As the weather cools down, the event season is heating up! Local establishments are celebrating the fall season with fun October events all month long. See below for 12 events taking place around the Valley this October!
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Moonlit Jack-o-Lantern – Tempe Marketplace
When: Oct. 7-31
Snap the perfect fall photo at Tempe Marketplace with the Moonlit Jack-o-Lantern. The giant, seven foot Halloween installation will be on display for the entire month of October in front of Harkins Theatre. For more information, visit www.tempemarketplace.com.
ROCK IT UP Fall Concert Series – Tempe Marketplace
When: Oct. 6 and 30; November 2 and 3
As the weather cools down, Tempe Marketplace, [daveandbusters.com]Dave & Buster’s and ALT AZ are heating things up with the ROCK IT UP concert series, featuring four free, full-length concerts from some of rock’s hottest national acts, including Mod Sun on October 6, Tessa Violet + Twin XL on October 30, iDKHOW on November 2 and Grabbitz on November 3. All four evening shows will feature an outdoor bar from Dave & Buster’s while guests rock out at The District Stage. For more information, visit www.tempemarketplace.com.
Pedal Haus’ Tempe Oktoberfest
When: October 9; 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Enjoy authentic German Oktoberfest fare and beer, live music, a sausage eating contest, a stein holding contest and more at the Pedal Haus Tempe Oktoberfest. Plus, dress up in your lederhosen to get your first stein for just $5! Steins of Oktoberfest and pilsners will also be $2 off all day.
Pumpkin Patch – Desert Ridge Marketplace
When: Oct. 15-31
The third annual Pumpkin Patch returns to The District near AMC Theatres from October 15 through October 31. Pick the perfect pumpkin (while supplies last), snap a seasonal photo and enjoy free face painting and balloon twisting on select dates. For more information, visit www.shopdesertridge.com.
Maricopa County Home and Garden Show – WestWorld of Scottsdale
When: Oct 15-17
The Maricopa County Home & Garden Show, the largest home show in the Southwest, returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale Friday, October 15 through Sunday, October 17 featuring ‘Gardens of the World,’ a themed landscape competition for the first time. Shop fall-inspired indoor and outdoor decorating ideas and high-tech ways to elevate your entertainment space for the holiday season. The show features a variety of local small businesses, artisans, and the best assortment of home improvement companies across the Valley. For more information about the Maricopa County Home Show, call 602.485.1691 ext. 4 or visit MChomeshows.com.
Boo & New at Scottsdale Quarter
When: Oct 18-23
Scottsdale Quarter is thrilled to announce its plans to commemorate the completion of the final phase of the shopping center with a week-long fall celebration for the community. Boo & New is a chance to celebrate the season while exploring the newest offerings at Scottsdale Quarter. The festive gatherings from Monday, October 18 through Saturday, October 23 will include free family fun, live musical performances, local art, fall-themed activities, and local craft brews. All week long, guests can wander through the pumpkin patch and enjoy nightly live musical performances by their favorite local bands. The celebration continues on Friday with the addition of live artist mural paintings and curated workshops hosted by Scottsdale Quarter tenants. Guests will also have the opportunity to paint a section of a giant, paint-by-numbers art mural, designed by local artist, Lauren Lee, which will later become a permanent art installation at the property. The festivities end with a bang on Saturday with The Quarter’s Fourth Annual Boo & Brew. During the event, grownups can treat their taste buds with local craft brews from Huss, Walter Station and Grand Canyon breweries, while listing to live music and watching their favorite college teams in the football lounge. Meanwhile, the younger crowd will be entertained with oversized games, crafts, character appearances, balloon twisting and face painting. For updated information, visit www.scottsdalequarter.com and follow @ScottsdaleQuarter on Instagram. Because space is limited, some events require pre-registration. Check the event pages on the website for details.
Creep Candy Crawl – Desert Ridge Marketplace
When: Oct.22; 6-8 p.m.
October 22, venture out to Desert Ridge Marketplace from 6 to 8 p.m. for an evening of spooky surprises during Creepy Candy Crawl. Children and families are invited to dress to impress for the annual Halloween costume contest and trick-or-treating. Plus, enjoy Halloween-themed music, dancing, games, prizes and more. For more information, visit www.shopdesertridge.com.
Creepy Candy Crawl – Tempe Marketplace
When: Oct. 23; 6-8p.m.
October 23, venture out to Tempe Marketplace from 6 to 8 p.m. for an evening of spooky surprises during Creepy Candy Crawl. Children and families are invited to dress to impress for the annual Halloween costume contest and trick-or-treating. Plus, enjoy Halloween-themed music, dancing, games, prizes and more. Fore more information, visit www.tempemarketplace.com.
Gilbert Oktoberfest
When: October 23; 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gilbert Oktoberfest taking place at Gilbert Regional Park in Gilbert is an authentic, family-friendly celebration of German culture with several Oktoberfest-themed activities including stein holding competitions, a bratwurst eating competition, traditional polka music and a performance by event host and musician, the ”Queen of Oktoberfest.” The family-focused celebration will have oversized games, a kids’ zone, and themed food and drinks. Purchase tickets at www.gilbertoktoberfest.com.
Potted Potter – The Madison Center for the Arts
When: Oct. 28-30; 7 p.m.
Playing to sold out houses all over the world, the Olivier Award nominated POTTED POTTER – The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes. Even if you don’t know the difference between a horcrux and a Hufflepuff, POTTED POTTER will make you roar with laughter. Created by two-time Olivier Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, Potted Potter is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed). For tickets and more information, visit www.themadison.org.
Trick-or-Treat Returns to Downtown Mesa
When: Oct. 30
After taking a break last year, Downtown Mesa is once again ready to host all Super Heroes, Pirates, Princesses and Baby Yodas. This year, kids AND adults are invited to be part of the frightful events!
The Downtown Mesa Association is bringing back The Downtown Mesa Trick-or-Treat on Saturday, October 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be Kids crafts, interactive chalkboard activity and photo booths on Macdonald and Main Street.
Downtown Merchants will also be on hand to pass out individually wrapped candy for about 2,000 kids. Parents can check out the “Trick or Treat Here” map the day of the event to find out which businesses are participating.
Also happening, later that night, the Downtown Mesa Spirits Stroll (for adults!). From 4 to 10 p.m. Downtown Mesa will host a beer garden with local craft brews. There will be live music and a costume contest. The fun happens along MacDonald and Main Street.
Noche en Blanco
When: Oct. 30; 5-10 p.m.
The sixth annual “Noche en Blanco” multicultural community dinner in celebration of Hance Park (116 E. Moreland St. in Phoenix, AZ, 85004) will take place on Saturday, October 30 from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. A single seat can be purchased for $25 and a table of eight can be bought for $200. The event is produced by the Hance Park Conservancy in partnership with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and is a night of community fun where guests are invited to dress in white costume cocktail attire, enjoy live entertainment, and dine under the stars on the lush east lawn of Hance Park.
Hunkapi’s 7th Annual Open Your Heart Gala
When: October 30
Hunkapi Programs, an equine therapy farm located in the heart of Scottsdale, is excited to announce the 7th annual signature Open Your Heart Gala on Saturday, October 30th from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. The event celebrates the nonprofit’s mission to serve 300 people weekly with a range of diagnoses through therapeutic horse programs on the historic 10-acre farm. All funds raised will go toward a wide array of services offered by the nonprofit including therapeutic riding, counseling, emotional regulation, somatic experience, and addiction recovery and the newly launched Sit. Stay. Heal. program, which provides dogs a safe place to live while their owners experiencing homelessness transition from living on the streets to securing more permanent housing.
