The Valley Now archive
746 dated briefs from across the Phoenix Valley. Older stories preserve what was reported at the time; opening details can change.
Phoenix ·
Downtown Phoenix's Hallows' Eve takes over Arizona Center, 455 N. 3rd St., on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. Expect costume contests, a petting zoo, yard games, photo ops, crafts, seasonal bites and trick-or-treating.
Source: Downtown Phoenix Inc.
Queen Creek ·
Schnepf Farms, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road, is building a brand new area for 2026, with new rides including Barnyard Stampede, The Peach Pit and Barnstormers. Hayrides run to a 10-acre maze with a Celebrating America theme, and chili dinners can now be preordered for a set pickup time.
Source: Schnepf Farms
Scottsdale ·
Scottsdale Fall Festival runs Saturday, Oct. 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Scottsdale Civic Center. A live band and DJ, local food trucks, a cocktail garden, trick-or-treating, carnival games and hands-on arts and crafts are all free to enjoy.
Source: Scottsdale Arts
Surprise ·
The Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex, 14469 W. Paradise Lane, hosts USTA play starting Oct. 2 with the Adult Mixed Doubles Sectional Championships, then five national championship weekends from Oct. 9 through Nov. 8. Admission is free. Open court time may be limited during tournaments.
Source: City of Surprise
Tempe ·
Pup Festival takes over Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are dog races for wieners, small dogs and big dogs, a costume contest, an agility course, rescue adoptions, pet vendors and pup cups. It is a free dog event.
Source: Pup Festival (Eventbrite)
Waddell ·
White Tank Mountain Regional Park, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, hosts a Bird Walk with Tom Locascio on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 6 to 9:30 a.m. The morning walk ends with an informational program in the Nature Center. Registration is required and it is limited to 12 people.
Source: Maricopa County Parks
Apache Junction ·
Apache Junction's Halloween Festival is Saturday, Oct. 24, 4 to 8 p.m., at Superstition Shadows Park, 1091 W. Southern Ave. It is free, with costume and pumpkin-carving contests, inflatables, kids' games, a Trunk or Treat and activities from local nonprofits.
Source: City of Apache Junction
Avondale ·
Avondale's Hometown Hero banners honor local veterans and active-duty service members on streetlights along corridors like Dysart Road. The next set goes up in November 2026, around Veterans Day. Nominees must be serving or honorably discharged and have an Avondale connection. Submissions are due Sept. 30 at AvondaleAZ.gov/HometownHero.
Source: City of Avondale
Buckeye ·
Cactus Gaming Lounge at 726 Monroe Ave. opened in May, run by Drilon Kaba and Russ Sirois. It has 10 computers, four PlayStation 5s, two Xbox Series X consoles, retro systems, board games and snacks, with titles from Doom and Sonic to Fortnite. Kaba told InBuckeye his goal is a place where gamers feel safe.
Source: InBuckeye
Casa Grande ·
Casa Grande Main Street's CELEBRA is Friday, Sept. 25, 6 to 9 p.m., in Historic Downtown Casa Grande. It is free, with ballet folklorico and a mariachi band, loteria and prizes, arts and craft booths, vendors, food trucks and a kid zone with art projects and inflatables.
Source: Pinal County
Cave Creek ·
The 17th annual Stagecoach Village Fine Art & Wine Festival fills 7100 E. Cave Creek Road Oct. 23 to 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. This year's charity partner is Robinson Ranch, which offers therapeutic horsemanship.
Source: Vermillion Promotions
Chandler ·
Concerts in the Courtyard opens its 2026 season Friday, Sept. 25, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave. Local teen bands play a mix of originals and covers, and it is free. Two more nights follow on Oct. 16 and Nov. 20.
Source: City of Chandler
Coolidge ·
Coolidge Public Library, 160 W. Central, hosts Nocturnal Neighbors on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Kids explore how owls, bats, foxes, coyotes and kangaroo rats thrive at night, with animal artifacts, nighttime sound matching and clue hunting.
