Fall Festivals Around the State (2026)

When the heat finally breaks, Arizona's event calendar fills up. From late September through early November, you can drink German beer in the pines above Tucson, watch hot air balloons rise over Lake Powell, see gunfight reenactments on Tombstone's Allen Street, and walk in one of the most moving public ceremonies in the Southwest. Here's the season in date order so you can plan your route.

Late September to Early October

Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley Oktoberfest

The season starts on the mountain. The 51st annual Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley Oktoberfest runs on weekends only: Sept 19–20, Sept 26–27, Oct 3–4, and Oct 10–11, 2026. The setting is part of the appeal. The festival sits at 8,200 feet, about 30°F cooler than Tucson, and getting there means a scenic drive to the top of the Catalina Highway.

Expect German beer, food, traditional music, dancing, and games. Admission is free, and parking in the Ski Valley lot costs $5. Food, beer, and sky ride tickets are sold separately. Dog owners can bring their pups: leashed, friendly dogs are welcome.

Arizona State Fair

Down in the Valley, the state's biggest fall tradition begins. The 2026 fair runs October 1 to November 1, open Thursdays through Sundays, with the theme "A State of Wonder." It's held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Rd, Phoenix.

The fair is older than the state itself. It was first held in 1884 as a territorial fair. Today it ranks among the top five state fairs in the country by attendance, drawing more than a million visitors a year.

Rex Allen Days

In southeastern Arizona, Willcox honors its most famous son. The celebration runs October 1–4, 2026, with a rodeo, parade, carnival rides, live entertainment, and family activities. This year marks the 75th annual celebration.

Rex Allen, "The Arizona Cowboy," starred in 19 movies and later narrated countless Disney nature films and TV shows. While you're in town, visit the Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum, which holds his memorabilia. His ashes were scattered in Railroad Park, across the street, near a bronze statue of him.

Mid-October: The Peak Weekends

Western Navajo Fair, Tuba City

Held October 8–11, 2026, the Western Navajo Fair is the grand finale of the Navajo Nation Fairs. The program includes a parade, rodeo, pow wow, concert series, arts and crafts showcase, community events, and fair rides.

A timing tip: the parade is scheduled for October 10, 2026 at 9am DST/Navajo Time. Unlike the rest of Arizona, the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, so check which time zone a schedule uses before you head out.

Four Peaks Oktoberfest, Tempe

The Valley's big Oktoberfest takes over the waterfront October 9–11, 2026, at Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park. The festival combines beer gardens, live music, a polka stage, German food vendors, dachshund races, carnival rides, and kids' activities. For budget-minded families, admission on Sunday is free for all ages.

Sedona Arts Festival

Against the red rocks, Sedona's premier art event runs Saturday, October 10 (9am to 5pm) and Sunday, October 11 (10am to 4pm). It's held at Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road in West Sedona, and features more than 100 juried artists from across the country, live music, food and drinks, and raffle prizes.

Admission is $15 at the gate or $12 if you buy online in advance, and one ticket covers both days. Children 12 and under get in free with a paid adult. Leave pets at home: only service animals are allowed because of venue restrictions.

The Southern Arizona Super Weekend (October 16–18)

Three of the season's most distinctive events fall on the same weekend in the southeast corner of the state, which makes a Tucson–Tombstone–Bisbee loop easy to plan.

Tucson Meet Yourself. This free folklife festival has been a Tucson tradition since 1974, and it's set for Oct. 16–18 at Jácome Plaza downtown. The festival is larger this year. It's a stop on a Smithsonian national tour, so visitors will find new exhibits and a special event held beforehand. Overall, more than 500 artists, tradition bearers, musicians, dancers, and cooks share the food, music, crafts, and stories of their communities.

Helldorado Days, Tombstone. An hour and change to the southeast, Helldorado Days runs October 16, 17, and 18, 2026, with gunfight reenactment shows, street entertainment, fashion shows, and food vendors, capped by the Helldorado Parade on Sunday. The tradition goes back almost a century: it began in 1929 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Tombstone's founding.

Bisbee 1000: The Great Stair Climb. On October 17, 2026, runners and walkers take on Old Bisbee's hillsides. The 4.5-mile course links nine staircases, more than 1,000 steps in all, with winding roads. It starts and finishes at 201 Tombstone Canyon Road, near the Iron Man statue. The stairways have history too. They originally followed mule paths worn into the hills during Bisbee's copper mining heyday. Registration is online only, at Bisbee1000.org.

Early November

Page Lake Powell Balloon Regatta

Billed as Arizona's largest hot air balloon festival, the regatta fills the sky over Lake Powell. Balloons launch November 5, 6, 7, and 8 at 7:15am from Lake Powell National Golf Course and John C. Page Memorial Park.

Don't miss Saturday night. The Balloon Glow runs Saturday, November 7, from 6:30 to 8:00pm on Lake Powell Blvd. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce's street fair turns Elm Street into a celebration with food and craft vendors, kids' activities, a beer garden, and live music.

All Souls Procession, Tucson

The season ends in Tucson. The 37th annual All Souls Procession takes place Nov. 8, 2026, on Tucson's Westside. Participants gather on Grande Avenue at 4pm and set off at 6pm, and the night ends with the burning of the Urn in the Mercado District.

Many participants draw on Día de los Muertos, but organizers say the event welcomes death traditions from every culture. It's also participatory by design: it's a procession, not a parade, so everyone is invited to join rather than just watch.

Planning Tips

Book early for the October 16–18 weekend. With Tucson Meet Yourself, Helldorado Days, and the Bisbee 1000 all happening at once, rooms in Southern Arizona will go fast.

Pack layers. Mt. Lemmon, Sedona, and Page can be much cooler than Phoenix or Tucson, especially at a morning balloon launch or after sunset.

Watch the clock on the Navajo Nation. Tuba City event times may follow daylight saving time, which the rest of Arizona doesn't use.

Confirm before you go. Dates, prices, and programming can change, so check each event's official site close to your trip.