Maricopa is getting its own First Friday. InMaricopa reports the series launches Friday, Oct. 2 and repeats the first Friday of every month, with things kicking off at 6 p.m. in the Heritage District around Mike Ingram Heritage Park. The October opener has a royal theme, with local pageant leaders going back to 1955 invited to turn up in full regalia. Councilmember Amber Liermann started it to build a walkable, all-inclusive night downtown.
Source: InMaricopaPhoenix 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
My Chemical Romance is booked into Chase Field downtown on Sunday, Sept. 6, one of the September dates on Visit Phoenix's can't-miss list. Chicago and Styx co-headline the Mortgage Matchup Center five nights earlier on Sept. 1, so the first week of September is a loud one downtown.
Source: Visit PhoenixQueen Creek Town Hall. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine · CC BY-SA 3.0
Grill at the Mill takes over Queen Creek Olive Mill on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music, grill-inspired menus and games in the grove at 25062 S. Meridian Road. Three days earlier, Queen Creek Feastival brings the food trucks back to Ellsworth Loop and Aldecoa Dr. on Friday, Sept. 4 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Source: Visit Queen CreekThe 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
EOS Fitness is listed to open in September 2026 at Skyline Ranch Marketplace, at Hunt Highway and Gary Road. No exact September date is published, so the timing remains an expected month rather than a promised day.
Source: SanTanValley.comThe 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 local development tracker now marks Five Below open at Skyline Ranch Marketplace. The shopping center is on the northeast corner of Hunt Highway and Gary Road in San Tan Valley.
Source: SanTanValley.comThe 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
HomeGoods is listed to open Thursday, Aug. 27 at Skyline Ranch Marketplace, on the northeast corner of Hunt Highway and Gary Road. The directly fetched local development tracker places the center in central San Tan Valley.
Source: SanTanValley.comThe 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
SanTanValley.com's directly fetched development tracker lists Marshalls opening Thursday, Aug. 27 at Skyline Ranch Marketplace, on the northeast corner of Hunt Highway and Gary Road in San Tan Valley. Confirm store hours before going.
Source: SanTanValley.comThe 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
Ulta's grand opening was Friday, Aug. 21 at Skyline Ranch Marketplace, according to the directly fetched SanTanValley.com development tracker. The center sits at Hunt Highway and Gary Road in San Tan Valley.
Source: SanTanValley.comThe Scottsdale Waterfront. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Joseph Plotz · CC BY 3.0
The city's news page posted "Scottsdale opens new Thompson Peak Dog Park" on Aug. 21. The city's project page puts it at three and a half acres of separate fenced and gated areas at 20199 N. 78th Pl., on the southwest corner of Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway, with three play cells under shade canopies, benches, water fountains, waste stations, extra parking, a restroom building, a footbridge to the rest of the park and public art. The project is listed at $6.1 million.
Source: City of ScottsdaleSurprise Lake. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: RandomMainstream · CC0
Surprise Arts Presents has announced a 13-show season at The Vista Center for the Arts, 15660 N. Parkview Pl., running September through May. It opens Sept. 26 with Sons of Serendip, the Billboard-charting classical crossover quartet that reworks contemporary songs with vocals, harp, piano and cello. Ambrosia follows Oct. 24, and Mariachi Herencia de Mexico brings A Mariachi Christmas on Dec. 19. Tickets are on sale at SurpriseArts.com.
Level 1 Arcade Bar is opening at 4 E. University Dr., the northeast corner of Mill Avenue and University Drive, and the team hopes to be open by Nov. 1. Owner Scott Goldsmith is bringing restored arcade cabinets and pinball machines plus a full kitchen, 20 draft beers and 22 signature cocktails. It becomes Level 1's second active location alongside the Downtown Mesa room at 48 W. Main St.
Source: What Now PhoenixCacti in White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Waddell. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Venske · CC BY-SA 3.0
Desert Diamond White Tanks runs Labor Day Swipe and Win on Sept. 6 and 7 from noon to 8 p.m. Diamond Rewards members who earn 100 slot points on the promotion day can play for a chance at up to 50,000 rewards points. The casino is at 8200 N. Sarival Avenue and gaming areas are restricted to guests 21 and older.
Source: Desert Diamond Casinos and EntertainmentCacti in White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Waddell. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Venske · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ranger Shaun leads an easy-rated Waterfall Trail hike at White Tank Mountain Regional Park on Sunday, Aug. 23 from 6 to 8 a.m. Registration is limited to 20 people and closes Aug. 23; call the Nature Center to register and check the program status before going.
