17th Annual

PoeFest

to benefit ACT INC

OCTOBER 17th - 31st, 2025

17 years of madness and terror at PoeFest

Experience one of Phoenix's top Halloween events and premier haunted attractions.

About PoeFest: 17 Years of Gothic Horror & Live Theatre in Phoenix

Seventeen years ago, PoeFest launched in Downtown Phoenix with just six people in the audience. By the following weekend, we were sold out, and an unforgettable live horror theater experience was born. Now one of the top Edgar Allan Poe festivals in the U.S., and a staple among Phoenix Halloween events, PoeFest draws fans from around the world every October for a month of Gothic horror and immersive theater. Huge thanks to the actors, crew, and audiences who've made PoeFest a Phoenix Halloween tradition and a must-see haunted attraction in Arizona.

"PoeFest presents the works of Edgar Allan Poe in a chilling new way."

- Downtown Devil

PoeFest returns to the Hotel San Carlos October 17–25, 2025, with weekend performances of Edgar Allan Poe's chilling short stories live on stage in the hotel's infamous Ghost Lounge in Downtown Phoenix. Each show features a different set of tales. Don't miss PoeFest Séance at 10 PM on October 18 and 25 in an upstairs room at the San Carlos – a truly unique Gothic event. Be there Halloween Night at Rosson House Museum for our finale - 'The Raven' performed every 20 minutes on the grand staircase inside the historic Rosson House Museum. Secure your Edgar Allan Poe festival tickets early!

Phoenix New Times' Best Halloween Tradition
New Times "Best Halloween Tradition"

What Critics Say

"100% pure, mind-blowing acting... masterful and breathtaking."

"PoeFest captures creepy magic... creepy mix of erudition and depravity."

"PoeFest delights in darkness. Unsettling. Unnerving."

"A one-of-a-kind delight... poetically haunting and engaging."

MAIN STAGE SHOWS

$23.95 - $28.95 plus fees

  • Students, Seniors, Military - $23.95 plus fees
  • General Admission - $28.95 plus fees
  • See festival schedule.
  • Redeemable only on date issued.
  • Tickets are tranferrable.
  • No late seating.

The chilling tales of Edgar Allan Poe live on stage. Get your tickets for this iconic Phoenix Halloween event.

Buy Main Stage Tickets

POEFEST SÉANCE

$44.95 plus fees

  • Admission to the extraordinary!
  • Exclusive experience Oct. 18th & 25th @ 10PM.
  • Entertainment séance, actual poltergeists are coincidental.
  • Hosted in the Senator's Room at the Hotel San Carlos.
  • Absolutely no late seating

Join us for a late-night immersive Gothic event. Limited tickets available for this unique Phoenix haunted attraction.

Buy Séance Tickets

'THE RAVEN' at ROSSON HOUSE

$20.00 plus fees

  • Choose a time slot on 10/31 for your showing of 'The Raven'.
  • Repeats every 20 minutes.
  • You must check in 15 minutes before showtime
  • Transferrable. Anyone may use your ticket(s).

The Raven performed inside a Gothic Revival mansion. A perfect Halloween night experience in Phoenix.

Buy Raven Tickets

PoeFest 2025 Schedule

Phoenix's Premier Edgar Allan Poe Festival

Reserve your spot for PoeFest 2025, Phoenix's premier Edgar Allan Poe festival and a top Halloween event. See the full schedule for our live theatrical performances below.

Friday

October 17, 2025
8:00 PM

MAIN STAGE

Cask of Amontillado
Tell-Tale Heart

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Get MAIN STAGE Tickets

Saturday

October 18, 2025
8:00 PM

MAIN STAGE

Masque of the Red Death
Cask of Amontillado

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Get MAIN STAGE Tickets

10:00 PM

POEFEST SÉANCE

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Get SÉANCE Tickets

Friday

October 24, 2025
8:00 PM

MAIN STAGE

Cask of Amontillado
Tell-Tale Heart

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Get MAIN STAGE Tickets

Saturday

October 25, 2025
8:00 PM

MAIN STAGE

Masque of the Red Death
Cask of Amontillado

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Get MAIN STAGE Tickets

POEFEST SÉANCE

10:00 PM

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ

Get SÉANCE Tickets

Friday

October 31, 2025
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
(every 20 minutes)

THE RAVEN
at
ROSSON HOUSE

Rosson House Museum
113 N 6th St, Phoenix, AZ

Get RAVEN Tickets

PoeFest Student Writing Competition

Channel Edgar Allan Poe in Phoenix

Dare to explore the macabre. The PoeFest Student Writing Competition challenges young writers in Arizona to channel Edgar Allan Poe's spirit. Craft chilling tales or haunting verses to win prizes and recognition in the realm of literary darkness. A unique opportunity for students interested in Gothic literature and creative writing.

Sponsored By

About the Competition

Each year, ACT Inc. and PoeFest, in proud partnership with Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, host a fun and educational Student Writing Competition for all Arizona students in grades 7, 8, and 9.

Thanks to the generous support of Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, our contest winners receive fantastic prizes! Please click here to find the nearest Bookmans location.

The 2025 contest is now OPEN. Submit your entries today!

Eligibility

  • Arizona students must be in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Home schooled students are welcome.
  • Submissions must be original, unpublished, and in English.
  • One entry per student per category (i.e., a student may submit one short story and one poem).
  • The author or poet must have the explicit permission of a parent or legal guardian.
  • The entry must include the email and/or phone number of a parent or legal guardian.
  • Entries must contain the author's full name, date of birth, school name, and grade level for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • The author or poet must be a resident of the State of Arizona.
  • Submissions must be received by 11:59 PM on October 29, 2025.

