The Ultimate Fall Fun Guide Scottsdale + Phoenix Area, Arizona | Fall 2026
Fall in Arizona may look a little different than it does in other parts of the country, but once late September arrives, the Scottsdale and Phoenix area comes alive with some of the best events of the year.
Think outdoor concerts under the palm trees, food and wine festivals, fashion and design events, hot air balloons glowing after dark, art installations along the Scottsdale Waterfront, polo at WestWorld and plenty of Halloween fun.
Whether you're looking for a date night, a family outing, a girls' night or simply an excuse to enjoy those first beautiful fall evenings, here are some of the best things happening around the Scottsdale + Phoenix area this fall.
🍂 Looking for even more fall fun? Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom, where I’ve included links to my 2026 guides covering the best pumpkin patches, haunted houses and Halloween attractions, farmers markets and Arizona road trips to see fall colors.
Save this list—you’re going to want it.
📅 September 25–November 1, 2026 | Select Days + Evenings
📍 14470 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise
Kick off fall with 13 acres of seasonal fun in the West Valley.
Desert Fall Festival combines more than 20 attractions, including ziplines, apple cannons, hay-bale archery, live music, line dancing, photo opportunities and The Big Dig, where guests can climb into a real excavator and move some dirt.
There’s also a scavenger hunt featuring eight giant pumpkins, seasonal food and plenty of activities for families.
The festival runs through November 1, with hours varying throughout the season.
📅 October 1–November 1, 2026 | Thursdays–Sundays
📍 Arizona State Fairgrounds | 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix
It wouldn’t be fall in Arizona without at least one trip to the State Fair.
The 2026 Arizona State Fair returns with rides, concerts, fair food, agricultural exhibits, competitions and all of the wonderfully over-the-top treats that come with fair season.
The fair is open Thursdays through Sundays throughout October, making this one of the easiest fall traditions to fit into your calendar.
Arizona State Fair 2026 Details + Tickets
📅 October 2 + November 6, 2026
📍 Roosevelt Row + Grand Avenue Arts District | Downtown Phoenix
First Friday is always a good excuse to head downtown, but the cooler fall evenings make October and November especially fun.
Explore galleries, studios, murals, pop-up vendors, local shops, restaurants and live music throughout Roosevelt Row and the Grand Avenue Arts District.
Every month is a little different, which is part of the fun.
Plan Your First Friday Art Walk
📅 October 2–November 1, 2026 | Select Nights
📍 2219 N. 99th Avenue, Phoenix
Brand-new for 2026, Dark Harvest is one of the biggest additions to Arizona’s Halloween season.
This immersive Halloween destination combines four haunted houses, a terrifying corn maze, midway entertainment, themed food and drinks, games, live entertainment and roaming monsters.
The attractions are built into one of Arizona’s largest corn mazes, making this much more than a traditional single haunted house.
If serious scares are your idea of fall fun, put this one on the list.
📅 October 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 + November 7, 2026 | 5–7 PM
📍 The Quad at Scottsdale Quarter | 15191 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
One of the easiest ways to take advantage of Arizona’s return to patio weather.
Scottsdale Quarter hosts free Saturday evening concerts in The Quad with a different local band each week. Beginning with Sandra Bassett on October 3, the fall lineup includes jazz, R&B, yacht rock, country and plenty of ’80s pop and rock.
Grab dinner, do a little shopping and finish the evening with live music under the palm trees.
See the Scottsdale Quarter Fall Concert Series Lineup
📅 October 6–11, 2026
📍 Locations throughout Scottsdale + Phoenix
If you love architecture, interiors, art and good design, put this one on your calendar.
The fall edition of Desert Design Week—Collected in Dialog—brings together exhibitions, home tours, design talks, studio events and gatherings at some of the Valley’s most design-forward spaces.
The 2026 lineup includes events at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, The Global Ambassador, Local Nomad, RAY Phoenix and other locations throughout Scottsdale and Phoenix.
Explore Desert Design Week 2026
📅 October 8–11, 2026
📍 Various Scottsdale Locations
Scottsdale Fashion Week returns with four days of runway shows, designers, special events and plenty of Scottsdale style.
