October in the Valley has a way of making everyone act like they discovered calendars for the first time. Suddenly there’s a reason to leave the house, and apparently several of them.
1. Arizona State Fair
The Arizona State Fair is back, and it’s leaning hard into the usual crowd-pleasers: rides, live entertainment, exhibitions, competitions and plenty of food. The Coliseum Concert Series adds Becky G, All Time Low, Gin Blossoms and more, because no fair is complete until somebody is trying to decide between a funnel cake and a concert.
2. A month-long run
The fair runs Oct. 1-Nov. 1 at the Arizona State Fair and Coliseum, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. Hours are noon-9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, and noon-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with Mondays through Wednesdays closed. Admission is $20, which is the part where the fair politely reminds you that nostalgia is not free.
3. Why it matters for the Valley
The source roundup says October is packed with events for just about everyone, from food lovers and dog owners to gamers, festival fans and convention-goers. That’s the real story here: the Valley doesn’t just have one big thing to do this month, it has a whole stack of them, which is either great news or a scheduling problem, depending on how optimistic you are.
4. More than one kind of outing
The roundup also points to a mix of food festivals, local markets, pop-ups, conventions, parades and family-friendly activities around metro Phoenix. In other words, if your idea of a good time is wandering around with a snack in one hand and a vague plan in the other, October is apparently your season.
5. The bigger October picture
The article says there’s a fall events guide with over 50 events for the rest of the year in Arizona. So if one fair isn’t enough to fill your calendar, the state has helpfully provided backup.
Bill Farr writes for HappyTimesAZ.com, where October in Phoenix is treated like a civic duty with better snacks.
