Things to Do in October in Phoenix

Discover the best things to do in Phoenix in October 2026, from live music and professional sports to food events, family-friendly activities and the latest art exhibitions. This month’s highlights include major concerts, Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns games, immersive museum experiences and outdoor attractions perfect for a fall visit. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or looking for something to do today, explore the top October events happening across Phoenix and the surrounding Valley.

Find more things to do this weekend on our event calendar. We've also rounded up fall events and things to do in Phoenix this fall. Discover all the top annual happening in Phoenix in 2026 here.

Halloween Events in Phoenix

Spooky season is taking over Greater Phoenix with haunted houses, pumpkin patches, costume parties, family-friendly festivals and plenty of Halloween fun. There are plenty of ways to celebrate all October long.

Through 10/17: Somos Peoria at Participating Peoria Venues
All Month: 2nd Annual Spookie Stripes Safari: Phoenix Zoo x Keebler® at Phoenix Zoo
All Month: Pumpkin Fest & Corn Maze at Mortimer Farms
All Month: Fall Festival: Pumpkin Picking & Hayrides at Mother Nature’s Farm
All Month: World of Illumination: Zombie Zoo Halloween Experience at Tempe Diablo Stadium
All Month: 13th Floor Haunted House at 13th Floor Phoenix
All Month: Harvest Nights at DH Farms at Phoenix Event Complex
All Month: Scarizona Scaregrounds at Scarizona Scaregrounds Mesa
All Month: Dark Harvest at Phoenix Event Complex
All Month: Black Lagoon Pop-Up at UnderTow Arcadia
All Month: Sanctum of Horror at Superstition Springs Center
All Month: Fear Farm at Fear Farm Tempe
All Month: Pumpkin Days & Corn Maze at Tolmachoff Farms
All Month: Pumpkin & Chili Party at Schnepf Farms
All Month: Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
All Month: Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
10/2-31: Fall Festival at Vertuccio Farms
10/2-31: Haunted Maze: AZ Field Of Screams at Tolmachoff Farms
10/3: Halloween Jazz Age Soiree & Film Screening at Hotel San Carlos
10/3-31: MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch at MacDonald’s Ranch
10/9: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour at ASU Gammage
10/17: Play Date: Costumes & Cocktails (21+) at Children’s Museum of Phoenix
10/17-18: Free Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market at Arizona Boardwalk
10/22-31: Strange Garden at Desert Botanical Garden
10/23: Tempe’s Family BOO Bash at Kiwanis Park
10/23: Science With a TWIST: The Paranormal Project at Arizona Science Center
10/23-24: Strange Garden Family Weekend at Desert Botanical Garden
10/23-25: Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival at Salt River Fields
10/23-31: PoeFest at Rosson House Museum
10/24-31: Science Skele-bration at Arizona Science Center
10/24: Free Candie’s Halloween Character Carnival at Arizona Boardwalk
10/24: MIKIZTLI: Día de los Muertos Festival at Arizona Center
10/24: Scottsdale Dia de los Muertos Festival at Scottsdale Civic Center
10/24-25: Mesa Día de los Muertos Festival at Mesa Arts Center
10/28-30: Spooky Safari at Phoenix Zoo
10/28-31: Midnight Manor: An Abandoned Mansion Bar Experience at The Camby
10/29-31: Glowing Pumpkins at Riverwalk at Rawhide Event Center
10/29: Howl-o-ween Dog Costume Contest at Royal Palms Resort and Spa
10/30: Halloween Bash at the Biltmore: The Alchemist's Lounge at Arizona Biltmore
10/30-31: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum at Children’s Museum of Phoenix
10/30-11/1: Boo Arizona at WestWorld of Scottsdale
10/31: Dia de los Tios & Tias: Halloween Boogie at Arizona State Fairgrounds
10/31: Free Halloween Bash at Arizona Boardwalk
10/31: Melrose Halloween Crawl at Melrose District
10/31: The Grateful Dead Halloween featuring Cosmic Coyote at SanTan Gardens

Events in Phoenix

There’s always something happening in Phoenix, from food festivals and art shows to major sporting events and live music. No matter when you visit, you’ll find exciting ways to experience the city. Check out our full event calendar to see what’s coming up!

