From festivals and music to sports and food, here are the top reasons to visit Tempe this season
One thing sports fans, outdoor lovers, foodies and families can all agree on is that fall is the perfect time to visit Tempe. The temps are cooling and our calendar is filling up with seasonal events — from festivals and markets to sporting events and concerts.
In addition to our signature fall events, this season in Tempe also promises endless activities, attractions, Sonoran Desert hikes, iconic sunsets, a wide variety of nightlife and more to round out your next visit. And, yes, it’s still pool season.
Before you make plans to explore Tempe this season, be sure to mark your calendars for these festive fall events.
Annual Festivals
Sept. 12 & 13, 2026: The Moon Festival | Kiwanis Park
Presented by Phoenix Food Fair, The Moon Festival is bringing the rich traditions and vibrant cultures of Asia to Kiwanis Park in Tempe. Experience a breathtaking water lantern release under the glowing moonlight, indulge in authentic Asian cuisines from diverse food vendors, and discover unique crafts and artwork at this magical event.
Oct. 19 – 11, 2026: Four Peaks Oktoberfest | Tempe Beach Park
Be sure to add the 53nd annual Oktoberfest celebration in Tempe to your calendar. For three days, Tempe Beach Park will transform into a traditional Bavarian Beer festival during the day and a concert venue at night. Festival hours are Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturday from noon to midnight; and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.
Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake combines beer gardens featuring German and local beers, live music, carnival rides and the can’t-miss Weiner dog fashion show and races! For the full weekend itinerary, visit the Oktoberfest website.
Nov. 6 – 9, 2026: Día de Muertos | Desert Botanical Garden
Festival: Nov. 7 & 8 | Altar (ofrenda) on view: Nov. 6 – 9
Celebrate Día de Muertos at this two-day festival filled with music, dance, storytelling and more, at the Desert Botanical Garden. Beginning on Friday, Nov. 6, a community altar (ofrenda) — the central element in Dia de Muertos — welcomes memories and wishes for loved ones in Webster Auditorium. The festival, which takes place Saturday and Sunday, will includes La Procesión, a procession honoring passed loved ones (5 to 6 p.m.), as well as food, music, face painting, crafts and more.
Nov. 1, 2026: Día de los Muertos | Phoenix Zoo
Step into a world of color, music, food and tradición at the Phoenix Zoo. The entire family is invited to the Phoenix Zoo’s second annual Día de los Muertos, a joyful weekend celebration of life and remembrance. Spend a day exploring the vibrant altars, cultural art, festive performances and family friendly activities inspired by the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos.
Nov. 1, 2026: Tempe Tardeada | Tempe Community Center Complex
Celebrate Tempe’s Hispanic history and roots at the annual Tempe Tardeada, an afternoon festival featuring music, dancing, and traditional Mexican foods, arts and crafts, face painting and inflatables for children — all for free from noon to 8 p.m. For 2026, this event takes place on Día de Muertos.
Nov. 6 – 8, 2026: Water Lantern Festival | Kiwanis Lake
Experience the magic of thousands of soft lights reflecting off the water of Kiwanis Lake from 3 to 7 p.m. each evening. The Water Lantern Festival is a family friendly event filled with fun, happiness, hope and great memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.
Nov. 21, 2026: ASU Homecoming Parade & Block Party | ASU Tempe Campus
Celebrate Sun Devil spirit, pride and tradition as ASU Homecoming Week culminates with a parade and block party. Join Sun Devil students, faculty, parents, fans, alumni and thousands of spectators on Saturday morning for this year’s homecoming parade. The parade kicks off (start time TBD) at University Drive and Myrtle Avenue, heads east, crosses College Avenue, and concludes at McAllister Avenue.
Immediately following the parade, the ASU Block Party is a festival-style event that features more than 100 booths across the Old Main Lawn and the surrounding campus. This event is open to the entire family, and features games, giveaways and hands-on experiences, food vendors and more.
Dec. 4 – 6, 2026: Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts | Downtown Tempe
The Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts returns to Downtown Tempe the first weekend in December. This well-loved community event showcases unique and hand-made artwork from more than 350 artists. Festivalgoers will also enjoy live entertainment, street performers, vendors, sponsor exhibits and entertainment booths over the course of three days.
Pop-Up Events & Markets
Sept. 12 – Dec. 12, 2026: Second Saturdays | Culdesac Tempe
Shop curated local, small businesses — selling everything from delicious things to eat to trendy apparel items — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. This pop-up market includes vendors, food trucks, live music, a beer garden, free mini golf and more at Culdesac Tempe. Check out their Instagram page for additional upcoming activations.