Source: Maricopa County Parks and RecreationCacti in White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Waddell. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Venske · CC BY-SA 3.0
White Tank Mountain Regional Park hosts a free-form Ask-A-Ranger discovery station Friday, Aug. 28 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Ranger Kevin will answer questions about Sonoran Desert wildlife, safe recreation and venomous-animal encounters.
Source: Maricopa County Parks and RecreationCacti in White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Waddell. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Venske · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ranger Kevin leads an evening hike under the stars at White Tank Mountain Regional Park on Friday, Aug. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. Registration is required and limited to 20 participants.
Source: Maricopa County Parks and RecreationCacti in White Tank Mountain Regional Park near Waddell. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Venske · CC BY-SA 3.0
A ranger-led stargazing program runs Thursday, Aug. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at White Tank Mountain Regional Park, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road. The county lists a 40-person registration limit and says the program will include a partial lunar eclipse.
Source: Maricopa County Parks and RecreationVerrado in Buckeye. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Adam Zaklikowski · CC BY 3.0
The city has posted the date for the 86th Annual Halloween Carnival: Saturday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 9 p.m. at 6th St. Plaza and Monroe Ave. in downtown Buckeye. Expect carnival games, food vendors and booths run by local non-profits, plus a costume contest you can sign up for the day of. The city calls it a tradition that goes back more than 80 years here.
Source: City of BuckeyeAn 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
"The Collectionists" opens Saturday, Aug. 22 at Vision Gallery, 10 E. Chicago St., and runs through Nov. 7. Admission is free. Heidi Dauphin and Laura Spalding Best built the whole thing around the urge to collect. Dauphin: "With hundreds of objects created between the two of us, there will be numerous details to examine, large views to take in, games to play, puzzles to solve, and opportunities for participation." The opening reception is Friday, Sept. 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
Source: City of ChandlerSoccer photograph from the source coverage; not the announced October 3 match. Image source: ABC15
The rivalry game lands in Glendale on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., a friendly that is part of the U.S. men's four-match run opening the new cycle. It is Mexico's first Arizona appearance under head coach Rafa Marquez. Presale opened Aug. 5 and the general on-sale followed Aug. 7. State Farm Stadium's clear bag policy applies.
Source: ABC15A view of Maricopa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Chris J · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Copa Farmers Market spends the hot months inside, and Sunday, Aug. 23 is one of the last indoor mornings on the calendar: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Central Arizona College, 17945 N. Regent Dr. Two indoor Sundays are left after this one, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20. Then the market moves back outside to 44400 W. Honeycutt Ave. for the October through December run, same Sunday hours.
Source: Copa Farmers MarketScarpetta on the Green venue photography from the opening coverage. Image source: What Now Phoenix
Same owners, same kitchen, new name. David and Stefany Pope have rebranded Pizzicata at Painted Mountain Golf Resort, 6210 E. McKellips Rd., as Scarpetta on the Green. The name comes from fare la scarpetta, the Italian habit of mopping up the last of the sauce with bread. The menu keeps the house-made pasta, dough, sauces and desserts, Roman-style pinsa and Neapolitan pizza, breakfast, cocktails and the golf course view. The Carefree and Glendale shops keep the Pizzicata name.
Source: What Now PhoenixQueen Creek Town Hall. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Switchyard, a $120 million mixed-use district going up on 10 acres of town-owned land at the northeast corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo roads, has landed Postino. It is the wine cafe's first Queen Creek location and, per the report, the Postino furthest south and east in metro Phoenix. The developer is Creation, founded by David Sellers and Bob Agahi. Opening is set for this fall with no exact date yet.
The Los Angeles label is taking 2,408 square feet at Scottsdale Quarter, 15279 N. Scottsdale Rd., for its Arizona debut, with an early 2027 opening. L'AGENCE has been around since 2008 and runs boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Houston and Chicago, plus Paris and Seoul. A brand rep said it is too soon to share more than that.
Source: What Now PhoenixThe Tempe skyline. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Siphonophora · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown Tempe has moved Roman God of Fire off the coming-soon list and onto the opened-in-2026 one. The address is 80 S. Rio Salado Pkwy., and the pitch is wood-fired Italian cooking inspired by the soul of Rome, with a James Beard Award-winning chef behind the food.
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