ALL FALL: Dinosaurs in the Desert at Phoenix Zoo
Through 10/18: Les Miserables at The Phoenix Theatre Company
Through 10/25: Titanic: An Immersive Voyage – Secrets of the Deep at Galleria Centre
10/1-11/1: Arizona State Fair at Arizona State Fairgrounds
10/1-11/15: Fall Garden After Dark at Desert Botanical Garden
10/1: Prehistoric Pours at Phoenix Zoo
10/1: Prost! An Oktoberfest Dinner at Musical Instrument Museum
10/2-3: BlakTinx Dance Festival at Third Street Theater
10/2-4: Maricopa County Home and Garden Show at WestWorld of Scottsdale
10/2-4: Uptown Chandler’s Rocktoberfest at SanTan Gardens
10/2-4: UwU Con at Mesa Convention Center
10/2: "Between Worlds” Opening Reception at Earth Maker Gallery
10/2: On the Way to Hondo at Rancho Ochoa
10/3-4: Experience Brazil at Musical Instrument Museum
10/3: Crescent Ballroom’s 15th Anniversary Party at Crescent Ballroom
10/3: Desert Sky Music Festival at West Valley Events Complex
10/3: Free Bubble Fest at Arizona Boardwalk
10/3: Phoenix Latino Pride Festival at The Square PHX
10/4: Manhattan Short Film Festival at Phoenix Art Museum
10/8: Indigenous Identities Exhibit Grand Opening at S’edav Va’aki Museum
10/8: The Art of the Roll at The Spa at Camelback Inn
10/9-11: FORM Arcosanti at Arcosanti
10/9-11: Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake
10/9-18: Great Fall Kickoff Festival at Desert Botanical Garden
10/9: Mutual Discord Release Party: An Evening with Liana De la Rosa at The Duce
10/9: Sound Bites Music & Food Festival at Gilbert Regional Park
10/10-11: Merchantile Market at WestWorld of Scottsdale
10/10-11: Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade at Arizona Center
10/10: Gourd Dance & Social Powwow at Steele Indian School Park
10/10: Oktoberfest at Greenwood at Greenwood Brewing
10/10: Pan-African Food Festival at The Square PHX
10/10: Strength in the City Festival at The Pemberton
10/11: Indígena: A Latin American Indigenous Celebration at Tempe Center for the Arts
10/12: Indigenous Peoples’ Day Phoenix Fest at Arizona Center
10/14: National Geographic Live: Wild Oceans, Wild Earth: Fangs & Fins at Mesa Arts Center
10/14: Pizza Date Night at Queen Creek Olive Mill
10/15: Dive In Movies: Ghostbusters at The Camby
10/15: NASCAR Fan Fest at The Square PHX
10/15: The Great Pumpkin Beer Day at Valley O.H.S.O. Locations
10/16-18: Phoenix Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Community Center
10/17-18: Fastball Comedy Festival at Sloan Park
10/17-18: Taco Fest at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
10/17: International Archaeology Day at S’edav Va’aki Museum
10/17: October Sangria Social at Queen Creek Olive Mill
10/17: Oktoberfest at the Park at O.H.S.O. Brewery Gilbert
10/17: Scottsdale Fall Festival at Scottsdale Civic Center
10/17: Spirits of Mexico Festival at Dr. AJ Chandler Park
10/20: Brooklyn Kura Sake Dinner at Sake Haus
10/22: Color Me Frosted Cooking Class at The Spa at Camelback Inn
10/22: Sunsets & Sips at Taliesin West
10/24: Arizona K-Pop Fest at Saigon Center
10/24: Kamayan Fest at Solano Park
10/24: Night in Naples at JW Marriott Camelback Inn
10/24: OktoberWest at Westin Kierland
10/24: The Arts at Taliesin West: Abstract Watercolor Workshop with Aimee Ollinger at Taliesin West
10/24: The Smoke Show BBQ & Music Fest at Gilbert Regional Park
10/24: USA TODAY Wine and Food Experience at High Street
10/25: Fil-Am Fiesta at Arizona Center
10/27-11/1: Water for Elephants at ASU Gammage
10/29: Moon Meditation at Japanese Friendship Garden
10/30-31: Harry Potter DroneArt Show at State Farm Stadium
10/30: Golf Is Therapy™ Socials: Phoenix No.001 at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills
10/31-11/1: SanTan Village Art & Wine Festival at SanTan Village
10/31: Arizona Craft Beer Fest at The Post
10/31: Sip, Savor, Shop at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Concerts and Performances This Month

Shows are taking place more often now, including theatre performances, comedy shows and concerts. Here's who you can see perform this month:

