Fun Things To Do This Fall In Arizona!

Whether it's tourist attractions, sightseeing, hiking, camping, picnics, birdwatching, scenic walks and long drives around the country, fairs, festivals and even hot air balloon rides, Arizona has a lot to offer any time of the year. While Arizona is known for its hot and dry weather, fall is just as wonderful as any time of the year in the Valley. Here are some of the best things to do, places to visit and attractions to check out in Arizona once the marvelous hues of red, yellow, gold and orange blanket the mountainous landscape of the Grand Canyon State:

Ghost-Hunting in Jerome
One of the most notoriously haunted cities in Arizona, Jerome is perfect for those looking to go on a paranormal search or simply put, ghost-hunting, especially with plenty of tour dates and times to select from.

Pumpkin Patch Train on the Grand Canyon Railways
Come in your favorite costume and ride the one and only Pumpkin Patch Train out into the countryside to a secret pumpkin patch! Pick a pumpkin then head back to decorate it at Williams Depot while enjoying fall treats like caramel apples, different kinds of pie, and hot chocolate at the station.

Fall Foliage at Mount Lemmon
Many locals recommend going to Mount Lemmon, a beautiful mountain retreat in Tucson, and no better time to drive up the ”Island in the Sky” than during fall when trees sport tons of yellow, orange, and red leaves. Cozy up too with a bite or piece of pie at the Summer Haven restaurants.

Nightfall at Old Tucson
For five weekends of the year, Old Tucson Studios transforms into the ultimate scary Halloween town haunted, featuring zombies, monsters, grotesque creatures, horror train, death row creepy live action shows and haunted buildings!

“Leaf Peeping” at the White Mountains
The most beautiful autumn sights are on display at the White Mountains in eastern Arizona with the leaves of Gambel oaks and aspen trees turned yellow and orange. Best seen during the first three weeks of October

Flagstaff’s Natural Attractions
The city's Coconino National Forest is a wonderful place to be if you're looking to appreciate the autumn colors. Those looking to level up their appreciation by going on an adventure can try the Aspen Nature Loop, a 1.8-mile hike. You'll also find natural attractions near the city's outskirts such as the Sunset Crater Volcano, Walnut Canyon and Wupatki national monuments.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon
While the South Rim is open year-round, the North Rim is open mid-May to mid-October. And what better sendoff until it reopens the following year than a tour of the North Rim's Kaibab National Forest and its fantastic fall foliage.

Red Rock Country Trails
Arizona’s second-most-popular tourist attraction after the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, is named for its towering red-colored desert rocks. But wait til you see the beautiful waterfalls pouring over the red rocks as well as the fall foliage along Red Rock Country’s Schnebly Hill Trail. In addition, you'll find the Coconino National Forest, Fossil Creek Trailhead and Verde River in Red Rock Country.

Goldfield Ghost Town
These Halloween, why not visit an authentic ghost town complete with a historic Wild West-era look like Goldfield Ghost Town? A former gold-mining town, Goldfield Ghost Town offers underground tours, gunfight performances and original historic buildings.

Natural Beauty of the Navajo Nation
Get dressed in layers so you're all set for the autumn weather and get the most out of the picturesque views of Arizona's Navajo Nation: historic trading posts, villages, tribal parks and national monuments. Hiking tours of Monument Valley Tribal Park, Church Rock Pyramid, Rainbow Bridge and Window Rock are also available.

Petrified Forest
With over 50,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness featuring numerous fossils, petrified trees, multihued geological deposits of clay-rich soil and sedimentary rocks that make up the "painted desert," the Petrified Forest National Park in the northeastern part of Arizona is unlike any other attraction you might find out there. What makes visiting it in October more special is the sight of the desert bush and shrubs alight by the marvelous red, gold, yellow and orange of fall.

Pumpkin Days and Corn Maze at Tolmachoff Farms
The autumn season offerings at Tolmachoff Farms includes a great big pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, train ride, hay pyramid, corn box, adult/child pedal cart track, jumping pillow and mazes! Search for pieces of your map in the 6-acre family corn maze while little ones can have fun at the mini corn maze. There's even a haunted corn maze in the spirit of Halloween!

MacDonald’s Ranch Pumpkin Patch
Open the whole month of October (closed on Tuesdays), have fun picking pumpkins, the petting zoo, haystack maze, Western games, hayride, pan for gold in the gem mine and more at this year's MacDonald’s Ranch Pumpkin Patch.

Fall Festival at Vertuccio Farms
Admission to the family-owned Vertuccio Farms' event includes a 7 acre Corn Maze, mini golf, duck races, pumpkin bowling, barrel train rides, farm animals and more. Don't forget to pick a pumpkin, too, for your Halloween jack-o-lantern!

Mortimer Family Farms Pumpkin Fest and Corn Maze
Featuring a 15-acre Pumpkin Patch and 15-acre Corn Maze, this Mortimer Family Farms’ annual event is open Fridat to Sunday. Additional activities to enjoy include a magic show, pig races, dog show, obstacle course, zip line and hayrides.