The annual event brings nationally and internationally recognized designers together with Arizona’s fashion, hospitality and luxury communities for one of the Valley’s most stylish weekends of the year.
📅 October 9–11, 2026
📍 Tempe Beach Park | 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe
Grab a stein and head to Tempe Town Lake for one of the Valley’s longtime fall traditions.
Four Peaks Oktoberfest brings together German food, beer, live music, carnival rides, games, contests and family activities for three days at Tempe Beach Park.
And yes—the famous dachshund races are part of the fun.
📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 5:30–10 PM
📍 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick | 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
Wine lovers, this one is for you.
Uncorked returns to Salt River Fields with more than 100 wines and sparkling wines from around the world, plus food trucks, music and plenty of opportunities to sip your way through a Scottsdale fall evening.
This is a 21+ event.
Uncorked Arizona Wine Festival
📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 10 AM–4 PM
📍 Historic Downtown Glendale
For something with a little more old-fashioned fall charm, head to Historic Downtown Glendale.
The 32nd Annual Front Porch Festival fills the Catlin Court and Old Towne districts with artisans, makers, live demonstrations, fall-themed activities, seasonal food and décor.
Be sure to look for the annual Scarecrow Stroll, with creatively decorated scarecrows displayed outside downtown shops and restaurants.
Admission is free.
Front Porch Festival & Old Towne Marketplace
📅 October 14–15, 2026 | 5–9 PM
📍 Stagecoach Village | 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek
Come hungry.
Taste of Cave Creek brings more than 25 local restaurants together at Stagecoach Village for two evenings of food tastings, live music, dancing, craft beer and wine.
It’s a fun way to sample several Cave Creek restaurants in one night—and October evenings in Cave Creek are hard to beat.
📅 October 16–18, 2026
📍 Phoenix Raceway | Avondale
NASCAR returns to Phoenix Raceway for a full weekend of racing.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races Friday, October 16, followed by the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Series Freeway Insurance 500 on Sunday, October 18.
Even if you aren’t a die-hard racing fan, the atmosphere of a NASCAR weekend at Phoenix Raceway is an Arizona experience all its own.
Phoenix Raceway Fall NASCAR Weekend
📅 October 16–18, 2026
📍 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral | 1973 E. Maryland Avenue, Phoenix
Come for the food and stay for the dancing.
The Original Phoenix Greek Festival celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2026 with authentic Greek food, music, traditional dancing, art, jewelry, shopping and tours of the beautiful Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
This has been a Phoenix fall tradition for decades, and for good reason.
📅 October 17–18, 2026 | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick | Scottsdale
Tacos + tequila + Scottsdale sunshine. It’s a pretty good combination.
Arizona Taco Fest brings together top chefs and taco makers, premium tequila and agave spirits, live judging, margaritas, entertainment and plenty of food for an entire weekend at Salt River Fields.
Go hungry.
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 5–9 PM
📍 Scottsdale Civic Center | 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s community Fall Festival is getting bigger in 2026, with an expanded footprint and an extra hour of festivities at Scottsdale Civic Center.
The free event includes trick-or-treating, carnival games, hands-on arts and crafts, live music and a DJ, food trucks, a cocktail garden and plenty of activities for families.
Costumes are encouraged, making this a fun local option if you want Halloween atmosphere without the haunted-house scares.
📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 6–9 PM | 21+
📍 Desert Botanical Garden | 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
Desert Botanical Garden is giving Halloween a decidedly grown-up twist with its first-ever Strange Garden Spirit Walk.
Come in costume and follow a spirited trail through the Garden with themed cocktails, festive bites, spooky surprises, live pumpkin carving, music and a costume contest.
It’s part Halloween party, part cocktail experience and one of the more unusual additions to this year’s fall calendar.
Strange Garden Spirit Walk Details + Tickets
📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Biltmore Fashion Park | 2502 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix
Biltmore Fashion Park is combining fashion, art and wine for an elevated fall Paint & Sip.
