The temperatures are cooling down and you know what that means? More outdoor festivals across the state. There are a ton of events to attend, so we’re going to highlight some of the more unique festivals in our state that will give you an experience you won’t soon forget. So, bring a water bottle, your camera, and your lovely self to any of these festivals.
(Note: All festivals are presented in alphabetical order, so please double check the date before opting to attend an event.)
- All Souls Procession Weekend, Tucson
Katie Moore/Flickr This community event has its origins in Día de Muertos, a Mexican holiday that focuses on remembering, celebrating, and praying for loved ones who have passed away. What makes the All Souls Procession a little different is it is inclusive of other cultures that hold similar events to honor their deceased. Dates: November 5-6 Website: Link
- Arizona State Fair, Phoenix
Kevin Dooley/Flickr Our state fair arrives a little later than most other states and that is one of the things that makes it unique. It dates to 1884 and isn’t just fun rides. The fair is also a place for Arizonans to show off their talents in exhibitions, rodeos, and livestock rearing. Dates: October 7-30 Website: Link
- Arizona Wild West Days, Cave Creek
Cave Creek Wild West Days/Flickr When most people think Arizona, they think Wild West! Those memories are quite alive in this four-day fair with enactment groups, parades, bathtub races, pie eating contests, and even mutton busting for the kids. Dates: November 2-6Website: Link
- Best of the West on Route 66 Festival, Kingman
Best of the West on 66/Facebook This festival is a celebration of Route 66 and the community it helped build in Kingman and the surrounding area. You’ll find car shows, a parade, a farmers market, and plenty of food, drinks, and music. Dates: September 23-24 Website: Link
- Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival, Yuma
Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival/Facebook New Mexico isn’t the only place to see swarms of hot air balloons floating in the sky. You can watch the colorful balloon cross the Colorado River and dot the wide blue sky. Dates: November 11-13 Website: Link
- Fort McDowell Orme Dam Victory Days, Fort McDowell
John Roney/Flickr Celebrating the tribe’s victory over the construction of the Orme Dam in 1981—a construction which would have flooded the reservation and displaced community members. It was an inter-tribal effort conducted with limited resources that lasted five years. The event includes a rodeo, inter-tribal pow wow, cultural performances, a carnival, and plenty of food. If you do attend, don’t forget to follow some basic pow wow etiquette. Dates: November 18-20 Website: Link
- Helldorado Days, Tombstone
Helldorado Days/Facebook Another Western themed event (there’s plenty more to be found on this list), this one features gunfight re-enactments, a carnival, and plenty of street entertainment to celebrate the town’s oldest festival. Dates: October 21-23 Website: Link
- Hopi Festival at Heritage Square, Flagstaff
Alan English CPA/Flickr This festival promotes the art and culture of the Hopi and other Southwestern tribes in Flagstaff’s Heritage Square. There will be cultural dances, demonstrations, music, and plenty of arts and crafts available for sale. Dates: September 24-25 Website: Link
- Juan Bautista de Anza Day, Tubac
Anza Trail NPS/Flickr This event marks the commencement of de Anza’s expedition into California. You’ll find a re-enactment, street performances, and event activities for the kids. Date: October 15 Website: Link
- Navajo Nation Fair, September through October
Navajo Nation Washington Office/Flickr Now in its 70th year, the annual Navajo Nation Fair actually has several locations across the reservation. The prime event in Window Rock just finished but others are also held in Dilkon (about 40 miles north of Winslow) and in Tuba City in October. You’ll see carnivals, rodeos, exhibitions, cultural dances, and more food than you can eat. Dates: September 22-25 (Dilkon) and October 13-16 (Tuba City) Website: Link
- Old Congress Days: Kick Up Your Heels, Congress
Old Congress Days/Flickr This little town of 1,700 sits about 16 miles north of Wickenburg and has a history of mining and ranching. Old Congress Days celebrates this heritage with a parade, gold panning, a beer garden, and even a Saturday night dance. Dates: October 1-2 Website: Link
- Rex Allen Days, Willcox
Rex Allen Days, Inc./Facebook Celebrate the Arizona Cowboy with this four-day event in Willcox. You’ll find plenty of old fashioned fun like rodeos, a parade, sports tournaments, rides, dancing, a turtle race, a pig chase, and so much more! Dates: September 29-October 2 Website: Link
- Salsafest, Safford
CAFNR/Flickr This two-day event celebrates salsa and the town’s salsa trail with salsa challenges, a beer garden, a car show, and even chihuahua races. Dates: September 23-24 Website: Link
- Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party, Queen Creek
Schnepf Farms/Facebook If a traditional fall festival is what you’re looking for, then this month-long event at Schnepf Farms is it! Enjoy delicious, farm fresh food along with activities like a hay ride, carousel, a corn maze, and petting zoo. Dates: October 1-30 Website: Link
So, which of these events do you think you’ll attend this fall? If you want to check out some other fun things to do, check out our 2016 bucket list to see if there’s anything you need to check off your list.
