery when we were in Prescott celebrating our first year anniversary this past summer? So obviously, like duh, we had to go for some Halloween/fall goodies in between shopping for Christmas LOL. The Brain cupcakes (the shock! the horror!) come highly recommended.
Of course we had to drop by Liberty Lane–the fanciest schmanciest holiday slash antique boutique store in the west. Damn that’s a mouthful! I utterly adore this place *suppressed squeal*
Now for lunch! Colt’s Grill. BBQ with Pennywise, NBD.
Nothing like shopping for Christmas on Halloween in a Halloween sweater. Festive Freak Foreverrrrr.
Okay! Now for the best/finest/foremost/marvelous Halloween neighborhood in all of sunny Arizona! Mt. Vernon, babyyy.
Like I said–this year’s Halloween (again, I blame Monday) wasn’t as spooktacular as in years past, but still charming to boot. Something about Halloween and historic homes, just makes me want to howl at the moon.
They obviously need to update the year on this thing. It’s 2022, guys.
Ohmygosh–there was this interactive Tombstone themed home LOL. There were all of these crimes on strips of paper with velcro on the back and you could slap it on the Wanted poster/photo booth. I chose “horse theft” LOL. Yeah, obviously I was super into it. Sue me LOL.
I really want that Headless Horseman for myself. Definitely having the case of the Headless Horseman covets.
I strangely love this guy.
Okay, so crazy lady here needs to share TWO different pics of the same house. One overexposed so you can see all of the glorious decor on porch in glaring neon orange, and then another photo, slightly darker to really show that cute candy corn walkway. Ugh, DEAD!
And for the very end, the best Victorian Halloween house! This house is epic on Halloween night. From skeletons playing life sized chess on the lawn, to at least three (three! or was it four?) giant seven foot skeletons. They also blare Michale Jackson’s “Thriller” and it’s just a whole THANG.
And there you have it! Halloween 2022!
And yessss I know that I’m behind like always. Or did my blogging about Halloween on January 18th give that away? LOL.
Hey! I will have you know that it is one of my New Year’s resolutions to be more dedicated to my blog. I really need to get my head out of my butt and have a creative outlet. I miss being creative. I miss writing.
But anyway–much love.
Courtney Damn Claridge
Doris Day Would Love Me 