Arizona State Fair - 10/05 - 10/28
The Copper State's largest festival attracts over 1 million guests annually to rank as the 3rd highest attended state fair in the country and in the top 15 of North American Fairs. With something for everyone- multitude of tents, food stands, carnival games, rides, national headline & local entertainment, special shopping vendors, various contests, livestock shows and other attractions like a 150-foot ferris wheel- perhaps what best set Arizona’s annual fair apart from most other state's fair is its autumn weather perfect for a grand month-long outdoor event like this!

Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party - 10/05 - 10/29
Schnepf Farms in Cave Creek hosts their annual Pumpkin and Chili Party and for the price of admission, have a wonderful time with fun fall activities and attractions like like hay rides, a 4-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch, pig races, party food, a ride on the farm's train and more. And on Friday and Saturday nights, there are fireworks lighting up the sky!

PoeFest - 10/05 - 10/31
Pofessional actors will bring to life Edgar Allan Poe's stories as characters from his fictional Maison de Santé asylum, a 19th Century asylum for the criminally insane, at the appropriately named Ghost Lounge at the historic Hotel San Carlos which- get this- is frequently listed among the top ten most haunted hotels in America. PoeFest ends Halloween night at the Rosson House Museum with performances of The Raven every twenty minutes as well as a tour of the lower level of the Gothic Victorian mansion.

Rocker 7 Farm Patch Festival - 10/07 - 10/29
A hayride, corn maze, sunflowers, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, jumping pillow, tractor tire playground, educational barn, corn seed box and hay pyramid are just some of the many farm activities one can enjoy at this year's Rocker 7 Farm Patch Festival in Buckeye.

Phoenix Greek Festival - 10/12 - 10/14
Come share in the rich history, culture, and culinary delights of Greece with this festival featuring authentically prepared Greek cuisine, booths selling a variety of items like Greek jewelry, artwork, and food as well as performances by nationally recognized community dancers in traditional costumes from the various regions of Greece.

Arizona Taco Festival - 10/13 - 10/14
Music, food, and fun including Lucha Libre Wrestling, Hot Chili Pepper Eating Contests, a Chihuahua Beauty Pageant and of course, a taco-making challenge judged by officials of the National Taco Association where more than 50 teams compete for the honor of having the best taco in Arizona!

Autumnfest Arts & Crafts Fair - 10/20 - 10/21
Celebrate the fall season with fall-flavored festivities including arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides, pumpkin picking, live entertainment and kids zone with inflatables. And for $5 each, pick a pumpkin to decorate onsite or carve at home.

Salt River Fields Balloon Spooktacular - 10/26 - 10/27
A spooktacularly good time awaits kids of all ages in the annual Balloon Spooktacular which features nightly firework shows, nightly Costume Contests, live music, balloon candy stations, a pumpkin patch and a free KidsZone. Enjoy tethered balloon rides as well as the world's longest continuous glow at over 3 hours with more than 20 majestic hot air balloons illuminating the sky. Don't forget to visit the fan favorte Spook Trail with its surprises around every corner and the Spooktacular Marketplace for arts, crafts and merchandise.

WayneFest - 10/27
Celebrate Coronado Park's musical past while being introduced to its musical present with this micro-music festival featuring a diverse lineup reflecting the energy and sass of downtown Phoenix!

Dia de los Muertos Festival - 10/27- 10/28
Spirits converge at the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival at the Mesa Arts Center. The living are in for a treat with delicious food, live performances, engaging activities and a colorful mercado featuring a wide assortment of jewelry and crafts related to the Day of the Dead.

Mikiztli: Dia de los Muertos PHX - 10/28
Bring a blanket or a lawn chair or pick a spot on the grass and experience an authentic celebration of ancestors and a diverse community with music, dance and theater performance at the annual Dia de Los Muertos PHX Festival. In addition to food and children’s art activities area, there will be an artists’ mercado featuring local artists and art groups.

Enjoy 2nd Friday Night Out in Mesa
This month's theme is "Nightmare on Main" so expect the town center transformed into a spooky street fair complete with creepy costumes and decorations, plus over 40 artist and vendor booths, live music, entertainment and prize giveaways!

6th Street Market in Tempe
Every Sunday in October, enjoy a casual Sunday morning at Downtown Tempe with a family-friendly, free outdoor market featuring dozens of vendors of arts and crafts, live music, and local cuisine for sale. New this year is food sampling from more than 30 Arizona food producers thanks to a partnership with Food in Root.

Helldorado Days in Tombstone
Popularly known for with its history of gunslingers as well as the O.K. Corral shootout, "The Town Too Tough to Die" celebrates Helldorado Days on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday of October by showcasing gunfight reenactments, fashion shows and other entertainment.

Click here for Pumpkin Patches & Farms to visit in Arizona!

Sources:
https://bestthingsaz.com/fall-activities/
https://www.tripstodiscover.com/things-to-do-in-fall-in-arizona/
https://www.visitphoenix.com/events/by-season/fall/
https://www.funtober.com/festivals/arizona/
https://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-10-places-october-arizona-100106.html
https://www.tripsavvy.com/phoenix-event-for-october-2677430
https://www.visitphoenix.com/blog/post/phoenix-fall-festivals/

Fun Things To Do This Fall In Arizona!