Arizona Season Has Arrived
Our October Guide to Scottsdale & Beyond
There’s a moment every year in Arizona when you walk outside in the morning and realize something has changed.
The air feels cooler. Patio doors start opening again. Hiking shoes come out of hiding. Dinner reservations move back outdoors. And after months of planning life around triple-digit temperatures, suddenly the entire state seems to wake back up.
October is that moment.
In Scottsdale, average October temperatures drop to around 89 degrees during the day and 56 degrees at night—a pretty dramatic shift from September’s average high of 100.
And one of our favorite things about living in Arizona is that “fall” can mean almost anything you want it to. You can spend Saturday morning at a farmers market in Old Town, pick pumpkins in the Sonoran Desert that afternoon, or drive a couple of hours north and find yourself surrounded by golden aspens and crisp mountain air.
So, in honor of the unofficial beginning of Arizona’s best season, here are some of our favorite ways to spend October around Scottsdale — plus a few road-trip-worthy adventures within a few hours of the Valley.
Start Saturday Morning at the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market
One of the clearest signs that Scottsdale’s outdoor season has officially returned is the reopening of the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market.
The 2026–27 season begins Saturday, October 3, at its new location near Scottsdale City Hall. More than 100 local growers and specialty food producers participate, with everything from produce and fresh breads to jams, meats and locally made products. The market runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the fall and winter season.
Grab a coffee, wander the market, and follow it with brunch somewhere in Old Town. It is an exceptionally Scottsdale way to spend an October morning.
Website: Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market
Pick Pumpkins - Scottsdale Style
Yes, Arizona has pumpkin patches. We just tend to put ours next to saguaros.
MacDonald’s Ranch in North Scottsdale turns its Sonoran Desert property into a Western-style pumpkin patch each fall, complete with pumpkins, ranch activities and plenty of opportunities to lean fully into the season without leaving Scottsdale. The ranch begins its fall schedule October 3 and operates through October 31.
There is something wonderfully Arizona about taking a pumpkin home with desert mountains in the background.
Website: MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch
Make a Night of Scottsdale Fashion Week
October isn’t only pumpkins and hiking.
For something decidedly more glamorous, Scottsdale Fashion Week returns October 8–11, bringing four days of runway shows, designers, entertainment and fashion events to venues around Scottsdale.
It is one of those weekends that reminds you that Scottsdale can effortlessly move from desert boots in the morning to cocktails and couture that evening.
Website: Scottsdale Fashion Week
Go Full Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake
A little lederhosen never hurt anybody.
The Four Peaks Oktoberfest takes over Tempe Town Lake from October 9–11, with live music, German food, beer, carnival attractions and — perhaps most importantly — dachshund races.
Consider this your permission to order the pretzel.
Spend an Evening at the Scottsdale Fall Festival
On October 17, Scottsdale Civic Center hosts its annual Scottsdale Fall Festival, and this year the event has expanded.
The free evening includes live music and a DJ, food trucks, a cocktail garden, carnival games, trick-or-treating, arts and crafts and other activities from 5 to 9 p.m.
It is casual, local and one of those events that feels especially good once Scottsdale evenings finally become comfortable enough to stay outside for hours.
Website: Scottsdale Fall Festival
Eat Your Way Through Taco Fest
October also happens to be an excellent month to arrive hungry.
Taco Fest lands at Salt River Fields on October 17–18, turning the weekend into a celebration of tacos, food and Arizona fall weather.
This one requires very little explanation.
Tacos. Scottsdale. October.
We’re in.
Website: Taco Fest at Salt River Fields
Experience Día de los Muertos in Old Town
One of October's most visually beautiful Scottsdale events returns for its 10th anniversary on October 24.
The Scottsdale Día de los Muertos celebration at Scottsdale Civic Center will include large-scale art installations and traditional altars, live music, food and artisans, a Catrina fashion show and evening procession. Grammy-nominated Mexican-American singer Lupita Infante is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m.
