The Little Red Barn at 29920 W. Pierce Street started with farm-fresh eggs and now carries weekly sourdough, jams and salsas, cake pops, cookies, banana bread and seasonal garden vegetables, plus goods from three vendor partners: Desert Hooligan, Donkey Creek Ranch and Desert Diva Designz. It is self-serve and always open. Owner Linda Whitehead on building it: "built from scratch with love and lots of screaming, blood, sweat and tears."
Source: InBuckeyeAn 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 Contigo Dia de Fiesta runs Saturday, Sept. 12 from 4 to 10 p.m. at Dr. A.J. Chandler Stage Park, and the city calls it "our first-ever traditional Grito celebration." It opens a month of Hispanic Heritage programming from Sept. 12 to Oct. 15, with crafts, story times and guest speakers at library branches. The 27th Annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival follows Nov. 1 at Chandler Center for the Arts.
Source: City of ChandlerCavender's brand retail photography; not the planned Gilbert store. Image source: AZ Big Media
The western wear chain has a Gilbert store planned for 2817 S. Market St. An Aug. 7 report says Cavender's confirmed new stores "coming to Gilbert, Tempe and Goodyear by the end of the year," with celebration details still to be announced. Its Tucson store at 7200 E. Broadway Blvd. opens Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Source: AZ Big MediaThe 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
Arizona hosts Seattle at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:25 p.m. on FOX, the only Cardinals home game on the September schedule. Preseason wraps up first, with Dallas at State Farm Stadium on Aug. 22.
The family-run coffee shop is relocating from inside a Gilbert flower shop to 1134 S. Stapley Dr., Suite 105, in Mesa. Owners Brandy and Brianna Grice have to be out of the Gilbert space by Sept. 15 and say "more updates are coming," with no opening date announced yet. Customers helped the family hunt for the new spot. A second Gilbert location on Chandler Heights Road is still expected by mid-January 2027.
Source: What Now PhoenixThe Christmas Cafe's brand food photo; not a completed view of the planned cafe. Image source: What Now Phoenix
The Christmas Cafe is under construction at 24980 N. 83rd Ave., near 83rd Avenue and Happy Valley Road, with a fall 2026 opening planned. Owners Victoria Andrej and Marie Pantelic are building a holiday-themed coffee, food and gift shop around the line "Joy to the world, 365 days a year." The preview menu includes a Peppermint Bark Latte topped with homemade chocolate whipped cream, red and green sprinkles and a peppermint bark snowman.
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
Portillo's lists its Queen Creek restaurant at the southeast corner of Ellsworth and E. Walnut: 7,800 square feet, roughly 180 seats inside and 50 more on the patio, built to what the company calls a "Southwest Garage theme." The site says it opens this year and no date has been posted yet. Construction updates and pre-opening events are open for sign-ups.
The Ends is open at 7137 E. Stetson Drive, Suite 12, serving dinner Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m., with happy hour every day from 4 to 6 and the full menu until close. The kitchen cooks in beef tallow and butter instead of seed oils, which Forking Scottsdale's first look called "Arizona's first seed-oil-free restaurant." The menu wanders from Japanese nigiri to Texas brisket to Laotian-inspired plates. Reservations run through OpenTable.
Source: The EndsSurprise Lake. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: RandomMainstream · CC0
The listing has Surprise Fiesta Grande on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Mark Coronado Park, 15960 N. Bullard Ave., the park formerly known as 8-Acre Park. The organizer's own words: "Surprise Fiesta Grande is back!" with cultural festivities, music and food. This one comes from the event listing rather than a city page, so confirm before you go.
The Mesa brewery and its pizza sibling finally have a date for their Mill Avenue outpost: Oct. 8, with a soft opening the week before, at 525 S. Mill Ave. in the former Illegal Pete's space. Plans call for 20 taps of Phantom Fox beer next to Goat and Ram's wood-fired pizzas, wings and loaded fries, with room for more than 200 people indoors and out. Co-owner Trent Smith on the move: "We think Tempe is going to be a great spot for us."
Source: Phoenix New TimesVerrado in Buckeye. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Adam Zaklikowski · CC BY 3.0
Buckeye is commissioning 16 banners for 16 light poles at Town Park, eight along the west approach and eight along the north, on the theme "Light in the Park." The call asks artists to reflect the park's character including the Aquatics Center and Museum. It runs through the West Valley HOLA Collaborative, which also includes Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Tolleson. Submissions close Oct. 1, and an artist networking night and HOLA Q and A is set for Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Source: Culturalyst (West Valley Arts)Concerts in the Courtyard publicity photograph; performers vary by date. Image source: City of Chandler
Concerts in the Courtyard returns to the Chandler Community Center at 125 E. Commonwealth Ave. on Sept. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. The city lists it as free, with teen bands playing originals and covers. Two more dates follow before the holidays, Oct. 16 and Nov. 20.