Guests will follow a professional artist while sketching and painting two curated fall fashion looks modeled live. The evening also includes wine, light bites, desserts, live music, beauty touch-ups and photo opportunities.
A fun option for a girls’ night or something a little different for date night.
📅 October 23–25, 2026 | 5–9 PM
📍 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick | 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
This may be one of the most photogenic Halloween events in the Valley.
More than 20 glowing hot air balloons become trick-or-treat stations as the sun goes down at Salt River Fields. Add thousands of pounds of candy, a kids zone, costume contests, entertainment and optional tethered balloon rides and you have a pretty memorable Halloween outing.
Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival
📅 Art Installations October 22–25 | Main Festival October 24, 2026, 1–10 PM
📍 Scottsdale Civic Center | 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale
Old Town Scottsdale celebrates the 10th Annual Scottsdale Día de los Muertos Fiestas with four days of art and cultural experiences centered around Scottsdale Civic Center.
The main Fiesta de Muertos on October 24 features live music, food, arts and crafts, a Catrina Fashion Contest and Fashion Show, large-scale art installations and altars, and the evening Desfile de los Muertos procession.
GRAMMY-nominated artist Lupita Infante headlines the celebration with a free performance at 8 PM.
Admission to the main festival is free.
Scottsdale Día de los Muertos 2026
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 4 PM
📍 Tempe Town Lake Boat Marina | Tempe
This may win the award for the most uniquely Arizona Halloween event on the list.
Hundreds of witches and warlocks take to Tempe Town Lake on paddleboards, kayaks and canoes for Desert Paddleboards’ annual Witches Regatta.
Dress accordingly—the witch and warlock attire is half the fun.
The group meets on the north side of the lake near the boat marina, with the group photo scheduled for 4 PM before the witches take to the water.
The event itself is free, although Tempe Town Lake requires a lake permit for each watercraft. Paddleboard rentals are also available in limited quantities.
Witches Regatta Details + Registration
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026 | Evening
📍 Throughout Cave Creek
If your idea of Halloween involves costumes, live music and a little Cave Creek nightlife, this one is for you.
Cave Creek Wicked turns Halloween into a town-wide celebration, with participating bars and restaurants getting into the spirit for one very lively Saturday night.
Costumes are highly encouraged.
Cave Creek Events + Wicked Information
📅 November 6–15, 2026
📍 Scottsdale Waterfront | Old Town Scottsdale
One of Scottsdale’s signature fall events transforms the Waterfront into an outdoor art experience for ten nights.
Canal Convergence combines large-scale public art, light and interactive installations with live music, dance, workshops, performances, food and activities along the Arizona Canal.
The 2026 theme, Western Nature, explores the landscape, culture and natural environment of Arizona and the Southwest.
It’s free, it’s outdoors, and I think this is one of the best ways to spend a November evening in Scottsdale.
Explore Canal Convergence 2026
📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10:30 AM–7:30 PM
📍 WestWorld of Scottsdale | 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
Polo meets Scottsdale style at one of the Valley’s biggest fall social events.
The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships celebrate their 15th edition in 2026 with three polo matches, VIP lounges, fashion, luxury cars, entertainment and plenty of people-watching.
This year also includes a sunset concert after the afternoon matches.
Whether you’re there for the polo or the party surrounding it, this one is quintessential Scottsdale.
Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships
📅 November 7–8, 2026
📍 Scottsdale Civic Center | Old Town Scottsdale
Spend the weekend celebrating Italian food, culture, music and wine in the heart of Old Town.
The Scottsdale Italian Festival returns to Scottsdale Civic Center with authentic Italian cuisine, entertainment, cultural experiences and La Strada del Vino, a wine experience featuring selections representing regions throughout Italy.
Scottsdale Italian Festival Details
📅 Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 8 PM
📍 Mortgage Matchup Center | Downtown Phoenix
Add a concert night to the fall calendar.
The Smashing Pumpkins bring The Rats In A Cage Tour to downtown Phoenix on November 11—an easy excuse for dinner downtown followed by a night of ’90s alternative rock nostalgia.
