A Free Trunk-or-Treat and "Corpse Bride" Movie Night Is Coming to East Las Vegas Oct. 24

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

Clark County Parks and Recreation posted Monster Mash and Movie Bash on its official events calendar. The county calls it a family-friendly event. Here are the details straight from the county listing:

What: Monster Mash and Movie Bash
When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: Hollywood Recreation Center, 1650 S. Hollywood Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89142
Cost: Free
Games and activities: 4 to 6 p.m.
Movie: "Corpse Bride" starts at 6 p.m.
Questions: Call the center at 702-455-0566

The first two hours are all about the kids. From 4 to 6 p.m., there will be carnival games, trunk-or-treating, food trucks, bounce houses and popcorn. Trunk-or-treating is a simple idea. Instead of walking door to door, kids go car to car in a parking lot, and people hand out candy from decorated trunks. It is easy on little legs, and parents can keep everyone in one spot.

At 6 p.m., the party switches to movie mode. The county is showing "Corpse Bride," Tim Burton's 2005 stop-motion animated film. It is rated PG, and it is more sweet and silly than scary, which makes it a solid pick for a mixed-age crowd. The county listing does not say whether the movie is indoors or outdoors, and it does not mention seating. If you want to be comfortable, bringing a blanket or a couple of folding chairs is a smart move. You can always leave them in the car if you do not need them.

Painted Halloween pumpkin next to a trick or treat sign, a nod to the free trunk-or-treat at Hollywood Recreation Center on Oct. 24

The second event is north of there, in northeast Las Vegas. FOX5 reported on Oct. 7 that WOW Carwash is bringing its annual Halloween Spooktacular Carnival to its Pecos and Washington location at 880 N. Pecos Road. It runs Saturday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. It is free and open to all ages.

According to FOX5, the carwash event will have a bounce house, a balloon artist, a face painter, a caricature artist and pumpkin decorating. Organizers say there will also be racing simulations and a Vegas Inferno esports booth. Chick-fil-A refreshments will be served while supplies last. There will also be prize drawings for tickets to Vegas Golden Knights and UNLV games, plus a year of premium WOW MAX car washes.

Both events start at 4 p.m., so you will have to pick a starting point. The carwash carnival wraps at 6 p.m., right when the movie starts at Hollywood Recreation Center. That timing works in your favor if you plan it right. More on that below.

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Free family events are some of the most popular things we share every week, and for good reason. A family of four can easily spend real money on a single Halloween outing. Pumpkin patches, haunted houses and ticketed fall festivals often charge per person, and parking and snacks add more. An event where the games, the trunk-or-treating and the movie are all free takes a lot of pressure off the monthly budget.

Location matters too. A lot of the big Halloween events in the valley land in Summerlin, Henderson or near the Strip. Families on the east side do not always have something close to home. Hollywood Recreation Center sits near Hollywood Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, and the WOW Carwash event is at Pecos and Washington. Both are right in east and northeast Las Vegas neighborhoods. For families in ZIP code 89142 and nearby, this is a short drive instead of a trek across the valley.

Safety is another big one. Trunk-or-treat events have become a favorite for parents of young kids. You get a set start and end time, a fixed area, and lots of adults around. Toddlers and preschoolers can collect candy without crossing streets in the dark. Older kids still get the fun of dressing up and showing off their costumes. And because this one is a week early, it does not compete with your own neighborhood on Oct. 31. Your kids can do both.

It is also a chance to meet your neighbors. Community events at local parks and recreation centers are where a lot of people first connect with the families who live a few streets over. You might meet your kid's classmate's parents, or find out about a youth sports league you did not know existed. That kind of connection is a big part of what makes a neighborhood feel like home.

There is something here for different ages, too. Little kids get the bounce houses and the trunk-or-treat. School-age kids get carnival games and a movie night. Teens and adults can enjoy the food trucks and a laid-back evening with friends and family. When one event can work for a toddler, a fourth grader and grandma, it makes planning a lot easier for busy parents.

Finally, there is the timing. Oct. 24 is the Saturday before Halloween. Many families use that weekend to test out costumes, see what fits, and work out what needs a last-minute fix. A low-pressure event like this is a perfect dress rehearsal.

Background and History

Hollywood Recreation Center is a Clark County Parks and Recreation facility at 1650 S. Hollywood Blvd., near Hollywood and Sahara. It is a real neighborhood hub. According to the county, the center has a skate park, picnic areas, a playground, a fitness room, a gymnasium, dance and exercise rooms, rooms you can rent for events, and Neighborhood Services offices.

On a normal week, the center is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and on state and federal holidays. The skate park keeps its own hours: 3 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and helmets are required. That means Monster Mash and Movie Bash keeps the center busy well past its usual Saturday closing time. It is a special evening for the neighborhood.

Kids in costumes playing games together at an evening community Halloween event, similar to the carnival games at Monster Mash and Movie Bash

Clark County Parks and Recreation runs recreation centers across the unincorporated parts of the valley. Seasonal events like this one are part of what the department does to bring people out to their local parks. If you have never been to your nearest county recreation center, a free Halloween party is an easy first visit.