The main festival runs from 1 to 10 p.m., while the art installations will be displayed October 22–25.
Admission is free.
Website: Scottsdale Día de los Muertos
Head East for the Pumpkin & Chili Party at Schnepf Farms
If you want the full fall-festival experience, make the drive to Queen Creek.
Schnepf Farms' Pumpkin & Chili Party is celebrating its 30th year and runs Thursday through Sunday throughout October. Expect a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkins, amusement rides, pig races, live entertainment, bonfires and — naturally — plenty of chili.
It is especially fun with kids, but there is enough going on that adults can very easily justify the trip too.
And maybe buy a pie for the drive home.
Website: Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party
When You Want Actual Sweater Weather…
Here is the other great thing about fall in Arizona:
If Scottsdale isn't cool enough yet, drive north.
Within roughly two to three hours, the desert starts disappearing, pine trees take over and suddenly Arizona looks like a completely different state.
Flagstaff: Chase the Fall Colors
If your definition of fall involves changing leaves and an actual jacket, head to Flagstaff.
Arizona Snowbowl's aspens typically put on their autumn show around this time, and this year visitors have two ways to see them from above. Scenic Gondola rides continue through fall, while the Grand Canyon Express Scenic Chairlift will operate October 3–18, taking riders above the aspens with views across Northern Arizona.
Make a weekend of it: grab coffee downtown, take the lift, hike among the aspens and stay somewhere with a fireplace.
That is Arizona fall too.
Sedona: Art + Red Rocks + Fall Weather
Sedona becomes especially hard to resist once October arrives.
The Sedona Arts Festival takes place October 10–11, bringing more than 100 juried artists, live music and food to a setting surrounded by red rocks.
October is packed with other Sedona happenings too, including its Plein Air Festival, Fest of Fall and gallery events.
Our version of the day: hike early, spend a few hours at the festival, then stay for dinner and sunset.
Website: Sedona Arts Festival
Website: Sedona Plein Air Festival
Website: Sedona Fest of Fall
Prescott: Pine Trees, Whiskey Row and a Weekend Away
For a slower-paced escape, head toward Prescott.
Walk historic downtown and Courthouse Plaza, stop along Whiskey Row, find a patio for lunch and simply enjoy being somewhere noticeably cooler than the Valley.
October also brings seasonal events to the area, including Fall Zoo Fest at Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary October 24–25.
Sometimes the best fall activity doesn't require an itinerary at all.
Just a car, a couple of hours and a change in elevation.
Website: Historic Downtown Prescott and Courthouse Plaza
Website: Historic Whiskey Row
And Then There Are the Simple Things
Not every great October day needs a ticket.
This is the month when Scottsdale's everyday lifestyle really returns.
Wake up early and hike Pinnacle Peak.
Take Camelback before breakfast.
Play an afternoon round of golf without feeling like you're participating in a survival experiment.
Book dinner on a patio.
Go horseback riding in North Scottsdale.
Walk Old Town after sunset.
Open every door in the house and finally let the desert air back inside.
After surviving another Arizona summer, sometimes being outside again is the event.
Website: Hike Pinnacle Peak
Website: Hike Camelback Mountain
Website: Scottsdale Golf Guide
Website: Old Town Patio Dining Guide
Website: Horseback Riding Guide
Website: Old Town Scottsdale Guide
This Is Why We Love Fall in Arizona
Fall here may look a little different.
Our leaves aren't necessarily changing outside the front door. We aren't packing away snow shovels. And pumpkin spice occasionally has to coexist with an 85-degree afternoon.
But within a single October weekend, you can hike through saguaros, wander a pumpkin patch, have dinner outdoors and wake up the following morning beneath pine trees in Flagstaff.
That range is part of what makes living here so unique.
And if you are new to Arizona — or thinking about making Scottsdale home — October is an especially good month to understand why so many of us fall in love with this lifestyle.
The heat is finally leaving.
Arizona season has officially begun!