With 330 days of sunshine each year and a vibrant downtown community, Tempe is the perfect festival location. Fall through spring, you will find a variety of fun festival events in our city. In Tempe for a meeting? Don’t forget to check the calendar and make it a point to mix in a little entertainment as you take a break from a busy day of meetings.
Four Peaks Octoberfest at Tempe Town Lake
Festival season kicks off with the annual Four Peaks Octoberfest at Tempe Town Lake, October 11-13, 2019. A tradition in Tempe going back more than 40 years, this three-day outdoor festival at Tempe Town Lake features beer (of course!), polka dancing and lots of food! What more could you ask for?
Desert Botanical Garden: Wild Rising by Cracking Art
Fall brings cooler days to Tempe and it is the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran desert at the Desert Botanical Garden. October 12, 2019 – May 10, 2020, Desert Botanical Garden’s newest art exhibition is traveling straight from Milan to bring Wild Rising by Cracking Art—an installation of more than 1,000 animal sculptures made from colorful and recyclable plastic. Also this fall, the Garden will have a Dia de los Muertos the first weekend of November which offers fun for the whole family.
Desert Botanical Garden: Las Noches de las Luminarias
Continue your holiday celebrations at the Desert Botanical Garden at the popular Las Noches de las Luminarias. The Garden lights up with 8,000 glowing luminarias and thousands of twinkle lights for 21 magical evenings, late November through the month of December. Come and stroll the glowing paths and enjoy live music and delicious food along the way. This is one event you don’t want to miss!
Fantasy of Lights Opening Night Parade and Boat Parade
The holiday season kicks off just after Thanksgiving with our annual Fantasy of Lights Opening Night Parade, November 29, 2019, and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
On December 14, 2019, enjoy dazzling lighted boats float across Tempe Town Lake at the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade.
Tempe Festival of the Arts
One of the most popular events is Tempe Festival of the Arts, which is coming to Downtown Tempe December 6-8, 2019. Each December and March Downtown Tempe turns in to a haven for art lovers. More than 300 artists are selected to display their works from booths that line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets. Their unique, hand-made works include art pieces, jewelry, home décor, local wines, beer and food. It’s the perfect time to find some special one-of-a-kind gifts for loved ones. And when you need a break from shopping you can relax with a glass of wine or a craft brew at three combination beer and wine gardens offering local brews from Tempe-based breweries. Or, grab a bite to eat from Food Truck Alley or one of our downtown eateries, while listening to live music.
This is just a small sample of the events and festival that delight our community throughout the year. Make sure to schedule some fun next time you visit! For a full list of our upcoming happenings, check out our calendar of events: www.tempetourism.com/events.