The Cave Creek Museum hosts AZ Ghost Adventures for a Haunted History night from 6:40 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. The local paranormal investigation team, which has appeared on the Travel Channel's Destination Fear and Ghost Adventures, will present Seeking Spirits, demonstrate the equipment professional investigators use and run an interactive investigation guests take part in.
Source: Cave Creek/Carefree IndependentTacos Tijuana publicity photograph; not the planned Barnone counter. Image source: What Now Phoenix
Tacos Tijuana plans to open at Barnone, the craftsmen marketplace at Agritopia, 3000 E. Ray Road, in October 2026. Wendy Torres runs the street-taco concept her father Adolfo Torres started from a food truck in 2016, and she has lived in Gilbert with her family for 11 years. The menu stays focused: carne asada, al pastor carved off the trompo, corn tortillas pressed to order and the family's red salsa, still called Salsa Adolfa. No exact opening day has been set beyond October, but the business says opening day will have live mariachi.
Source: What Now PhoenixGoodyear City Hall. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: RandomMainstream · CC BY-SA 4.0
Spinato's Pizzeria and Family Kitchen has signed a lease at GSQ, Goodyear's Civic Square district, at the northwest corner of 150th Drive and McDowell Road. It will be the Tempe-based family chain's seventh metro Phoenix restaurant and its first in the West Valley. The shell is expected to hand over to Spinato's in May 2027 with a fourth-quarter 2027 opening, and the restaurant is expected to bring 75 to 95 full- and part-time jobs. CEO Anthony Spinato said of West Valley customers asking for a location, "We heard them, and we are so excited to welcome them to our new Goodyear location next year."
Source: KTAR NewsThe historic Arizona Bank building in Peoria. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
The City of Peoria has a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Mystic Neighborhood Park on Sept. 15, 2026, per the city's newsroom. Peoria has not published the time or additional details, so check peoriaaz.gov before you go.
Source: City of PeoriaThe library voting display pictured in the source report. Image source: KJZZ
Phoenix Public Library is building a new branch at the Estrella Civic Space, along Lower Buckeye Road between 91st and 99th avenues, and it is asking residents to pick the name. Most of the system's 16 branches are named for Sonoran Desert plants, and the five finalists are Cliffrose, Creosote, Jojoba, Manzanita and Senita. Voting is open on the Phoenix Public Library website through Oct. 2, 2026. A design firm has been selected and the project is still in the naming phase.
Scottsdale Fashion Week hits its 10th anniversary this year, Oct. 8 to 11, 2026, and the venue lineup is set. Core and Couture, a workout-and-shopping kickoff, lands at Scottsdale Quarter on Oct. 4. The main run starts Oct. 8 with The First Course, a dinner and runway show at Roka Akor, followed by The Pool Club swimwear show at Hotel Adeline on Oct. 9, Fashion In Motion at Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale on Oct. 10 and the closing Sunday Soiree at Scottsdale Quarter on Oct. 11. Tickets for every event are at scottsdalefashionweek.com.
Source: Arizona Foothills MagazineThe Tempe skyline. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Siphonophora · CC BY-SA 4.0
Desert Dance Theatre presents the 27th Annual Arizona Dance Festival on Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 24 to 26, 2026 at the Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. The festival features more than 30 dance artists and companies from around Arizona and out of state, with a different lineup each night and a post-show Q and A with the choreographers. Interactive pre-show performances in the TCA lobby are free and open to the public, 6:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $20 for students and groups of 10 or more, $23 senior and military, $25 adult, plus service fees, through the TCA box office.
Source: Arizona Dance CoalitionVerrado in Buckeye. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Adam Zaklikowski · CC BY 3.0
Fitness in the Park is back in Buckeye with classes starting Sept. 14, 2026. The city says every class is free, open to ages 18 and up and to all experience levels, and runs 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. with certified instructors.
Source: City of BuckeyeThe historic Paramount Theatre in Casa Grande. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
The fifth annual Casa Grande Oktoberfest runs 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at Carr-McNatt Park, 1115 N. Brown Ave. Admission is free. The Rotary Club of Casa Grande is marking its centennial with a beer garden, German-inspired food, food trucks, carnival rides, a Kids Zone of free activities and a fireworks show, and proceeds go to local scholarships and community service projects across Pinal County.
Source: Pinal CountyDesert hills around Cave Creek. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Kennito454 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Biketoberally is back Oct. 16 to 18, 2026 at The Hideaway Grill and Cave Creek Roadhouse on East Cave Creek Road. The venue's own events page carries the dates. Times and admission are not posted yet, so check before you ride out.
