The best places to celebrate Fall in Phoenix
Oct 20, 2016, 11:16 AM | Updated: Feb 2, 2017, 1:35 pm
Summer is over and fall is here — although Phoenix is known for its hot sunny weather, the triple-digit heat is a thing of the past. Fall is in the air, and temperatures are in the mid-80s, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor fun.
Here are the best places to get into the fall mood and celebrate the season in Phoenix.
Fall Festival at Vertuccio Farms
There is so much fun to be found this October and early November during the Fall Festival at Vertuccio Farms. Families have a great time getting lost in the corn maze and painting pumpkins. Don’t forget to check out the all new grain train.
October is a popular time of year for breweries to have Oktoberfests and fun-filled beer drinking days. However, Four Peaks Fall Festival is taking the excitement a step further and offers a day of delight for all. The Festival is held at the Four Peaks tasting room on Oct. 29 and offers beer tasting, food trucks, pumpkin painting, DJ-spun music and more.
If your pumpkin carving skills are top notch, make sure to enter the 19th annual Pumpkin Carving Contest where a grand prize winner will take away $1,000. Prizes will also be given away for the best Halloween costume. Be sure to stick around for the tapping of the much-anticipated Double Pumpkin Porter, Four Peaks Pumpkin Porter’s big brother, at 6 p.m. Four Peaks Fall Festival will also feature fall-inspired guest beers from all over Arizona.
Trick or treating is not just for kids. Mix and mingle with Chef Jon and the Four Peaks Brewing team and talk about the nuances of the tasty flavors of candy and beer!
Enjoy five samples of some of the best brews eloquently paired with the finest of candy creations.
With three dates with three locations to choose, experience Four Peaks Brewing Company Kegs and Candy on:
- Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the original Four Peaks in Tempe,
- Thursday, Oct. 27 at Four Peaks Grill & Tap in Scottsdale, or
- Friday, Oct. 28 at the Tasting Room on Wilson Street, each sitting from 6 to 8 p.m.
Participate in one of the best events of the season where beers will be paired with artisanal candies. This is the perfect time to taste some of Four Peaks’ most unique beers including a sneak peek of this season’s Double Pumpkin Porter and the brewery’s first ever fresh-hopped beer, Wet Knot.
Advanced ticket purchase required for this event. Visit fourpeaks.com for details.
Salt River Fields Balloon Spooktacular
The cooler Arizona air is perfect for hot air balloon lovers. During the evenings of Oct. 28 and 29, families gather at the Salt River Fields where there are more than 20 hot air balloons on display.
Although the balloons don’t actually launch, they will be there in all their glory and serve as a trick or treat station for all the kids.
Families enjoy music, food, balloon rides, a haunted trail, trick-or-treating, fireworks and more.
If you have never seen the creative carvings of Ray Villafane, now is the time to visit the Enchanted Pumpkin Garden. Ray’s pumpkin carving was brought to new heights in 2007 when he was invited to participate in the Food Network’s Outrageous Pumpkin Challenge.
The magic continues in Carefree where you will find amazing pumpkin carvings that look more like works of art than pumpkins. Additionally, you can take a hayride, carve a pumpkin or visit the beer garden.
There are even fun events for the whole family like a pumpkin pie eating contest and a Jelly Belly Beanboozled Challenge.
Check out the calendar of events and plan your visit from Oct. 17-31.
Celebrate a fall tradition and carve new memories at the Great Pumpkin Festival at the Botanical Gardens. Take a hayride, pick out the perfect pumpkin, explore the maze and enjoy a fall inspired day.
Enjoy live music and special performances by the Arizona Bluegrass Association.
Dates run Oct. 21-23 starting at 8:30 a.m.
Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos at the Botanical Gardens on Oct. 29 and 30. Not only will you visit one of the prettiest places in the Phoenix area, but during the Dia de Los Muertos celebration you delve into the meaning and tradition behind this holiday. Enjoy music, storytelling, dance, and more.
Cave Creek Wicked is becoming a fall tradition for locals. This year join the festivities on Oct. 29 and be entertained by live music, costume contests and town-wide trick-or-treating. Adults come out at night and roam the streets during the lively bar crawl.
Whether you are celebrating with the kids or something just for adults, Arizona is a great place to enjoy Fall Festivities of all kinds. Don’t miss out on all the fun — get out there and fall in love with fall in Phoenix.