Submission Guidelines

Short Story Competition

  • Word Count: Between 1,000 and 7,500 words.
  • Format: Entries may be submitted electronically to [email protected] in Word document, Google Doc, or PDF format.
  • Theme: Entries must adhere to the genres of horror and/or mystery.
  • Copyright: All submissions must be original works. Authors retain full copyright ownership of their submissions.

Poetry Competition

  • Line Count: No more than 100 lines.
  • Format: Entries may be submitted electronically to [email protected] in Word document, Google Doc, or PDF format.
  • Theme: Entries must adhere to the genres of love, horror, and/or death.
  • Copyright: All submissions must be original works. Authors retain full copyright ownership of their submissions.

Prizes & Recognition

Short Story Competition Grand Prize

  • $200 Scholarship from ACT Inc.
  • Bookmans Entertainment Exchange Prize Package
  • Certificate of Recognition
  • Recognition on PoeFest website and social media

Poetry Competition Grand Prize

  • $200 Scholarship from ACT Inc.
  • Bookmans Entertainment Exchange Prize Package
  • Certificate of Recognition
  • Recognition on PoeFest website and social media

Winning entries may also be featured during a special reading at PoeFest.

Overall Submission Deadline: October 29, 2025

PoeFest Student Writing Competition Poster

Meet the Cast of PoeFest

James D. Porter, performer

James D. Porter

The Tell-Tale Heart

Founder, ACT Inc.

Jim Coates, PoeFest performer

Jim Coates

The Cask of Amontillado

Founder, ACT Inc.

Danette Porter, PoeFest performer

Danette Porter

The Oval Portrait

Founder, ACT Inc.

Laurelann Porter, PoeFest teaching artist

Laurelann Porter

The Premature Burial

Teaching Artist, ACT Inc.

Megan Holcomb, performer in PoeFest

Megan Holcomb

Masque of the Red Death

Teaching Artist, ACT Inc.

Beau Heckman, performer of The Raven

Beau Heckman

The Raven

Teaching Artist, ACT Inc.

PoeFest Events

Experience Edgar Allan Poe Live

A Premier Phoenix Haunted Attraction

PoeFest Main Stage - Live Edgar Allan Poe performances in Phoenix

Main Stage

Live Horror Theatre

These are not simple readings but immersive performances! At PoeFest in Phoenix this October, professional actors bring Edgar Allan Poe's chilling tales to life, fully memorized and performed in character as inmates from Poe's fictional Maison de Santé Asylum. Each night features a rotating selection of classic stories, including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Masque of the Red Death. Experience the haunting world of Poe like never before at this acclaimed Phoenix Halloween event. Check our schedule for dates and Edgar Allan Poe festival tickets!

Buy Main Stage Tickets
PoeFest Séance - A unique Gothic event in Phoenix

PoeFest Séance

Immersive Gothic Event

Dare to cross the threshold between the living and the dead at PoeFest Séance in Phoenix this October. Join us for an evening of spine-tingling paranormal exploration as we attempt to reach beyond the veil and make contact with the restless spirit of Edgar Allan Poe himself. This immersive theatrical séance is designed to thrill and unsettle, making it one of the most unique haunted attractions in Phoenix. Recommended only for those with nerves of steel. Any brushes with hauntings, poltergeists, or otherworldly phenomena are purely coincidental… or are they? Limited tickets for this special Gothic event.

Buy Séance Tickets
The Raven at Rosson House - Halloween night Edgar Allan Poe performance

The Raven at Rosson House

Halloween Night Special

Experience Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' like never before, performed on Halloween night within the historic Rosson House Museum in Phoenix. This iconic poem of lost love and despair comes to life every 20 minutes on the grand staircase, offering an unforgettable Gothic event to cap off your Halloween celebrations. A must-see for fans of Poe and unique Phoenix Halloween events.

Buy Raven Tickets

Maps & Info

Hotel San Carlos

Main Stage & Séance

About the Venue

Located on the Northwest corner of Central and Monroe in Downtown Phoenix, the historic Hotel San Carlos was built in 1927 in the Italian Renaissance style. The San Carlos has been a favorite haunt for Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Mae West, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, and others. It has been restored to its historic elegance and frequently appears at the top of the list of most haunted hotels in America.

Contact & Address

Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 253-4121

Nearby Haunts

Rosson House Museum

The Raven on Halloween

About the Venue

Built in 1895, Rosson House Museum sits on its original foundation in historic Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix. Built in the rare Stick-Eastlake Queen Anne Style, this striking Victorian mansion is fully restored complete with a 19th century doctor's examination room. The Museum tour will also include creepy items of Victorian mourning.

Rosson House Museum at The Square
113 N 6th St
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Nearby Haunts

  • Latha Restaurant & Bar
    628 E Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
    Located in The Square 450 feet Southeast of Rosson House Museum.
  • Pizzeria Bianco
    623 E Adams St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
    Located in The Square 350 feet South of Rosson House Museum.
  • Que Sazon Restaurant
    18 W Monroe St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
    Located in The Square 350 feet South of Rosson House Museum.

Commune With The Shadows

Should you dare to reach beyond the veil... we await your correspondence

Whispers From Beyond

1-888-343-4228

The dead may answer... or perhaps just our receptionist

Slide into our Crypts

We will respond... if the spirits allow

Our Haunts

Visit our spectral locations

Walk where the veil between worlds grows thin