Holidays

Tempe Fall Events You Won’t Want to Miss

Tempe fall events are back – are you ready?

Event season in Tempe is back and it is bigger and better than ever! From fun festivals and markets to inspiring community events, Tempe has a plethora of activities to choose from. Explore all the events and festivals that delight Tempe visitors throughout the fall season.

ASU Football | ASU Sun Devil Stadium

Through November 19, 2022

The 2022 ASU Football season is here! We look forward to a season full of fans and action-packed football at the legendary ASU Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

ASU 2022 Home Schedule:
*Time to be Announced

  • September 17 | Eastern Michigan | 8:00 p.m. MST
  • September 24 | Utah | 7:30 p.m. MST
  • October 8 | Washington | 1:00 p.m. MST
  • November 5 | UCLA | TBD*
  • November 19 | Oregon State | TBD*
ASU Football at Sun Devil Football Stadium
ASU Football | Sun Devil Stadium

Freestyle Festival | Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park

September 24, 2022

Freestyle Festival transforms Tempe Beach Park into an all-day 80’s flashback dance party featuring a superstar lineup of performers, craft food & beverages, art installations and more!

Four Peaks Haunted Brewery Tours | Four Peaks Brewery – 8th Street Location

September 26 – November 2, 2022

Four Peaks Brewery is hosting Haunted Brewery Tours every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26 – November 2. Since they moved into the old brick building that houses the original brewery, strange things have been going on inside it. Weird noises echo from the rafters. Tools they leave in one section of the brewery at the end of a shift mysteriously move elsewhere overnight. And several employees have even encountered—and in one case, conversed with—ghostly apparitions.

Four Peaks has gathered all these spooky tales (as well as their own employees’ ghost stories) for a series of special, late-night tours through 8th Street. Join them for one—if you dare.

Four Peaks Brewery at night with orange lights along the side and purple lights
Haunted Brewery Tours | Four Peaks Brewing Co.

Music in the Garden | Desert Botanical Garden

September 30, 2022 – November 18, 2022

Desert Botanical Garden presents a spectacular lineup of talent at Music in the Garden’s fall concert series, September 30th through November 18th. Situated at the base of a butte, Ullman Terrace provides an unmatchable backdrop for audiences to experience one of the Valley’s most iconic outdoor concert venues.

Desert Botanical Garden Sonoran Sippin'
Music in the Garden | Desert Botanical Garden

Movies on the Field | ASU Sun Devil Stadium

September 30, 2022 – December 2, 2022

Bring a blanket, sit on the grass and enjoy your favorite films on the big screen under the stars at Movies on the Field at ASU Sun Devil Stadium, September 30 through December 2.

Movies on the Field Lineup:

  • September 30 | SELENA
  • October 28 | NOPE
  • December 2 | ELF

Movies on the Field | ASU Sun Devil Stadium

2022/2023 Broadway Shows | ASU Gammage

The 2022/2023 Desert Financial Broadway Across America–Arizona series kicks off in October, with SIX, a tale about the SIX wives of Henry VIII taking the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power.

2022/2023 Broadway Shows:

SIX – October 4–9, 2022
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! – October 18–23, 2022
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – December 6–11, 2022
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – January 31–February 5, 2023
FROZEN – February 22–March 5, 2023
ANNIE – March 24–26, 2023
A SOLDIER’S PLAY – May 16–21, 2023
HAIRSPRAY – June 20–25, 2023
BEETLEJUICE – August 22–27, 2023

ASU Gammage sunset
Broadway Shows | ASU Gammage

Dog Days at the Garden | Desert Botanical Garden

October 1-November 19, 2022

Enjoy a “pawsitively” perfect morning stroll through the Desert Botanical Garden at Dog Days. You and your pup will have a tail-wagging good time exploring the beauty and sniffs of the trails.

Tempe Tardeada | Tempe Community Complex

October 2, 2022

Celebrate Tempe’s Hispanic Heritage at Tempe Tardeada on Sunday, October 8, 2022. This event is the culmination of Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrates the historical significance of Hispanics within our community.

Dog day at Desert Botanical Garden
Dog Days | Desert Botanical Garden

Roars & Pours | The Phoenix Zoo

October 6, 2022

Roars and Pours is back at The Phoenix Zoo on October 6! Guests 21 and older can sip and stroll their way through select Zoo trails while enjoying craft beverages, wine and food. Plus, animal encounters, yard games, entertainment and more!

To view more Roars & Pours fun, visit The Phoenix Zoo website.

Four Peaks Oktoberfest | Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park

October 7-9, 2022


Be sure to mark this weekend of October on your calendar! Tempe Beach Park will transform into a traditional Bavarian Beer festival during the day and a concert venue at night from Friday, October 7 – Sunday, October 9, 2022. This year will mark the 49th anniversary of the iconic Oktoberfest celebration in Tempe, benefiting Tempe Sister Cities, an internationally recognized non-profit.

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 information on the day-to-day activities, visit their page for all the fun activities.

Admission:
Friday & Saturday (21+): $20.00
Sunday & under 21: Free

Movies in the Park | Kiwanis Park

October 7-28, 2022 (Select dates)

Movies in the Park is back for the fall! Grab the gang, your blankets and a picnic dinner and head to Kiwanis Park to enjoy a free family-friendly flick on Friday evenings.