The Smashing Pumpkins Phoenix Concert Details + Tickets
📅 November 11–15, 2026
📍 Scottsdale Fashion Square | Scottsdale
This one should be gorgeous.
Fleurs de Villes arrives at Scottsdale Fashion Square for the first time with NOËL, a free five-day floral exhibition celebrating the start of the holiday season.
The centerpiece will be 15 couture mannequins created with fresh flowers by talented Arizona floral designers, along with additional installations and special activations throughout the shopping center.
Even if you aren’t ready for Christmas quite yet, the floral artistry alone makes this worth seeing.
Fleurs de Villes NOËL at Scottsdale Fashion Square
📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
📍 The Park at PV | 4568 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix
A brand-new community event is coming to PV this fall.
Heroes & Hounds brings together two things people love: dogs and the local first responders who serve our community.
The event will take place at The Park at PV, the outdoor gathering space at the redeveloped former Paradise Valley Mall property. Watch PV’s event page and social channels for the full schedule and additional details as they’re announced.
PV Phoenix Events + Heroes & Hounds Updates
📅 November 14–15, 2026 | Saturday 11 AM–6 PM + Sunday 11 AM–4 PM
📍 Margaret T. Hance Park | Downtown Phoenix
If pizza is your love language, this weekend is easy to add to the calendar.
The 11th Annual Phoenix Pizza Festival brings local pizza makers together at Hance Park for slices, full pies and creative pizza-inspired dishes, plus desserts, local bands, a vendor market and a kids zone.
Food and drinks are purchased separately once inside, so admission basically gives you permission to spend the afternoon building your own personal pizza tour.
📅 November 19–22, 2026 | Parade + Festival November 21
📍 Gilbert + Queen Creek
Gilbert celebrates its Western heritage with several events during Gilbert Days.
The Gilbert Days Rodeo runs November 19–22, while Saturday, November 21 is the big community day with the Gilbert Days Parade at 8:30 AM followed by the Gilbert Days Festival from 4–9 PM at Gilbert Regional Park.
The festival includes live music, food and drinks, local shopping and family activities.
Official Gilbert Days 2026 Guide
📅 Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 6–9 PM
📍 Taliesin West | Scottsdale
This is one of the more distinctive Arizona experiences on the fall calendar.
Architecture of Indigenous Flavor & Fashion brings Indigenous Arizona foodways, Native fashion and cultural experiences together for an immersive evening at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
The event features curated tastings from Indigenous chefs and foodways keepers, live culinary demonstrations, desert-inspired cocktails and a Native fashion showcase—all during Native American Heritage Month.
The Taliesin West setting makes this an especially unique way to experience Arizona culture, food, design and history in one evening.
Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience
📅 Sunday, November 22, 2026 | 10 AM–3 PM
📍 700 W. Campbell Avenue, Phoenix
Finish the fall season with a Sunday morning treasure hunt.
Melrose Vintage Market brings together local vendors offering vintage finds, upcycled pieces, art, handmade goods, clothing, décor and plenty of one-of-a-kind pieces.
Grab coffee, browse the market and then make a morning of exploring the Melrose District.
Admission is free and the market is dog-friendly.
Melrose Vintage Market Calendar
There’s plenty more to explore beyond the big events. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin patch, something seriously scary, a great local farmers market or a weekend road trip to see Arizona’s changing leaves, keep exploring with these fall guides:
🎃 The Best Pumpkin Patches in Scottsdale + Phoenix Area, Arizona | Fall 2026
👻 The Best Haunted Houses + Halloween Attractions in Scottsdale + Phoenix Area, Arizona | 2026
🥕 The Best Farmers Markets in Scottsdale + Phoenix Area, Arizona | Fall 2026–Spring 2027
🍁 The Best Arizona Road Trips to See Fall Colors | Fall 2026
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With over 25 years of experience in real estate, master planned community development, sales, marketing, and VIP customer care, Anne is known for her exceptional service and integrity. Her Arizona family roots trace back to the territorial days, providing her with a unique perspective on the local real estate market. With a "can-do" attitude and unwavering commitment to excellence, Anne goes above and beyond to protect her clients' interests and provide them with an outstanding experience.