Katie Moore/Flickr
This community event has its origins in Día de Muertos, a Mexican holiday that focuses on remembering, celebrating, and praying for loved ones who have passed away. What makes the All Souls Procession a little different is it is inclusive of other cultures that hold similar events to honor their deceased. Dates: November 5-6 Website: Link
Kevin Dooley/Flickr
Our state fair arrives a little later than most other states and that is one of the things that makes it unique. It dates to 1884 and isn’t just fun rides. The fair is also a place for Arizonans to show off their talents in exhibitions, rodeos, and livestock rearing. Dates: October 7-30 Website: Link
Cave Creek Wild West Days/Flickr
When most people think Arizona, they think Wild West! Those memories are quite alive in this four-day fair with enactment groups, parades, bathtub races, pie eating contests, and even mutton busting for the kids. Dates: November 2-6Website: Link
Best of the West on 66/Facebook
This festival is a celebration of Route 66 and the community it helped build in Kingman and the surrounding area. You’ll find car shows, a parade, a farmers market, and plenty of food, drinks, and music. Dates: September 23-24 Website: Link
Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival/Facebook
New Mexico isn’t the only place to see swarms of hot air balloons floating in the sky. You can watch the colorful balloon cross the Colorado River and dot the wide blue sky. Dates: November 11-13 Website: Link
John Roney/Flickr
Celebrating the tribe’s victory over the construction of the Orme Dam in 1981—a construction which would have flooded the reservation and displaced community members. It was an inter-tribal effort conducted with limited resources that lasted five years. The event includes a rodeo, inter-tribal pow wow, cultural performances, a carnival, and plenty of food. If you do attend, don’t forget to follow some basic pow wow etiquette. Dates: November 18-20 Website: Link
Helldorado Days/Facebook
Another Western themed event (there’s plenty more to be found on this list), this one features gunfight re-enactments, a carnival, and plenty of street entertainment to celebrate the town’s oldest festival. Dates: October 21-23 Website: Link
Alan English CPA/Flickr
This festival promotes the art and culture of the Hopi and other Southwestern tribes in Flagstaff’s Heritage Square. There will be cultural dances, demonstrations, music, and plenty of arts and crafts available for sale. Dates: September 24-25 Website: Link
Anza Trail NPS/Flickr
This event marks the commencement of de Anza’s expedition into California. You’ll find a re-enactment, street performances, and event activities for the kids. Date: October 15 Website: Link
Navajo Nation Washington Office/Flickr
Now in its 70th year, the annual Navajo Nation Fair actually has several locations across the reservation. The prime event in Window Rock just finished but others are also held in Dilkon (about 40 miles north of Winslow) and in Tuba City in October. You’ll see carnivals, rodeos, exhibitions, cultural dances, and more food than you can eat. Dates: September 22-25 (Dilkon) and October 13-16 (Tuba City) Website: Link
Old Congress Days/Flickr
This little town of 1,700 sits about 16 miles north of Wickenburg and has a history of mining and ranching. Old Congress Days celebrates this heritage with a parade, gold panning, a beer garden, and even a Saturday night dance. Dates: October 1-2 Website: Link
Rex Allen Days, Inc./Facebook
Celebrate the Arizona Cowboy with this four-day event in Willcox. You’ll find plenty of old fashioned fun like rodeos, a parade, sports tournaments, rides, dancing, a turtle race, a pig chase, and so much more! Dates: September 29-October 2 Website: Link
CAFNR/Flickr
This two-day event celebrates salsa and the town’s salsa trail with salsa challenges, a beer garden, a car show, and even chihuahua races. Dates: September 23-24 Website: Link
Schnepf Farms/Facebook
If a traditional fall festival is what you’re looking for, then this month-long event at Schnepf Farms is it! Enjoy delicious, farm fresh food along with activities like a hay ride, carousel, a corn maze, and petting zoo. Dates: October 1-30 Website: Link
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