Source: The Hideaway GrillGoodyear City Hall. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: RandomMainstream · CC BY-SA 4.0
Goodyear announced on Sept. 4, 2026 that its Parks and Recreation department picked up two statewide Best of the Best Awards from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association.
Source: City of GoodyearPhoenix viewed from the surrounding hills. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Bigmikebmw · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Rush Funplex is building a 75,000-square-foot entertainment center at the northeast corner of Loop 202 and Dobbins Road in Laveen, with a grand opening scheduled for December 2026. Go-karts, bowling, mini-golf, bumper cars, laser tag, an arcade and a rock-climbing wall with a foam pit are all planned, and the location is projected to create more than 50 jobs.
Source: ABC15An aerial view of Chandler. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Chris J · CC BY-SA 2.0
Chandler's Halloween Spooktacular is Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park Stage Plaza, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave. Admission is free. It includes a Trunk-or-Treat with more than 300 lbs of candy, catwalk costume parades at 6:15 and 7:30 p.m., carnival games and a Little Monsters Zone for children 5 and under. Parking in the city garages is free.
Source: City of ChandlerMain Street in historic Florence. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Pinal County held a top-out ceremony at its new Administrative Campus in Florence on Aug. 28, 2026. County staff signed the final beam before it was lifted into place. Exterior and interior construction continues from here.
Source: Pinal CountyThe historic Woolworth building in Glendale. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Glendale-based Western Maricopa Education Center opened the 2026-27 school year with more than 3,340 students on site, the largest enrollment in the district's 22-year history. West-MEC runs six campuses, in Buckeye, Avondale, Glendale, Phoenix, Surprise and its newest Southeast Campus.
Source: Surprise IndependentDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Sprouts Farmers Market store #55 opens Sept. 18, 2026 at 5131 S. Ellsworth Rd. in Mesa, on the Eastmark side of town. The chain's own store directory lists it as the only Arizona location still marked coming soon.
Source: Sprouts Farmers MarketThe Scottsdale Waterfront. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Joseph Plotz · CC BY 3.0
BOO Arizona returns Oct. 30 and 31, 2026 at WestWorld of Scottsdale, its first edition since 2019. The two-night festival carries a haunted-mansion themed production, with general admission and 21+ VIP passes that add expedited entry and a dedicated viewing area.
Source: BOO ArizonaSurprise Lake. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: RandomMainstream · CC0
The Desert Fall Festival runs Sept. 25 through Nov. 1, 2026 at 14470 W. Tierra Buena Ln. in Surprise, with more than 20 attractions including a roller rink, a 40-foot zipline, a 90-foot slide, axe throwing, archery, an apple cannon and a pumpkin maze. Early bird admission is $17.95 and a season pass is $56.95. Children under 3 are free.
Source: Desert Fall FestivalChandler Fashion Center, courtesy Visit Chandler. Venue context; the announced businesses are not pictured. Image source: AZ Big Media
Chandler Fashion Center says Din Tai Fung and Arizona's first Wagyu House are both scheduled to debut in 2027. The mall also reopened Fabletics on Aug. 27 with nearly twice the square footage.
Source: AZ Big MediaDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The 233 Suites, an Unscripted by Hyatt hotel with 76 rooms, opened Aug. 7 near Center and Main. The same building brought Crust Simply Italian, Bombolino's Cafe and a speakeasy called The Nightingale to downtown, plus 13,000 square feet of office space.
Loteria de Arte runs Sept. 12 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center, 147 E. Adams St. It is free to attend, with new work from more than 20 local artists, live music, prizes and market vendors.
Source: Downtown Phoenix Inc.The San Tan Mountains, viewed from Queen Creek. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Skyline Ranch Marketplace tracker at Hunt Highway and Gary Road lists PetSmart opening late 2026 and Chick-fil-A in summer 2027. EOS Fitness is still estimated for Sept. 21.
The city bought the 1912 Tempe National Bank building at 526 S. Mill Ave. and closed on the 1898 Tempe Hardware building at 520 S. Mill Ave. A plan to lease both to local small businesses goes to a final council vote Sept. 10. Consignment shop Tempe Toes already operates in the hardware building.
Source: HoodlineDesert hills around Cave Creek. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Kennito454 · CC BY-SA 3.0
The town's food festival is back for two nights, 5 to 9 p.m. both days at Stagecoach Village. Check the Cave Creek Tourism Bureau for the restaurant lineup and ticket details.
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