10/1: BABYMETAL at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/2: YSL Records & Young Thug at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/2: Hudson Westbrook at Mullett Arena
10/2: Gin Blossoms at Arizona State Fair at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/3: Los Parras at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/3: Jack White at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/4: Wu-Tang at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/4: Rod Wave at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/5: Breaking Benjamin at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/6: Jack Johnson at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/7: TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, & En Vogue at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/8: Geese at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/8-9: $uicideboy$ & Shoreline Mafia at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/9: Becky G at Arizona State Fair at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/10: All Time Low at Arizona State Fair at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/10: Thomas Rhett at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/12: Role Model at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/13: Staind at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/14: SOMBR at Desert Diamond Arena
10/15: Logic & G-Eazy at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/16: The Offspring at Arizona State Fair at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/16: Taking Back Sunday at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/17-18: Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra at Musical Instrument Museum
10/17: Russell Dickerson at Arizona State Fair at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/17: YG at Mullett Arena
10/17: Kacey Musgraves at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/17: Phil Wickham at Desert Diamond Arena
10/18: Young Miko at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/18: Chayanne at Desert Diamond Arena
10/19: beabadoobee at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/19: Modest Mouse at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/20: Bryson Tiller at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/20: WEEZER at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/21: Charli XCX at Desert Diamond Arena
10/21: Dermot Kennedy at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/23: Gorillaz at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/23: Tucker Wetmore at Mesa Amphitheatre
10/24: Public Enemy at Arizona State Fair at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/24: Los Tigres del Norte at Desert Diamond Arena
10/25: Malcolm Todd at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/26: Chief Keef at Arizona Financial Theatre
10/27: Knocked Loose & Denzel Curry at Mesa Amphitheatre
10/29: Doja Cat at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/30: Jodeci at Arizona Financial Theatre

Sports Events in October

From championship games to spring training and everything in between, Phoenix is a year-round destination for sports fans. Catch the action across baseball, basketball, football, golf, racing, and more. Check out our sports event calendar to see upcoming games, matches, and tournaments.

10/3: ASU Football vs. Baylor at Mountain America Stadium
10/3: USMNT vs. Mexico at State Farm Stadium
10/4: ASU Volleyball vs. Iowa State at Desert Financial Arena
10/8-10: PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days at Desert Financial Arena
10/8: ASU Women’s Soccer vs. Iowa State at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium
10/9: ASU Volleyball vs. Colorado at Desert Financial Arena
10/10: Suns vs. Spurs (Preseason) at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/10: Phoenix Rising FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC at Rising FC Soccer Stadium
10/10: ASU Football vs. Hawaii at Mountain America Stadium
10/11: ASU Women’s Soccer vs. Houston at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium
10/11: Cardinals vs. Lions at State Farm Stadium
10/11: ASU Volleyball vs. TCU at Desert Financial Arena
10/15: ASU Volleyball vs. Arizona at Desert Financial Arena
10/16: Suns vs. Jazz (Preseason) at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/16-18: NASCAR Fall Race Weekend at Phoenix Raceway
10/22: ASU Women’s Soccer vs. Baylor at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium
10/24: Suns vs. Warriors at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/24: Phoenix Rising FC vs. Lexington SC at Rising FC Soccer Stadium
10/24: ASU Football vs. Kansas State at Mountain America Stadium
10/25: Cardinals vs. Broncos at State Farm Stadium
10/25: ASU Women’s Soccer vs. Colorado at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium
10/30: Suns vs. Nuggets at Mortgage Matchup Center
10/30: ASU Volleyball vs. UCF at Desert Financial Arena
10/30: ASU Women’s Soccer vs. Arizona at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium

Art Exhibits in October 2026

Phoenix is home to the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Ignite your mind with the creativity and inspiration you will find at our local cultural institutions. Here's the art exhibits you can see this month:

Phoenix Art Museum:

Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion
Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room
George Elbert Burr: The Desert Etchings
The Art of Philip C. Curtis
Ed Mell: In the Studio
Along with other ongoing installations/exhibitions

Heard Museum:

October Art: The Collection of Delores Browne Abelson
Wisdom from the Future
Blue Bird
Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories
Substance of Stars
Along with other ongoing installations/exhibitions

Desert Botanical Garden:

Fall Butterflies
Fall Garden After Dark
Dog Days in the Garden* (*select days/nights)
Super Bloom Art Exhibit

S'edav Va'aki Museum:

Indigenous Identities
S'edav Va'aki and the O'Odham

Wonderspaces:

Portraits in Pink, Blue, and Silver
Submergence
The Immigrant
Blooms
Hoshi V2
Into the Light
Along with other ongoing installations/exhibitions

Other Museums:

Geographic Galleries at Musical Instrument Museum
The Collection at 75: Selected Acquisitions from 1950–2025 at ASU Art Museum
To Sink the Shallow and Raise the Deep at ASU Art Museum
Wrought by Fire: Metalwork of the Southwest at ASU Art Museum
CaveScape at Arizona Science Center

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If your destination is Phoenix, this is your guide. Visit Phoenix is the source for everything you'll need to know about the nation’s sunniest major city as well as Sonoran Desert. Our experts are passionate about sharing local know-how on top events and things to do, the best of local food and beverage, as well as attractions and experiences you won't find anywhere else.