The Halloween countdown is officially on in Rim Country. The week of October 22 through October 29 brings the Town of Payson's annual Monster Mash to Green Valley Park, Rim Country Artists' first public art fundraiser inside a bank on Beeline Highway, a free fly-fishing workshop at Tiny's, and the dependable rhythm of library story times, fish fries, bingo, and taco nights. As a local Realtor who covers Payson, Star Valley, Christopher Creek, and the surrounding mountain communities, I went through the town, library, chamber, Legion, Elks, and club calendars and pulled together everything I could confirm for the week, laid out by day, with a link to each event's source so you can verify before you head out. Small-town schedules can shift, so a quick check with the organizer is always the smart move.
Retired Navy LCDR and ABR, GRI, PSA, RSPS certified agent serving Payson, Pine, Strawberry, Tonto Basin, and Rim Country.
Thursday, October 22
Family Story Time at Payson Public Library (10:30 AM). The library at 328 North McLane Road hosts its free weekly Family Story Time on Thursday mornings, with picture books and a craft for families. It is the quiet, dependable anchor of the town's weekly rhythm and an easy way to meet other parents. See the full schedule on the library's events page.
Queen of Hearts drawing at American Legion Post 69 (6:00 PM). Post 69 at 709 East Highway 260 hosts its weekly Queen of Hearts drawing Thursday evening, with the kitchen open from noon to 6:00 PM. It is a fun midweek stop and an easy way to support the post. Details are on the Legion's website.
Friday, October 23
Square Off For Art at National Bank of Arizona (5:00 to 8:00 PM). Rim Country Artists hosts its first official public art fundraiser Friday evening at the bank branch at 804 South Beeline Highway. A wall of 8-by-8 mixed-media canvases will be for sale, a live art auction gets going around 7:30, and the evening adds music from Daniel Dupont and food from Rim Country Barbecue. The Payson Roundup has the full preview, and the group posts updates at rimcountryartists.org.
Friday Fish Fry at American Legion Post 69 (noon to 8:00 PM). Post 69 serves its weekly fish fry with fries, coleslaw, and a hot biscuit through the afternoon and evening, a long-running community staple that draws neighbors and veterans alike. A long-time local favorite, it is listed on the Legion's website.
Friday Night Fish Fry at Payson Elks Lodge (5:30 to 7:00 PM). Elks Lodge #2154 at 1206 North Beeline Highway serves beer-battered fish plus a weekly special entree Friday evening. It is a warm, low-key dinner out, and the lodge posts its menu on paysonelks.com.
Payson Longhorns at River Valley (7:00 PM). The Longhorns are on the road Friday night, traveling to River Valley for a 7:00 PM kickoff. It is a long trip for fans, so if you cannot make the drive, this is a good week to cheer from home and save your energy for the Monster Mash the next day. The schedule is on MaxPreps.
Friday Night Karaoke and Live DJ at Johnny's Midtown Yard (7:00 to 10:00 PM). In Star Valley at 3870 AZ-260, Johnny's Midtown Yard hosts its Friday night karaoke party with B&B Music, which rolls into a live DJ dance party as the night goes on. A fun, social way to end the week, with details on the venue's site.
Saturday, October 24
Monster Mash at Green Valley Park (4:00 to 9:30 PM). The Town of Payson's annual family Halloween celebration fills Green Valley Park at 1000 West Country Club Drive on Saturday evening. The family trunk-or-treat runs from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, followed by carnival games and boo-gieing through 9:30 PM, all in costume-friendly fashion. It is the biggest kids' event on the October calendar and a great chance to see the park at its lively best. The Town of Payson Parks, Recreation and Tourism page has the details at adventurepayson.com.
Spooktober Shop Party at GO AZ Motorcycles Payson (3:00 to 6:00 PM). The dealership at 16458 North AZ Highway 87 hosts a Halloween shop party Saturday afternoon with a costume contest, food and drinks, and trunk-or-treat. A fun quick stop if you want a second dose of Halloween before the Monster Mash, with registration details on the GO AZ Payson events page.
No farmers market this week. The Payson Farmers Market wrapped its 2026 Saturday season on September 12 at Sawmill Crossing, so the lot stays quiet this Saturday. It typically returns in the spring, and the market's site will carry next season's dates.
Sunday, October 25
Sunday Bingo at Payson Elks Lodge (1:00 to 4:30 PM). Doors open at 11:00 AM and games run from 1:00 to 4:30 PM at Elks Lodge #2154, with an all-day play package and a hot dog special. It is a low-key community fundraiser that has been a Payson tradition for years, and the lodge posts it on paysonelks.com.