Source: Pinal County
Florence ·
Pinal County naturalists lead a Harvest Moon hike on Saturday, Sept. 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m., from the CAP Florence Trailhead, 17408 Salazar St. Listen for nocturnal wildlife and hear the stories behind the season's full moons. Bring water and sturdy shoes, and leave the flashlight at home.
Source: Pinal County
Gilbert ·
Mother Nature's Farm, 1663 E. Baseline Road, opens its Fall Festival Sept. 26 and runs daily through Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $15 for guests under 42 inches and $17 for taller guests, which includes the Mega Slide; babies under 1 are free. Hayrides, a corn pit, a straw bale maze, farm animals and pumpkins from an ounce to 500 pounds. Cards are accepted at the gate with a fee, but everything inside is cash only.
Source: Mother Nature's Farm
Glendale ·
Glendale's Movies by Moonlight series is back, turning a different city park into an outdoor theater each month. The season opens Oct. 16 at Sahuaro Ranch Park, then moves to Rose Lane Park Nov. 13, Murphy Park Dec. 11, Foothills Park South Jan. 22, Paseo Sports Complex Feb. 19 and Glendale Heroes Regional Park March 12. The city says showtimes and titles are still to come.
Source: City of Glendale
Gold Canyon ·
Gold Canyon Golf Resort & Spa, 6060 S. Kings Ranch Road, hosts Country Divas on Sunday, Oct. 11, 1 to 4:30 p.m., a tribute to Reba, Shania, The Judds, Dolly Parton and more. Tickets run $20 general admission, $25 and $30. Bring your own chair; food and drinks are sold on site and outside food and drink are not allowed.
Source: Five20 Events
Goodyear ·
Goodyear's Movie in the Parks screens Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 at Goodyear Community Park on Oct. 17, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Before the movie, kids can meet Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and there are food trucks, face painting, crafts, yard games and a themed photo spot. Bring lawn chairs.
Source: City of GoodyearGoodyear ·
Goodyear's Ritmos y Raices, Rhythm and Roots, runs Oct. 10, 5 to 9 p.m., at Goodyear Ballpark. The night brings live cultural performances, Lucha Libre wrestling and a Hispanic-owned mercado presented by Mujeres Mercado, plus beer and cocktails and displays of the flags of Hispanic countries with their history.
Source: City of Goodyear
Maricopa ·
Father and son Parker and Danny Hunsaker are opening Back Nine Golf at 41724 W. Smith-Enke Road, an indoor simulator spot open 24/7 with hourly and membership options. Simulators are expected in by the end of October, with a soft launch ahead of a mid-November grand opening.
Source: InMaricopa
Maricopa ·
Movies in the Park is back at Maricopa First Fridays on Friday, Oct. 2, at Mike Ingram Heritage Park, with a free showing of Minions and Monsters plus face painting, popcorn and food trucks. The city has not posted a start time yet.
Source: City of Maricopa
Mesa ·
Mesa Arts Center's Dia de los Muertos Festival runs Saturday, Oct. 24, noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 25, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Expect mariachi, folklorico and live music, community altars, food vendors and an artisan market, with a Sunday processional. A Relaxed Hour from 11 a.m. to noon both days offers a calmer, lower-sensory visit.
Source: Mesa Arts Center
Mesa ·
Mesa's Skate Party @ The Plaza is Saturday, Sept. 26, 6 to 9 p.m., at The Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E. Main St. It is free. Bring your own skates, grab dinner from the food trucks, and stay for an outdoor screening of A Minecraft Movie, which the city lists as starting at 6 p.m.
Source: City of Mesa
Peoria ·
Ballet Under the Stars returns to Peoria on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Centennial Plaza behind City Hall, 9875 N. 85th Ave. Pre-show activities and food trucks start at 6 p.m. and Ballet Arizona's professional dancers take the stage at 7 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Source: City of Peoria
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