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Fall in Phoenix is a time for celebration. After a long (and seemingly endless) four months, the high desert heat has finally lifted. And that means Valley residents will be flocking and staying outdoors to enjoy the great weather the area is known for. Fall is known as festival season and these are can’t-miss options. From a taco festival to one of the most anticipated music fests the city has ever hosted, check out these top four Phoenix fall festivals.
Arizona Taco Festival
Every foodie in the Valley knows that one of fall’s best food festivals is the Arizona Taco Festival. Attendees can dig into tacos from more than 50 vendors hailing from all over Arizona. Dig into chicken, pork, taco, and seafood tacos at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale (where the Arizona Diamondbacks host spring training). Best of all? Each taco usually costs just a few dollars. The Taco Festival is really designed to appeal to a large swath of different age groups. Dog lovers can watch a Chihuahua beauty pageant. Music fans can listen to live tunes. Adults can drink margaritas and watch lucha libre wrestling shows while their youngsters can play in a kid’s zone featuring inflatable toys. This year’s Taco Festival is on Oct. 14 and 15.
Twitter: @AZTACOFESTIVAL
Arizona State Fair
The annual Arizona State Fair is exactly what a state fair should be. Held throughout the month of October, attendees can ride on classic rides like a ferris wheel, roller coasters, and even try out a bungee jump. Kids can enjoy an animal petting zoo. And then there’s the food. Dig into everything from fruit on a stick to turkey legs and all things fried like funnel cakes and even fried ice cream sundaes. The fair also brings in some pretty major musicians. In 2017, musicians like Snoop Dogg, Gary Allan, rock band Cake, and the Gin Blossoms will grace the fair’s stage. When you purchase a concert ticket, that includes fair admission.
Twitter: @azstatefair
Lost Lake Festival
Fall often means that many Phoenix residents return to the city’s stellar public parks. Encanto Park offers 222-acres of picnic tables, an amusement park, and a nature trail. Downtown’s Hance Park gives residents a lush, quiet oasis in the heart of the city. And Steele Indian School Park is one of Central Phoenix’s largest parks that’s home to a venue, dog park, a playground, and an amphitheater. And the park by will host one of the most anticipated festivals of the year: The Lost Lake Festival. Organized by the folks behind Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, Lost Lake Festival features top acts like The Killers, Chance the Rapper, and Major Lazer. Beyond that, attends can dig into food 25 local chefs and restaurants including Pizzeria Bianco, Clever Koi, and Gadzooks. Attendees also can enjoy craft beer, a playground featuring oversized games like Twister and peruse vendors selling art and other goods from local craft makers.
Twitter: @LostLakeFest
Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake
Another major festival held at one of the area’s best public parks? Four Peaks Oktoberfest at the waterside Tempe Town Lake. Local brewer Four Peaks serves up the suds as everyone rocks their lederhosen to celebrate the German fall festival. Dig into brats and enjoy other activities like dachshund races, keg tappings, karaoke, and carnival rides.
Twitter: @tempeoktofest
Once the fall weather is in full swing, many Phoenix residents take to one of the five best trails this area has to offer.
