Pets in Dress
Halloween Dog Day and Mini-Adopt-a-Thon
1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31
Cat Mountain Station
2740 S. Kinney Road
578-8795;
Dogs like Halloween, too. OK, they may not care much for the constant doorbell-ringing and all of the crazy-looking children coming into their yard all night—but even though they might not admit it, they secretly like getting dressed up for the occasion.
Treat your four-legged family member to a trip to Cat Mountain Station on Halloween afternoon. Cat Mountain Station is hosting its first Halloween Dog Day and Mini-Adopt-a-Thon. Vendors will be selling locally made dog goodies like collars, tags, beds and organic treats.
Once there, you can sign your dog(s) up for contests to determine the Best Dog Costume, Best Dog-Person Look-a-Like and Funniest Costume. Don't have a costume? They're available for sale there, too. General manager Constance Meade says the prizes are a secret, but they are definitely worth the surprise.
Meade, who helped put the event together, says Cat Mountain Station is an animal-loving place, and they're doing their part to help adoption groups while making the event a fun experience.
"We're in support of rescue groups," says Meade. "Our focus is to raise awareness on dog rescue."
The Southern Arizona Beagle Rescue and Arizona Greyhound Rescue will be there with animals for adoption. The raffle prizes available at the event come from the rescue groups.
Meade wants Cat Mountain to continue with dog-related events. She encourages everyone to come, even if your Fido or Molly doesn't want to play dress-up. Meade says the day is for "people to have fun with other dog people."
Admission is free. —A.P.
Deities and Kings
El Día de los Muertos performed by the Nahui Ollin Aztec Dancers
Noon, 2 and 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1
Old Town Artisans
201 N. Court Ave.
623-5787
A typical Halloween celebration includes costumes (some of which tend toward lameness) and colorful drinks, candy and scary movies. However you choose to celebrate this year, consider adding a Day of the Dead performance to your Halloween itinerary.
Living in Tucson, you're probably aware of the Day of the Dead celebrations that celebrate those who have passed before us. However, on Saturday and Sunday, the Nahui Ollin Aztec Dancers from Mexico City will perform their own Día de Los Muertos.
Luis Salinas and his family travel around the United States and Mexico performing different dances in the ancient Aztec tradition. Dance movements and traditional dress tell different stories, and the Día de los Muertos celebration this weekend will honor Aztec monarchs and kings, according to Eddie Gallego, owner of Tolteca Tlacuilo in Old Town Artisans, where Nahui Ollin will be performing.
"Each performance deals with different deities," explains Gallego.
So why not check out ancient dances that honor deities (gods) and kings? Gallego says that Salinas will answer any questions and explain the dance instructions so audience members will have an understanding of what the performers are doing.
While you're checking out Nahui Ollin, you can also stop by Gallego's shop and see the store's altar, or ofrenda, through Nov. 15. It commemorates the souls of those who have passed on and welcomes them to return on Día de los Muertos.
The performance and admission to see the altar are free. —A.P.
'Laugh-In' Revisited
Sahuaro High School's Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 4-6
Sahuaro High School
545 N. Camino Seco
437-2888
Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In ran on TV from 1967 to 1973, when comedy sketches were newer to the television world. It was a popular predecessor to shows like Saturday Night Live and In Living Color—and next week, advanced drama students from Sahuaro High School will bring the old sketch comedy back.
Memorable characters will make appearances. Remember young Goldie Hawn's dumb blonde? She'll be there. Those mish-mash of one-liners? Those will be everywhere. And don't forget the blackouts.
While the students weren't around to witness the original series, they're loving every minute of the show now. Their teacher and director, Geri Wharam, promises "a zany and very '60s" show.
Senior Tylee Hall, who will appear in the show, likes what the class is putting on, because "the characters are fun and simple.
"You can't help but laugh," says Hall.
It's nice that students are appreciating the classic show in this crazy, mixed-up entertainment age of American Pies, Punk'd, and My Super Sweet 16—even if they can't help but use popular vernacular when discussing their opinions of the show.
Hall describes one of the characters thusly (and it couldn't have been said better): "There's the infamous old maid, a wannabe cougar, who wants to get the man even though she's kind of haggard."
Cougars are the new old maids!
Sahuaro High's Theatre Arts Department puts on three mainstage shows a year at Sahuaro; Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In will be the season opener.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. For more information about box-office hours, call 437-2888. —A.P.
Youths Invade Fourth Avenue
Spooky Kids Costume Contest
5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31
Winsett Outdoor Performance Center
316 N. Fourth Ave.
624-5004;
Kids these days have their Nintendo GameCubes and Xboxes to keep them busy. Alas, it would seem that the days of imagination are long gone—with one major exception.
On Halloween, old-fashioned creativity makes a valiant return! With a cardboard box, you can turn yourself into something even cooler than a Guitar Hero—like, say, a depiction of the Bates Motel shower scene from Psycho.
That one's been done, says Kurt Tallis, the marketing and events director for the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association. The association rewards such innovation at the annual Fourth Avenue costume contest, targeted toward kids ranging from newborn to 17.
Prizes are awarded to one boy and one girl in every age bracket, with the audience "applause-o-meter" serving as the judge. And, yes, the young Hitchcock enthusiast did snag a win (though we are thoroughly stumped by the logistics of that costume).
"You get your typical ladybug, princess, vampire," says Tallis. "But then we get some real creative ones that you know must have had some parent help."
Tallis estimates that there have been 200 to 250 participants strutting their stuff on stage in previous years.
Parents can bring their kids out for goody bags and games, including everything from "Wheel of 4tune" to a dunking tank. There will also be trick-or-treating at the businesses along Fourth Avenue and music from DJ Phantom.
"It is great that all of the neighborhoods around here have a place to go for a safe Halloween," says Tallis.
Scary movies will be shown throughout the night, though Tallis assures that the movies will have a kid-friendly slant—a must after a previous mishap with a horror film and an unexpected nude scene.
The event is free. —E.N.