Source: City of ChandlerThe Gilbert Heritage District. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
The musical runs Aug. 21 through Oct. 3 at Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave. in the Heritage District, with evening performances around two and a half hours. A Tribute to Woodstock 1969 finishes its run on the same stage Aug. 29.
Westgate's own calendar lists free trivia at Dave and Buster's on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. with prizes, Wacky Wednesday studio fee deals at As You Wish Pottery, Sunday brunch buffet with bingo at Chicken N Pickle from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday comedy at Stir Crazy from 6 p.m. Pickleball Skills and Drills clinics run Tuesday through Thursday at 11 a.m. for $10 a person.
Source: Westgate Entertainment DistrictDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Japanese Film Festival Arizona 2026 is listed for Friday, Sept. 18 starting at 1 p.m. at the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in downtown Mesa. It is the only Japanese film festival in the state and runs out of the MIX Center's screening rooms on Centennial Way.
Source: EventbritePhoenix 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
Arizona Science Center's adults-only Science With a TWIST series goes wizarding on Aug. 28 with The Science of Sorcery: An Evening at Hogwarts. Rick Springfield plays Celebrity Theatre two nights later on Aug. 30, and the D-backs are home against the Phillies Aug. 31 through Sept. 2.
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
Queen Creek Olive Mill's 13th Annual Garlic Festival runs two weekends, Sept. 19 and 20 and Sept. 26 and 27, at 25062 S. Meridian Rd. Admission and parking are both free. The lineup includes four varieties of organically grown estate garlic, a garlic menu from del Piero Kitchen, live cooking demos from owner Perry Rea, Olive Oil 101 and Garlic 101 classes, estate tours, live music, wine and beer tastings and family activities. The event listing names it "Best Festival" in "PHOENIX Magazine's 2026 Arizona Travel Awards."
Source: Eventbrite (Queen Creek Olive Mill)The Scottsdale Waterfront. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Joseph Plotz · CC BY 3.0
Experience Scottsdale's calendar opens September with Above All Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4 through 7 at The Remi Scottsdale Autograph Collection. Bourbon Steak follows with a Takeover Dinner Series night featuring Chef Erick Pineda at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess on Sept. 16.
Source: Experience ScottsdaleSurprise Lake. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: RandomMainstream · CC0
Fall Fest West is listed for Saturday, Oct. 3 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Surprise Stadium. The organizer, PS I Love Az, describes it as "making its debut" with "local vendors, delicious food, alcohol, and activities for all ages." More than 12,000 people have marked it interested on the event listing.
Source: AllEventsThe Tempe skyline. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Siphonophora · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown Tempe's calendar lists a Ravensburger Puzzle Race Mini Tournament at Snakes and Lattes on Sunday, Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Alter Ego runs a James Bond themed chef's dinner on Aug. 20 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Mahjong Mondays continue there Aug. 24 and Aug. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Source: Downtown TempeVerrado in Buckeye. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Adam Zaklikowski · CC BY 3.0
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has more than 100 non-releasable Sonoran desert tortoises waiting on adoptive homes. Adopters have to live in Arizona, the tortoise can never leave the state, and the backyard enclosure and burrow have to be finished before the application goes in. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Source: InBuckeyeAn 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
HEX runs Oct. 30 and 31 at Rawhide Festival Grounds, 5700 W. North Loop Road. The two-day bass festival is headlined by Excision, Subtronics, INZO and ATLiens, with roughly twenty more artists on the bill. Doors are at 5 p.m. and curfew is 12:30 a.m. It is an 18-and-over event with ID required, and tickets are listed from $76.40.
Source: Relentless BeatsThe Gilbert Heritage District. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Tony the Marine ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
HD South at 10 S. Gilbert Road is running its Celebrate America's 250th Anniversary exhibit in Gallery 4 through Sept. 30. Nearby in the Heritage District, Hale Theatre's Catch Me If You Can runs Aug. 21 through Oct. 3, and the Agritopia Farm Tour at 3000 E. Ray Road runs Aug. 25 at 9 a.m.
Westgate's calendar lists Zach Bryan at State Farm Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. Before that, the free Artisan Alley outdoor maker market runs at Westgate on Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Mount Westmore with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too Short plays Desert Diamond Arena on Aug. 28.
_-_8.05.jpg){kind=link}