The WOW Carwash event has its own history. FOX5 describes the Halloween Spooktacular Carnival as the company's annual event, so this is not a one-time thing. Prize drawings for Golden Knights and UNLV tickets are a fun touch, since both teams have big followings across the valley.

Trunk-or-treat events in general have grown a lot over the years. Churches, schools, recreation centers and even workplaces now host them. We saw that this same week in a story from Centennial Hills, where a local woman's Halloween decorations for a trunk-or-treat at her job were taken off her porch. Amazon replaced them for free. It is a good reminder of how many people in this valley put real effort into making these events special for kids.

What Happens Next

The big day is Saturday, Oct. 24. Here is how the afternoon could look if you want to do both events:

4 p.m.: Start at the WOW Carwash carnival at 880 N. Pecos Road. Get faces painted, decorate a pumpkin, and enter the prize drawings.
Around 5 p.m.: Head south to Hollywood Recreation Center at 1650 S. Hollywood Blvd. for trunk-or-treating, games and bounce houses before the 6 p.m. wrap on activities.
6 p.m.: Settle in for "Corpse Bride."

You could also flip it and start at Hollywood Recreation Center. Just keep in mind that the carwash carnival ends at 6 p.m. and the games at the recreation center also end at 6 p.m. Whatever order you pick, give yourself time to park and find your way around. Free events with food trucks and bounce houses tend to draw a crowd.

The night before, on Friday, Oct. 23, UNLV is hosting its 28th annual Boo Bash from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Tonopah Residence Complex. Kids trick-or-treat through the dorms, and there are carnival games, inflatables, a petting zoo, giveaways and free food while supplies last. It is free with no registration, and kids must come with a parent or guardian. Put Boo Bash on Friday and Monster Mash and Movie Bash on Saturday, and you have a whole free Halloween weekend before Halloween even arrives.

After that, Halloween itself falls on Saturday, Oct. 31 this year. A weekend Halloween usually means more kids out and about in neighborhoods across the valley, so plan your candy supply accordingly.

Ryan's Take

I love seeing events like this on the east side. When people ask me what a neighborhood is really like, I always tell them to look past the house and at what is around it. Parks, rec centers, schools and the events that bring people together all shape what it feels like to live somewhere. A free trunk-or-treat and movie night at your local rec center is exactly the kind of thing that does not show up on a home listing but makes a real difference in day-to-day life.

If you are house hunting, this is also a great low-key way to check out an area. Go to a community event, grab some popcorn, and watch how the neighborhood shows up. Are families out? Do people know each other? Does the park feel cared for? You will learn more in two hours at an event like this than you will from a dozen online photos. And if you already live nearby, show up, say hi, and enjoy a free night out with your kids. Those are the moments that turn a house into a home.

Family wrapped in a blanket enjoying an evening outdoors, like families settling in for the free Corpse Bride screening in east Las Vegas

What You Can Do

Planning ahead makes free events much more fun. Here is a simple checklist for Saturday, Oct. 24:

Bring a bag or bucket for trunk-or-treat candy. A sturdy one is better than a flimsy one when the kids get excited.
Pack a blanket or chairs for the 6 p.m. movie, since the county listing does not mention seating.
Bring some cash or a card for the food trucks. The event is free, but food truck meals usually are not. Popcorn is listed as part of the event.
Dress for the evening. October nights in Las Vegas can cool off after sunset, so a light jacket for the movie is a good idea.
Call ahead with questions. Hollywood Recreation Center's number is 702-455-0566. Things like weather plans or what to bring are best confirmed with the center directly.
Want to hand out candy? Trunk-or-treats need decorated trunks. The county listing does not say how to sign up as a trunk host, so call the center and ask if they need volunteers.

Trick or treat letter tiles and Halloween candy on a table, a reminder to bring a candy bag to the free Monster Mash and Movie Bash

A few quick costume safety tips also go a long way at evening events. Pick costumes that let kids see clearly and walk without tripping. Add a glow stick or reflective tape for the walk back to the car after dark. Write your phone number on a small card in your child's pocket in case you get separated in a crowd. And check candy before anyone digs in, especially for kids with food allergies. These are simple habits, but they help everyone relax and enjoy the night.

For the WOW Carwash carnival, get there early if you want to try everything. Chick-fil-A refreshments are only available while supplies last, and things like face painting and caricatures often have lines. Remember that the carnival runs just two hours, from 4 to 6 p.m.

One more tip for Halloween week: if you are ordering costumes or decorations online, grab packages off the porch as soon as they arrive. And if you have pets, keep them safe and inside when the doorbell keeps ringing on Halloween night. Clark County just opened free 24/7 microchip scanning stations at county recreation centers for anyone who finds a lost dog or cat, which is good to know during a busy holiday.

Most of all, have fun. Free, safe, close-to-home Halloween fun is exactly what this time of year is for.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime.

Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com