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!
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."
PoeFest 2025 Tickets - Phoenix Halloween Event
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.
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.
'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 Queen Anne Eastlake Victorian. A perfect Halloween night experience in Phoenix.
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.
Weekend 1
Friday, Oct 17
8:00 PM
Cask of Amontillado
Tell-Tale Heart
Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Saturday, Oct 18
8:00 PM
Masque of the Red Death
Cask of Amontillado
Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Weekend 2
Friday, Oct 24
8:00 PM
Masque of the Red Death
Tell-Tale Heart
Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Saturday, Oct 25
8:00 PM
Masque of the Red Death
Cask of Amontillado
Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Halloween Special
Friday, Oct 31
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
(every 20 minutes)
Rosson House Museum
113 N 6th St, Phoenix, AZ
PoeFest Student Writing Competition
Sponsored by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange
Channel Edgar Allan Poe in Phoenix
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! 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.
Meet the Cast of PoeFest
James D. Porter
The Tell-Tale Heart
Founder, ACT Inc.
Jim Coates
The Cask of Amontillado
Founder, ACT Inc.
Danette Porter
The Oval Portrait
Founder, ACT Inc.
Laurelann Porter
The Premature Burial
Teaching Artist, ACT Inc.
Megan Holcomb
Masque of the Red Death
Teaching Artist, ACT Inc.
Beau Heckman
The Raven
Teaching Artist, ACT Inc.
Our Shows
Experience Edgar Allan Poe's masterpieces brought to life through immersive theatrical performances in authentic Victorian settings.
Main Stage Shows
Join us for spine-chilling performances of Edgar Allan Poe's most famous tales, performed live on stage in the hotel's infamous Ghost Lounge.
- October 17-25, 2025
- Hotel San Carlos Ghost Lounge
- $23.95 - $28.95 plus fees
PoeFest Séance
Join us for a late-night immersive Gothic event in the Senator's Room at the Hotel San Carlos. This unique experience combines elements of Victorian séance traditions with theatrical storytelling, creating an unforgettable evening of mystery and intrigue.
- October 18 & 25 @ 10:00 PM
- Hotel San Carlos Senator's Room
- $44.95 plus fees
'The Raven' at Rosson House
Experience Poe's most famous poem, "The Raven," performed every 20 minutes on the grand staircase inside the historic Rosson House Museum. This Queen Anne Eastlake Victorian provides the perfect setting for this haunting performance on Halloween night.
- Halloween Night (October 31)
- Rosson House Museum
- $20.00 plus fees
PoeFest Venues & Locations
Discover the haunting venues where PoeFest comes to life in historic Downtown Phoenix
Hotel San Carlos
Main Stage Performances & Séance
About the Venue
Built in 1927 in the Italian Renaissance style, this historic hotel has hosted Hollywood legends and frequently appears on lists of America's most haunted hotels.
Contact & Address
Hotel San Carlos
202 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 253-4121
Rosson House Museum
The Raven on Halloween
About the Venue
Built in 1895 in the rare Stick-Eastlake Queen Anne Style, this fully restored Victorian mansion features a 19th century doctor's examination room and creepy Victorian mourning artifacts.
Location Details
Rosson House Museum
113 N 6th St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Historic Heritage Square