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 ·
DiMaggio's Italian Restaurant is targeting late October for its second location at Uptown Plaza, 100 E. Camelback Road, with a private dining room that has its own entrance. Owners Brandon and Michele Gioffre started out selling Italian food at the Uptown Phoenix Farmers Market in 2021 and opened their Scottsdale restaurant in 2022. They still run the Saturday farmers market stand.
Source: What Now Phoenix
Phoenix ·
Mesquite Fresh Street Mex is bringing its 11th metro Phoenix location to 5535 W. Baseline Road in Laveen this fall. The new spot adds a drive-thru, a dedicated grab-and-go pickup window and a 900-square-foot patio. The brand says the grand opening will come with giveaways and community festivities. No exact date yet.
Source: What Now Phoenix
Queen Creek ·
The Queen Creek Chamber's Horseshoe Harvest Hangout takes over Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre, 20464 E. Riggs Road, Oct. 30 and 31. Festival admission is free and parking is $20 a day. Expect a roughstock rodeo by 406 Rodeo nightly at 7, live music Friday night, a big Trunk or Treat, a petting zoo, food trucks and costume contests for people, pets and livestock. Rodeo and concert tickets are sold separately.
Source: Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce
San Tan Valley ·
EoS Fitness is coming to 1404 W. Hunt Highway at Skyline Ranch Marketplace, with a fall 2026 opening and 24/7 hours. The presale is running now: $0 enrollment with first month's dues, and Phase One pricing ends Sept. 24. The gym lists a sauna, CryoLounge, recovery areas, a MOVEoS Cinema and group fitness.
Source: EoS FitnessSan Tan Valley ·
Friends of the Library holds a used book sale and silent auction on Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Bronze Room at San Tan Valley Library, 31505 N. Schnepf Road. Expect thousands of gently used books, movies and puzzles, with silent auction bidding on gift baskets until 2 p.m.
Source: SanTanValley.com
Scottsdale ·
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park runs Spook-Track-Ula every night Oct. 1 to 31, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Two attractions are new this year: a Haunted Train Walk Through with jump scares and a family-friendly Storybook Train Ride. Tickets are $15 per person, kids under 2 are free, and members get $5 off. Tickets are sold online only through ActiveNet.
Source: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Surprise ·
Sons of Serendip, the Billboard-charting quartet of vocals, harp, piano and cello who reached the America's Got Talent finals, open the Surprise Arts season at The Vista Center for the Arts on Saturday, Sept. 26. Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music from Groove Providers, concessions and a free art activity. Tickets are on sale at SurpriseArts.com.
Source: City of SurpriseSurprise ·
The Surprise Aquatic Center, 15831 N. Bullard Ave., fills with floating pumpkins Friday, Oct. 16, 5 to 8 p.m. Swim out, choose one from the floating patch and take it home to decorate, with games and a photo booth on deck. It costs $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents, one pumpkin per person while supplies last. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Source: City of Surprise
Tempe ·
Four Peaks Oktoberfest returns to Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Oct. 9 to 11. Hours are Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight and Sunday noon to 10 p.m. Admission is free, with German food, beer tents, live music from rock to polka, a carnival and the Runnin' for the Brats 10K, 5K and 1K. Organizers call it a Tempe tradition of more than 50 years, and it benefits Tempe Sister Cities.
Source: Downtown Tempe
Tempe ·
Tempe Marketplace hosts Boo to Bloom on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 5 to 8 p.m., at The District Stage, 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy. Families can trick-or-treat from store to store and join Dia de los Muertos activities, a costume contest, face painting, crafts and giveaways. Raffles benefit Make-A-Wish.
Source: Tempe Marketplace
Waddell ·
Ranger Derik reads Sonoran Desert wildlife stories in the Nature Center classroom at White Tank Mountain Regional Park on Saturday, Sept. 26, with sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each reading is followed by a hands-on look at local animal skulls and pelts, and kids can pick up a Junior Ranger book on the way out. No registration needed; park entry fees apply.
Source: Maricopa County Parks
Apache Junction ·
Arizona State Parks volunteers Lisa and Abi lead the Wildlife of the Sonoran Desert guided hike at Lost Dutchman State Park at 10 a.m. on Oct. 2, 16 and 30, then Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 and 18. It is an Outdoors250 event. The park is also running a monthly Sonoran Desert Botany Hike from October through January and starts Desert Birding on Thursdays in November, 8:30 to 10 a.m. from the Palo Verde day use area. Park entry fees still apply.
Source: Arizona State Parks
Cave Creek ·
The Town of Cave Creek's 2026 Community Grant Program is open, and the town says the fund is bigger than previous years at $60,000. Applications close at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2. The money goes to local groups doing work in and for the town, so if you run or volunteer with one, the window is about six weeks.
