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3 November 2025
Arizona comes alive in November with festivals, art shows, and outdoor events celebrating the best of culture, cuisine, and creativity. From Día de los Muertos celebrations in downtown Phoenix to the glow of floating lanterns in Tempe, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this fall.
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Celebrate the vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos at Mikiztli, a family-friendly event honoring Indigenous roots and community remembrance. Enjoy mariachi performances, ballet folklórico, face painting, local art, and food trucks. The evening concludes with a lively sunset procession led by Las Flacas, towering 8-foot skeleton puppets that bring the celebration to life.
Details: 5–9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 | Arizona Center, 455 N. 3rd St., Phoenix | Free | culturalcoalition.com
Discover over 150 artists and vendors showcasing paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, and more. Sip and stroll through the beer and wine garden while enjoying live music and local eats in the beautiful setting of Litchfield Square Park.
Details: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday–Sunday, Nov. 1–2 | 279 N. La Loma Ave., Litchfield Park | Free | litchfieldpark.gov
Arizona’s inaugural Bread Fest celebrates all things sourdough with competitions, tastings, and butter-sculpting fun. Sample delicious loaves, listen to live music, and enjoy hands-on baking activities for the whole family.
Details: 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 | Barrio Bagel & Slice, 689 N. Arizona Ave., Gilbert | $9.31 | haydenflourmills.com
Rev up for the final race of the season as NASCAR’s top drivers compete for championship glory in Avondale. Feel the roar of the engines at one of Arizona’s biggest sporting events of the year.
Details: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 | Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr., Avondale | $44.40 | phoenixraceway.com
Watch hundreds of glowing lanterns drift across Tempe’s waters at this serene and magical festival. Guests can decorate their own lanterns, enjoy live music, and dine from local food vendors as the night sky reflects the soft light of hope and remembrance.
Details: 2:30–7:30 p.m. Friday–Sunday, Nov. 7–8 | Kiwanis Park, 5992 S. All America Way, Tempe | $35.99 | waterlanternfestival.com
From swing to bebop and beyond, the Arizona Jazz Festival features over 20 live acts, diverse cuisine, and a lively atmosphere for music lovers in Glendale.
Details: Nov. 7–9 | West Valley Event Complex, 10020 N. Ball Park Blvd., Glendale | $115 | azjazzfest.com
The Hondo Rodeo Fest brings three days of top-tier rodeo events and live performances from chart-topping country artists, including Nickelback, Cody Johnson, and Jason Aldean.
Details: 5–11 p.m. Friday–Sunday, Nov. 7–9 | Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix | $69.60 | thehondorodeofest.com
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Scottsdale’s iconic outdoor art festival returns for its 50th year, transforming the waterfront into a glowing wonderland with interactive installations, live performances, creative workshops, and a craft beer and wine garden.
Details: Nov. 7–16 | Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Rd. | Free | scottsdalearts.org
Celebrate all things local at the 19th annual Local First Arizona Fall Fest featuring 200+ businesses, food and drinks, live entertainment, and a silent auction of unique Arizona experiences.
Details: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 | Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix | Free | localfirstaz.com
Experience the glamor and adrenaline of polo with world-class matches, fashion showcases, live music, luxury cars, and fine dining at this stylish annual event.
Details: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8–9 | WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd. | $45 | thepoloparty.com
Savor culinary delights and premium beverages from Arizona’s top chefs, restaurants, and wineries. Enjoy tastings, cooking demos, and interactive food experiences.
Details: 1–4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 | High Street, 5415 E. High St., Phoenix | $60 | wineandfood.usatoday.com
The PGA Tour Champions season finale comes to Phoenix, where golf’s greatest senior players compete for the coveted Charles Schwab Cup.
Details: 9:30 a.m. Thursday–Sunday, Nov. 13–16 | Phoenix Country Club, 2901 N. Seventh St. | phoenixcountryclub.com
Celebrate Arizona’s craft beverage scene with tastings from over 25 local breweries, distilleries, and wineries at this lively event.
Details: 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 | Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale | $64.65 | azbottlesandbrews.com
Enjoy live performances, local art, and family-friendly fun at the annual Festival of the Arts, featuring a Kids Zone, artist demos, and a wine and beer garden downtown.
Details: 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 | Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix | Free | herbergertheater.org
Indulge in slices from the Valley’s best pizzerias at this beloved annual event featuring live music, beer, wine, and desserts—all in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
Details: 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16–17 | Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix | $16 | phoenix.pizza
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Celebrate Asian food and culture at one of the largest festivals of its kind in Arizona, featuring 300+ food vendors, performances, art, and community activities.
Details: Nov. 21–23 | Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale | $14 | pandafests.com
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Coyotes are as much a part of Arizona’s landscape as saguaros and sunsets. Known for their adaptability and eerie night calls, these wild canines have become one of the state’s most fascinating and misunderstood residents. Whether spotted trotting across desert trails or heard howling in suburban neighborhoods, coyotes embody the untamed spirit of the Southwest. advertisement Masters of Adaptation Arizona’s diverse terrain — from the Sonoran Desert to pine-covered plateaus — offers coyotes a variety of habitats. Few animals are as flexible in their survival strategies. Coyotes thrive in deserts, forests, grasslands, and even urban environments like Phoenix and Tucson.
Arizona might be known for its sun-soaked deserts and dramatic red rock formations, but the Grand Canyon State also offers incredible water adventures for locals and visitors alike. From lazy tubing down rivers to kayaking through canyons, there’s no shortage of aquatic fun to cool off under the Arizona sun. advertisement 1. Tubing the Salt River No Arizona summer is complete without a float down the Salt River in Mesa. This laid-back, family-friendly activity lets you relax as you drift through stunning desert scenery while spotting wild horses along the banks. Bring sunscreen, water shoes, and a waterproof speaker for
The Salt River wild horses are one of Arizona’s most beloved symbols of freedom, beauty, and resilience. These majestic animals roam the lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, an area synonymous with the wild, untamed spirit of the American West. But once again, their very existence is under threat. advertisement A Fight for Survival In 2015, when the Salt River wild horses faced possible removal, Arizonans came together in a historic show of unity. The outpouring of public support led to the passage of the Salt River Horse Act in 2016, protecting the herd from unnecessary removal and
Long before the Valley of the Sun became the desert city we know today, this region was a hub of dynamic earth processes that left behind the strange formations that make up the Papago Mountain. advertisement Ancient Origins Some of Arizona’s oldest geological features, such as the mountains around Sedona and Tucson, date back approximately 2.7 billion years. In comparison, the Phoenix area is geologically young, at 15 to 30 million years old. This makes it one of the newest regions in the state. Notably, much of Arizona’s ancient rock has been uplifted and carried far from its origin. Some
