14 Events Happening in Phoenix This October

Enjoy 2nd Friday Night Out in Mesa

Live music, entertainment, and prize giveaways take place on the second Friday of every month on Main Street in Downtown Mesa. This outdoor street party features a different theme every month and in 2019, the October theme is "Nightmare on Main."

You can expect more than 40 artist and vendor booths alongside creepy costumes and decorations to transform this tranquil town center into a spooky market and street fair. Visit the 2nd Friday Night Out website for more information on performances, vendors, and this year's themes.

You can also check out the local FM radio stations for the ride back home after the show.

Listen to Arizona State University Concerts Across the Valley

The Arizona State University (A.S.U.) School of Music presents concerts at a variety of venues across the Valley of the Sun each year, including at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on select Monday evenings. For a full list of performances in October, visit the A.S.U. School of Music events' calendar.

Watch a Sporting Event at Area Stadiums and Arenas

October is right in the middle of five sports seasons: football, hockey, basketball, soccer, and fall league baseball. For visitors and sports fans, this means there's plenty of opportunities to catch a game while you're in town.

• Arizona Cardinals Football: This professional football team plays games at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
• Arizona Coyotes Hockey: The National Hockey League (NHL) team fights for its way to the Stanley Cup at the Gila River Arena in Glendale.​
• Arizona Fall League Baseball: After the regular baseball season is over, there are six more weeks of baseball in October and November when each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams selects six prospects to play in the AFL. Games take place at stadiums around the Valley.​
• Sun Devil Football: Arizona State University's football team competes for PAC-12 glory at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.​
• Phoenix Suns Basketball: The professional National Basketball Association (NBA) team for Arizona shoots hoops at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Downtown Phoenix.
• Phoenix Rising FC: The official Arizona team for the Universal Soccer League (USL) plays on various dates in October.

Get Inspired at Local Art Events

The Valley of the Sun is always a great place to see local art, but October is full of art walks, gallery openings, and special exhibits across the region. Check out some of these events if you're looking for a bit of inspiration on your trip:

• Art in the Olive Grove: On October 13, 2019 artists representing all types of art media display their work at the Queen Creek Olive Mill in Queen Creek.
• Downtown Chandler Art Walk: Visit more than 40 artisans set up along the streets in front of the unique shops and cafes of Downtown Chandler during this free event on the third Friday of October.
• Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts: MACFest (Mesa Arts and Crafts Festival) is a free, family-friendly event featuring artist creations, music, and entertainment in Downtown Mesa on North Macdonald, from Main Street to Pepper Place on the first and third Saturday of October.
• First Friday: On the first Friday of the month, you can visit more than 80 downtown Phoenix art galleries, studios, and art spaces during this free event.​
• First Saturdays for Families: Families with kids ages 4 to 12 are invited to the ASU Art Museum in Tempe to participate in artistic projects on the first Saturday of the month.
• Gilbert Art Walk: On the first and third Thursday of the month, local artists set up booths to display their work in downtown Gilbert.​
• Stagecoach Village Art & Wine Festival: Explore fine art, fine wines, and local cuisine at Stagecoach Village in Cave Creek at this free event from October 25 to 27, 2019.
• Scottsdale ArtWalk: Every Thursday evening the Scottsdale Art District invites you to spend a casual evening walking downtown and enjoying fine art at the city's many galleries—all for free!

Delight in the Arizona State Fair

Every October, the Arizona State Fair returns to downtown Phoenix for a month-long celebration of everything the state has to offer. Held at the Fairgrounds in Central Phoenix, the Arizona State Fair features rides, local cuisine, fried fair food, competitions, concerts, and exhibits every day of the week except Mondays and Tuesdays. In 2019, the fair is open from October 4 to October 27.

Have a Fiesta at the Arizona Taco Festival

Competitors will cook tacos and related dishes for a competition to name the best taco in Arizona at the annual Arizona Taco Festival in Scottsdale on October 12 and 13, 2019. You'll need to buy a general admission ticket to attend, which grants you access to about 50 restaurants serving affordable tacos as well as margarita and beer. There will also be a Chihuahua Beauty Pageant, as well as live music performances by local artists.

Get Empowered at the Arizona Ultimate Women's Expo

In October, hundreds of exhibits of products and services including fashion, beauty, health, fitness, home, careers, financial planning, and education will set up shop at the Phoenix Convention Center for the annual ​Arizona Ultimate Women's Expo. The event will feature a full schedule of speakers on four stages, book signings, celebrity appearances, and cooking and design demonstrations. The expo takes place on October 12 and 13, 2019.

Celebrate the Season at Autumnfest in Anthem

Returning to the Community Park in Anthem for two full days of fall fun, Autumnfest features a carnival, music performances, fine arts and crafts sales, a pumpkin patch, train and hay rides, inflatables, and a food court with a beer and wine garden. The event, presented by the Anthem Community Council, is free to attend but food and drinks must be purchased on-site. Autumnfest takes place on October 19 and 20, 2019.

Spot Some Wildlife at Birds 'n' Beer

Birds 'n' Beer offers local professionals a fun and refreshing way to learn about Arizona birds and other wildlife while networking with fellow nature-lovers. On the third Thursday of October, you can have a cold brew while enjoying an enlightening and lively presentation on Arizona nature at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix. Reservations are not required but strongly encouraged in case space fills up on the tour.

Relax in Style at the Front Porch Festival and Old Towne Marketplace

Enjoy shopping, crafts, hands-on activities, and live music at the Catlin Court and Old Towne in historic downtown Glendale for the annual Front Porch Festival & Old Towne Marketplace on Saturday, October 12, 2019. This special Glendale celebration also features local shops and restaurants presenting various demonstrations and workshops featuring "make and take" crafts and delicious treats.

Celebrate German Culture at Oktoberfest Events

Although Phoenix doesn't have the largest population of German immigrants in the United States, it still celebrates the tradition of Oktoberfest. There are several places around town where you can get that Oktoberfest spirit by dressing up in your Bavarian best, eating bratwurst, and dancing to the polka all day long if you'd like. Oktoberfest celebrations in Phoenix include several bar crawls as well as a few dance parties at German pubs and restaurants around the Valley. For example, at Four Peaks you can celebrate Oktoberfest from October 11 to 13, 2019.

Get Spooky at Halloween Events and Haunted Houses

From kid-friendly pumpkin patches to terrifying haunted houses and festivals, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween all month long in the Valley of the Sun. ​If you plan to spend Halloween in Phoenix, take a trip to Howl-o-Ween at the Phoenix Zoo where kids can trick-or-treat while dressed up like the zoo animals, or head over to Salt River Fields Balloon Spooktacular. Other haunted events include PoeFest at the Rosson House Museum and the Cave Creek Wicked pub crawl.

Learn About Hispanic Heritage at Festivals and Events

October is Hispanic Heritage Month, and the large Latino population in Phoenix celebrates each year with a series of events and festivals throughout the Valley of the Sun. You can catch performances of dance, music, and theater as well as see art displays and listen to literary lectures and readings all month long.

Fill Your Cup at Empty Bowls

This October in Encanto Park, the annual fundraising event benefiting the Waste Not Arizona charity known as Empty Bowls returns to the Arizona Center. During the event, guests select a unique, handcrafted ceramic bowl from thousands of donated bowls for a donation and are served a modest portion of soup. The contents of the bowl won't fill you up, but it is similar to the total amount of food consumed on a daily basis by many less-fortunate people around the world. After the event, you can keep the commemorative bowl as a reminder that someone else’s bowl is always empty. The event takes place this year on October 17, 2019, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.