Source: Town of Cave Creek
Chandler ·
Chandler's Rocktoberfest runs Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2 to 4, at SanTan Gardens, the event's new Uptown Chandler location. Visit Chandler bills it as three days of craft beer and live music with the competitions doing the heavy lifting: a stein-holding contest, a wiener toss, a brat-eating competition, cornhole, beer pong and wiener dog races. It is the first of a busy Chandler fall that also includes the AZ48 half marathon on Oct. 25.
Source: Visit Chandler
Florence ·
Florence's community-wide day of service runs Saturday, Oct. 17 from 7 to 11 a.m., with beautification projects around town: painting, planting, trash pickup and more. It is the kind of morning where you meet more neighbors in four hours than you do all year, and the town lists it on its official events page.
Source: Town of Florence
Gilbert ·
Clare House Social is planned for 309 N. Gilbert Road in the Heritage District, taking the former Prep & Pastry space for a modern dining room and bar while the historic cottage and yard next door become a beer-garden-style gathering yard with a large pergola, an outdoor bar and TVs for sports. Phoenix New Times reports the dining room is planned to open late this fall, in late November, with the yard following in early next year. The menu is American: shareable snacks, sandwiches and larger plates like salmon.
Source: Phoenix New Times
Goodyear ·
Magdalena is headed for GSQ, Goodyear's growing downtown hub, from the team behind Pa'La Wood-Fired Kitchen. Pa'La executive chef Jason Alford brought in chef Marcelino Ramos, formerly of downtown Phoenix's Pretty Penny, and the two built a Latin American menu around grilled meats and seafood, shareable salads, wood-fired vegetables and tapas, paired with wines and spirits from across Latin America. Diners at the chef's bar get a front-row view of the parrilla. Phoenix New Times lists it as still to come this fall; no opening date has been announced.
Source: Phoenix New Times
Mesa ·
The Downtown Mesa Sunset Market returns to Main and Macdonald on Friday, Oct. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m. It runs the second Friday of the month with local vendors selling fresh groceries, hot food and artisan goods, plus live music and demonstrations at every market. Cooler evenings make the October date the first genuinely comfortable one of the season.
Source: Downtown Mesa
Peoria ·
Peoria's Halloween Monster Bash has a new home in 2026: City Hall Campus and Centennial Plaza, 8401 W. Monroe St., on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. The city says the move buys more room for themed zones, easier parking and a walkable backdrop. Expect glowing trick-or-treat trails, costumed characters, food trucks and costume contests judged by age group, newborn through 11, plus family and group, with prizes for the top three in each. A sensory trailer and quiet area will be set up with noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets, soft seating and sensory kits. Maps and schedules are still to come.
Source: City of Peoria
Phoenix ·
Chef Leo Madrigal's family restaurant at 1530 E. Wood St. in South Phoenix closed indefinitely after a fire, and the family kept cooking out of a food trailer from a church down the block. After two years of construction delays, Phoenix New Times reports the award-winning restaurant returns in late October with a fresh look, upgraded bathrooms and a newly repaved lot. The enchiladas, tacos and charred romaine salad stay. Leo is adding a shrimp tostada and a chicken relleno.
Source: Phoenix New TimesQueen Creek ·
The town's free Edible Gardening in the Desert workshop runs Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. Late September is the start of the Valley's best growing stretch, so the timing is the point: this is when cool-season crops go in the ground. It is listed on the town's public events calendar under water conservation.
Source: Town of Queen CreekScottsdale ·
Drake's Hollywood is headed for 3828 N. Scottsdale Road, an 8,000-square-foot Old Town space that used to be a Buca di Beppo. Founded in Texas, the restaurant serves classic American chophouse fare, Chicago-style thin-crust pizzas and cold martinis in a room built around red leather booths, Art Deco chandeliers and murals inspired by illustrator Edward Sorel. Phoenix New Times lists it as still to come this fall. Its operator, Vandelay Hospitality, also plans Hudson House outposts in Phoenix and Gilbert next year.
Source: Phoenix New TimesSurprise ·
The Arizona Fall League returns Oct. 3, and the Surprise Saguaros open at home Sunday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. against the Salt River Rafters, then host the Glendale Desert Dogs Monday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. and the Peoria Javelinas Friday, Oct. 9 at 1:30 p.m. The league runs 30 games per team through Nov. 14. The Saguaros roster draws prospects from the Royals, Rangers, Guardians, Mets and Phillies. It is the cheapest way in the Valley to watch future big leaguers up close.
Source: Surprise StadiumTempe ·
Phantom Fox Beer Co. and its partner pizzeria Goat & Ram are expanding from downtown Mesa into the former Illegal Pete's at 525 S. Mill Ave., near Fifth Street, opening Oct. 8. Phoenix New Times reports 20 brews on tap, including a seasonal OktoberFox Marzen, alongside Goat & Ram's bubbly pies topped with smoked marinara, pepperoni and Italian sausage. It is one of several bar-and-restaurant duos splitting one roof around the Valley this fall.
Source: Phoenix New Times