Fall 2022 Movie Lineup:

October 7 | Luca (PG)       
October 14 | Hotel Transylvania  (PG)
October 21 | The Addams Family (PG)

October 28 | Monsters, Inc. (G)

Movies in the Park
Movies in the Park | Kiwanis Park

Second Sundays on Mill | Downtown Tempe – Mill Avenue 

Second Sunday of each month | October 9, 2022 – March 12, 2023

Second Sundays on Mill is back! Starting in October, Second Sundays on Mill will enhance the heart of Tempe with a local market featuring a fantastic selection of Arizona-made goods. Plus, the event includes street performances, live music, outdoor fitness classes and outdoor games.  

The first event of the series kicks off in October and runs through March 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Event Dates:

  • October 9, 2022
  • November 13, 2022
  • December 11, 2022
  • January 8, 2023
  • February 12, 2023
  • March 12, 2023
Second Sundays on Mill
Second Sundays on Mill | Downtown Tempe

Strange Garden | Desert Botanical Garden

October 21-22, 2022

See the Desert Botanical Garden transform into a spook-tacular Strange Garden at night! This is one of the coolest places to trick or treat with the family and watch amazing performances and mad botanists showcasing the creepy-crawlies of the desert. They also have a pumpkin patch where you can take home a free pumpkin!


Admission: Included with Garden admission or membership. Advance ticket reservations are required for general and members admission.

Strange Garden | Desert Botanical Garden

Creepy Candy Crawl | Tempe Marketplace

October 22, 2022

Calling all goblins, ghosts and ghouls… get ready for a haunted Halloween bash at the annual Creepy Candy Crawl at Tempe Marketplace! Dress up in your spookiest and kookiest costumes to partake in contests, parade through The District, trick-or-treat from store to store, snap free photos and enjoy games, prizes and entertainment.

Día de Muertos | Desert Botanical Garden

October 29-30, 2022

Celebrate Día de Muertos with a two-day festival filled with music, dance and storytelling at the Desert Botanical Garden, October 29-30, 2022. At day’s end, Garden guests are invited to join performers in La Procesión, a procession honoring passed loved ones.

Día de Muertos at Desert Botanical Garden
Día de Muertos | Desert Botanical Garden | Photo Credit: Asea Tremp Photography

Halloween Stroll | Downtown Tempe

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Ghosts, goblins, and princesses of all ages are welcome for some not-so-spooky Halloween fun at Halloween Stroll in Downtown Tempe on October 30th. Enjoy Halloween-themed games, crafts, activities and a costume contest. Don’t forget your trick-or-treat bag! This is a free admission event. 

 

Water Lantern Festival | Kiwanis Lake 

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Experience the magic of thousands of soft lights reflecting off the water of Kiwanis Lake on November 12th. The Water Lantern Festival is a family-friendly event filled with fun, happiness, hope and great memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. 

Downtown Tempe Halloween Stroll
Halloween Stroll | Downtown Tempe

Fantasy of Lights Parade & Holiday Market | Downtown Tempe 

Friday, November 25, 2022

‘Tis the season to explore downtown and savor the festive sights, sounds and smells at the Fantasy of Lights Parade & Holiday Market on November 25th. This event kicks off the magic of the season with a street parade, tree lighting ceremony, holiday market, live entertainment, Santa photos and so much more!

Fantasy of Lights 2018
Fantasy of Lights Opening Night Parade | Downtown Tempe 

Las Noches de las Luminarias | Desert Botanical Garden

December 1-31, 2022

Experience the simplicity and beauty of Las Noches de las Luminarias this holiday season with 8,000 flickering luminarias and twinkling lights throughout the Desert Botanical Garden. Enjoy an evening filled with sparkling luminarias, musical performances, entertainment and holiday delights line the Garden’s iconic trails for a picture-perfect night. This is one event you don’t want to miss!

Las Noches de las Luminarias at DBG
Las Noches de las Luminarias | Desert Botanical Garden

Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts | Downtown Tempe

December 2-4, 2022

The Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts returns to Downtown Tempe, December 2-4, 2022. This well-loved community event showcases unique and hand-made artwork from more than 350 artists. Festival-goers will also enjoy live entertainment, street performers, vendors, sponsor exhibits and entertainment booths over the course of three days.

Tempe Festival of the Arts in Downtown Tempe
Tempe Festival of the Arts | Downtown Tempe

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade | Tempe Town Lake

Saturday, December 10, 2022

Light up the night and be dazzled at the Valley’s most unique holiday event, the Tempe Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade on December 10th. Be amazed by festive boats parading down Tempe Town Lake for a one-of-a-kind holiday celebration. Those that attend will enjoy holiday shopping, festive eats and treats and a spectacular fireworks show!

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade
Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade | Tempe Town Lake

Beyond Tempe

Phoenix Pride Festival | Indian Steele Park 

October 15-16, 2022

Enjoy a two-day celebration designed to bring our diverse LGBTQ+ and allied communities together for a weekend of camaraderie and celebration of our past, present and future. The Phoenix Pride Festival features over 150 entertainment performances and over 300 exhibitors showcasing a vast variety of food options, shopping opportunities and community resources. The Phoenix Pride Festival takes place at Indian Steele Park, October 15-16, 2022.

Written Alicia Griffith

Alicia is an ASU Alumna and Tucson native who is unapologetically herself. When she is not sharing her passion for Tempe, she is a devoted dog mom and reality TV enthusiast who has a weakness for charcuterie boards and wine!

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