Otherwise, a slow day, by design. Nothing else is confirmed on the town calendars for Sunday, which right before Halloween is not a bad thing. The color is still hanging on along the rim, and my leaf-peeping guide has the best drives and pullouts while the gold lasts.
Monday, October 26
Kitty Rae Kid's Dance at Payson Public Library (3:00 PM). The library hosts this children's dance program Monday afternoon, a chance for kids to move, sing, and burn off some energy indoors before the candy season officially starts. It is listed on the library's events page, and the library also runs its Baby Laptime for the littlest ones on Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 AM.
Bar Bingo at Payson Elks Lodge (6:00 PM). The Elks follow Sunday with Bar Bingo Monday evening, with the lounge opening at 3:00 PM and burgers and fries on the menu. Another easy, friendly way to support the lodge, per paysonelks.com.
Tuesday, October 27
Taco Tuesday at American Legion Post 69 (4:00 to 7:00 PM). Post 69 serves its weekly Taco Tuesday, an inexpensive community dinner and a good chance to thank the folks who keep the post running. Dart league play gets going at 5:00 PM. It is on the Legion's website.
Taco Tuesday at Payson Elks Lodge (4:30 to 6:30 PM). The Elks run their own Tuesday taco night across town, so you have two good options if a taco sounds right. It is on the lodge's calendar.
Wednesday, October 28
Payson Town Council Regular Meeting (4:00 PM). The council holds its regular meeting Wednesday afternoon in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall, 303 North Beeline Highway. If you are following Longhorn Ranch, the highway projects, or anything else shaping town growth, this is the meeting to watch. Agendas and the meeting schedule are on the Town of Payson website.
Wednesday Lunch Specials at American Legion Post 69 (noon to 6:00 PM). The post kitchen serves $10 lunch specials Wednesday, a rotating lineup such as chicken fried steak. It is a good deal and a friendly room, listed on the Legion's kitchen page.
Thursday, October 29
Evening Fly Fishing Workshop with Payson Fly Casters (6:00 to 7:30 PM). The last-Thursday-of-the-month workshop is free and open to everyone, held at Tiny's Family Restaurant in Payson. Experienced club members offer fly tying tutoring, show what a fly rod is and how it works, and help beginners pick a starter rod and reel. It is a genuinely welcoming introduction to one of Rim Country's best pastimes, and the club's event page has the details.
Family Story Time at Payson Public Library (10:30 AM). The library's weekly Family Story Time returns Thursday morning, and Baby Laptime also runs at 10:30, so there is a story option for every age. Check the library's events page for the week's lineup.
One to Watch Beyond This Week
Elks Annual Charity Ball (Saturday, October 31). Payson Elks Lodge #2154 caps the month with its Annual Charity Ball on Halloween night, a fundraiser worth putting on the calendar if you like an evening out in costume. The Elks announcement has the details, and trick-or-treat hours for Payson and Pine are typically posted on the town's calendar as the date approaches. If you are new in town and wondering where the family-friendly spots are, the chamber and town calendars are the two best pages to follow all month.
The Week at a Glance
- Thursday: Family Story Time at the library, 10:30 AM; Queen of Hearts at the Legion, 6:00 PM.
- Friday: Square Off For Art at National Bank of Arizona, 5:00 to 8:00 PM; fish fry at the Legion, noon to 8:00 PM; fish fry at the Elks, 5:30 to 7:00 PM; Longhorns at River Valley, 7:00 PM; karaoke night at Johnny's Midtown Yard, 7:00 to 10:00 PM.
- Saturday: Spooktober Shop Party at GO AZ Motorcycles Payson, 3:00 to 6:00 PM; Monster Mash at Green Valley Park, 4:00 to 9:30 PM; no farmers market until spring.
- Sunday: Sunday Bingo at the Elks Lodge, 1:00 to 4:30 PM; otherwise a good day for a leaf-peeping drive.
- Monday: Kitty Rae Kid's Dance at the library, 3:00 PM; Bar Bingo at the Elks, 6:00 PM.
- Tuesday: Taco Tuesday at the Legion, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, and at the Elks, 4:30 to 6:30 PM.
- Wednesday: Town Council regular meeting at Town Hall, 4:00 PM; lunch specials at the Legion, noon to 6:00 PM.
- Thursday: Family Story Time at the library, 10:30 AM; free fly-fishing workshop at Tiny's, 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
That is your week in Rim Country. Whether you are decorating a trunk for the Monster Mash, bidding on a canvas at Square Off For Art, learning to tie a fly, or just settling in with a bingo card and a taco, I hope you get out and enjoy this beautiful stretch of fall. And if the week makes you wonder what it might be like to call this place home, I would love to show you around, and I will always lay out the pros and cons honestly so you can decide what fits you.
Talk soon,
Steven