Oct. 10 – Nov. 21, 2026: Dogs at the Garden | Desert Botanical Garden
This fall, pawsitively perfect strolls await you and your pup at the Desert Botanical Garden. Dogs at the Garden takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. on select Saturday mornings and 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday evenings. So bring your fur baby on an Sonoran Desert adventure, complete with trails, tail wagging, scents to sniff and plenty of photo ops. BYO treats!
Oct. 2 – 23, 2025: Movies in the Park | Kiwanis Park
Movies in the Park nights are back for the fall. Grab the gang, your blankets and a picnic dinner, and head to Kiwanis Park to watch the following movies on Friday evenings throughout October:
Oct. 2: “GOAT” – Live Action (PG)
Oct. 9: “HOPPERS” (PG)
Oct. 16: “The Goonies” (PG)
Oct. 23: “Toy Story 5” (PG)*
Movies in the Park begin at dusk, approximately 6 p.m., on the north soccer field (Baseline Road and Ash Avenue).
*Tempe’s Boo Bash Family Fall Festival will also take place Oct. 23, and include a costume contest and parade at 6:30 p.m. and
“Toy Story 5” at 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 8, 2026 – April 11, 2027: 2nd Sundays on Mill | Downtown Tempe
Beginning in November, 2nd Sundays on Mill brings a local market — featuring a fantastic selection of Arizona-made goods — to Downtown Tempe from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Sundays of select months. The event includes street performances, live music, outdoor fitness classes and outdoor games. 2nd Sundays are free and dog friendly.
2026-2027 Event Dates & Themes:
Nov. 8, 2026: Multicultural
Jan. 10, 2027: Create
Feb. 14, 2027: Love on Mill Avenue
April 11, 2027: Urban Adventure
Performing Arts
2026-2027 Broadway Shows | ASU Gammage
The 2026-2027 Desert Financial Broadway Across America – Arizona series kicks off Oct. 16, 2026, and runs (across select show dates) through Aug. 29, 2027. Here’s what’s coming to the ASU Gammage stage this season:
Sept. 16 – Oct. 4, 2026: “The Phantom of the Opera”
Oct. 27 – Nov. 1, 2026: “Water For Elephants”
Dec. 1 – 6, 2026: Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” The Musical
Jan. 1 – 3, 2027: “Beetlejuice”
Jan. 26 – 31, 2027: “The Outsiders”
Feb. 23 – 28, 2027: “Operation Mincemeat”
April 20 – 25, 2027: “Buena Vista Social Club”
May 18 – 23, 2027: “BOOP!” The Musical
June 22 – 27, 2027: “The Sound of Music”
Aug. 24 – 29, 2027: “Death Becomes Her”
Oct. 2, 2026 – March 21, 2026: Candlelight Concerts | Phoenix Zoo
Candlelight Concerts, presented by Fever, are returning to the Phoenix Zoo for twilight concerts on select dates between Oct. 2, 2026, and March 26, 2027. Head to this magical outdoor venue this fall for live, multisensory musical experiences that pay tribute to such musical icons as Ariana Grande, Michael Jackson, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Queen, The Beatles, and more.
Oct. 25, 2025 – June 7, 2026: Arizona Theatre Company | Tempe Center For the Arts
Arizona Theatre Company‘s 59th season kicks off in October, bringing the following mainstage shows to Tempe Center for the Arts:
Oct. 24 – Nov. 8, 2026: “Proof”
Jan. 9 – 24, 2027: “Little Shop of Horros”
Feb. 27 – March 14, 2027: “The Play That Goes Wrong”
April 10 – 25, 2027: “Gem of the Ocean”
May 22 – June 6, 2027: “Killing Kit”
Sporting Events
Sept. 5 – Nov. 28, 2026: ASU Football | Mountain America Stadium
The 2026 ASU Football season is here! We look forward to a season full of fans and action-packed football at Tempe’s Mountain America Stadium:
Sept. 5: ASU vs. Morgan State
Oct. 3: ASU vs. Baylor
Oct. 10: ASU vs. University of Hawai’i
Oct. 24: ASU vs. Kansas State University
Nov. 7: ASU vs. University of Colorado Boulder
Nov. 21: ASU vs. Oklahoma State University
Nov. 28: ASU vs. University of Arizona
Beginning Oct. 9, 2026: Sun Devils Hockey | Mullett Arena
ASU Men’s Hockey skates into Mullett Arena for the 2026-2027 season home opener on Oct. 9, and will host eight opponents throughout the 2026 season.
