ARIZONA EVENTS
What’s Happening Now
Arizona fall may take its time showing up in the weather, but the calendar gets the message much earlier.
Restaurants roll out new menus, festivals return, patios start calling our names again, and suddenly there are a whole lot of reasons to leave the house.
This is the EatLoveTravelPlay running list of what is worth putting on your radar.
Not everything happening. Just the things worth making time for.
EDITOR'S PICK
Arizona Restaurant Week
September 18–27 | Statewide Participating Locations
The state's premier culinary event returns, inviting you to explore Arizona's diverse dining scene through curated multi-course menus at exceptional prices.
LOCAL FAVORITE
Harvest in the Heritage District
September 25 – November 1 | Downtown Gilbert
Experience fall in the heart of Gilbert with seasonal workshops, open-air markets, and themed dining that celebrates the desert's autumn bounty.
SEASONAL SPOTLIGHT
Arizona Taco Fest
October 17–18 | Salt River Fields, Scottsdale
Arizona Taco Fest brings together chefs and taco makers, premium tequila and mezcal, margaritas, live music, culinary demos and mixology, plus the VIP Agave Show with spirit tastings and craft cocktails.
FEATURED EVENT
Sip, Savor, Shop by A Taste of AZ
October 31 | Salt River Fields East Lawn, Scottsdale
The second annual Sip, Savor, Shop brings together Arizona restaurants, breweries, wineries, craft cocktail makers, local retailers and artisans. Tickets include unlimited food samples, 15 drink samples, local beer, wine, craft cocktails and marketplace shopping, with VIP and general admission entry times.
September
September 4
Old Town Cottonwood
Queen B Sushi Opens in Cottonwood
A fresh new addition to the Cottonwood dining scene, bringing high-quality sushi to the heart of the Verde Valley.
September 11
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
Mesa Arts Center Fall Opening
Kick off the cultural season with new contemporary art exhibitions and live performances at this stunning East Valley hub.
September 12–13
Arcadia
PRESS Coffee Camelview Grand Opening
Celebrate the latest location of Arizona's favorite roaster with neighborhood grand opening festivities in Arcadia.
September 13
Flagstaff
Little Rich Girl Summer Cocktail Camp
Head to the high country to master the art of the seasonal pour with expert-led mixology sessions and cool mountain air.
September 18–27
Statewide
Arizona Restaurant Week
Spanning ten days statewide, enjoy diverse prix-fixe menus at multiple price points. Across Arizona, this is your time to dine.
September 25
Water Tower Plaza, Gilbert
¡Viva! A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage
Honor Hispanic culture in the heart of the Heritage District from 6:00–8:30 PM with traditional music, dance, and delicious local food vendors.
September 26
Downtown Chandler
Flavors of Chandler
A self-guided food-and-drink crawl through Downtown, with small bites and pours from local restaurants and breweries.
New + Noteworthy for Fall
Spa & Fitness at The Peak
Hilton Phoenix Resort at The Peak. A fresh sanctuary for autumn wellness and rigorous recovery.
Arizona Boardwalk’s Big Wheel
Elevate your perspective this fall with the valley's newest skyline addition at the Boardwalk.
Keep Cottonwood on the Weekend List
The Verde Valley's best-kept secret is quickly becoming the primary destination for wine lovers and weekend wanderers.
October
October 1
Phoenix Zoo
Roars & Pours at the Phoenix Zoo
Enjoy the zoo with a drink in hand at this popular seasonal happy hour event.
October 1–Nov 1
Phoenix
Arizona State Fair
A staple fall tradition featuring rides, food, and entertainment for the whole family.
October 3
Downtown Flagstaff
Flagstaff Oktoberfest
Celebrate fall in the cool pines with beer, traditional food, and live music.
Sept 24–Nov 1
The Rose Theatre, Downtown Phoenix
Drunk Dracula
A comedic, spirited take on the classic vampire tale in an intimate theatre setting.
Begins Oct 1
Phoenix
Desert Botanical Garden Goes Full Fall
The garden transforms with seasonal displays and crisp evening programming.
October 9–11
Tempe Beach Park
Four Peaks Oktoberfest
One of the state's largest celebrations featuring live music and local brews.
October 17
Heritage District
Flavors of Gilbert
Take a self-guided stroll through Downtown Gilbert. Discover small bites and small pours from participating restaurants, bars and local shops.
October 22–31
Desert Botanical Garden
Strange Garden
An enchanting, family-friendly Halloween experience among the desert flora.
October 28–30
Phoenix Zoo
Spooky Safari
A wild way to celebrate Halloween with animal encounters and festive displays.
October 31
Mesa
Arizona Craft Beer Fest
Featuring craft breweries at The Post in Downtown Mesa.
October 31
Scottsdale
Sip, Savor, Shop
A marketplace event at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
Fall Plans That Don’t Need a Ticket
Not every Arizona fall day needs a ticket. Sometimes the best plan is the gondola, the garden, a drive north, dinner outside or finally taking advantage of patio weather.
ARIZONA SNOWBOWL SCENIC GONDOLA
TLAQUEPAQUE
Flagstaff
Sedona
PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
KARTCHNER CAVERNS
Tucson
Benson
PHOENIX ZOO
Phoenix
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN
FLAGSTAFF FOR FALL WEATHER
PATIO DINING
Phoenix
Flagstaff
Valley-wide
Keep This One Bookmarked
September and October invitations tend to arrive fast, so we’ll keep adding restaurants, festivals, fall events and seasonal experiences as they announce their plans.
Because after an Arizona summer spent calculating the shortest route between the car and the nearest air conditioning, leaving the house is finally starting to sound fun again.
Got an event we should know about?
Send it our way. We love a good tip.
krista@eatlovetravelplay.com