Oct. 9 & 10: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Holy Cross
Nov. 6 & 8: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Denver
Nov. 27 & 28: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Alaska Anchorage
Dec. 4 & 5: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Colorado College
Dec. 11 & 12: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Western Michigan
Jan. 15 & 16: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Minnesota Duluth
Feb. 12 & 13: Sun Devil Hockey vs. North Dakota
Feb. 26 & 27: Sun Devil Hockey vs. Omaha
Beginning Nov. 12, 2026: Valley Suns | Mullett Arena
This fall, the Valley Suns — the NBA G League’s newest expansion team — return to Mullett Arena for their third season in Tempe. The 2026-2027 Valley Suns regular season home opener is set for Nov. 12, 2026, followed by the the following home games (view the full schedule here):
Nov. 12 & 15: Valley Suns vs. Coachella Valley Lakers
Nov. 16 & 18: Valley Suns vs. Salt Lake City Stars
Dec. 10 & 13: Valley Suns vs. Stockton Kings
Dec. 15: Valley Suns vs. Santa Cruz Warriors
Jan. 5: Valley Suns vs. Texas Legends
Jan. 6: Valley Suns vs. San Diego Clippers
Jan. 10: Valley Suns vs. Iowa Wolves
Jan. 12: Valley Suns vs. Austin Spurs
Jan. 19: Valley Suns vs. Iowa Wolves
Jan. 21: Valley Suns vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce
Jan. 31: Valley Suns vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Feb. 2: Valley Suns vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Feb. 4: Valley Suns vs. Texas Legends
Feb. 7 & 9: Valley Suns vs. Rip City Remix
Feb. 16 & 17: Valley Suns vs. Memphis Hustle
March 2: Valley Suns vs. San Diego Clippers
March 22 & 24: Valley Suns vs. Santa Cruz Warriors
March 26: Valley Suns vs. Austin Spurs
Beyond Tempe
Sept. 4 & 5, 2026: 15th Annual Arizona Black Rodeo | WestWorld of Scottsdale
The 2026 Arizona Black Rodeo rides into town each fall for a weekend of education, competition and celebration of a rich heritage and culture. The rodeo, which takes place Sept. 4 & 5 at WestWorld of Scottsdale, features national African American rodeo competitors competing in bull riding, calf roping, ladies barrel racing, ladies steer undecorating, relay races, steer wrestling lil’ buckaroo mutton bustin’ and more! Learn more about the Arizona Black Rodeo, courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism.
Oct. 3, 2026: Latino Pride Festival | Historic Heritage Square
Downtown Phoenix invites you to the sixth annual Latino Pride Festival, the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ Latinos in Arizona. Presented by Latino Pride Alliance, this festival will include live performances by local and national entertainers; mariachis and ballet folklórico; authentic Mexican food, beverages and merchandise; a kid zone with inflatables, games and crafts; local and national vendors; and more. Follow @latinopridealliance on Instagram for additional details on this year’s festivities.
Oct. 12, 2026: Indigenous Peoples’ Day PHX Fest | Arizona Center
Hosted by Cahokia PHX, Indigenous Peoples’ Day PHX Fest is a celebration of Indigenous art, culture, music and food that aims to provide festival-goers with immersive experiences that celebrate the diverse culture of Indigenous people. The event, which takes place on the ancestral lands of the O’odham and Piipaash people, will include a stages, vendors, food trucks, 5K run/1-mile walk, and more.
Oct. 10 & 11, 2026: Phoenix Pride Weekend | Arizona Center
Just beyond Tempe, Phoenix Pride invites you to its annual two days of celebrating at in Downtown Phoenix. New this year, the Pre-Pride Coming Out Concert will take place Oct. 10 at the Arizona Center.
Additionally, the annual Phoenix Pride Parade will place Sunday, Oct. 11. Kicking off at 10 a.m. at Third Street and East Portland Road in Downtown Phoenix, the route concludes at Third and Taylor streets. Parade attendance is free and open to all ages.
Nov. 7, 2026: Arizona Fall Festival | Margaret T. Hance Park
Presented by Local First, the annual Arizona Fall Festival returns to Margaret T. Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7. This free, family-friendly and dog-friendly event invites you to celebrate the local businesses that make Arizona unique — including more than 200 vendors, a kid zone, beverage garden, food vendors and more.
