Posted By Brooke Dixon
August 20, 2024
Top Things to Do in Mesa This Fall
Fall is right around the corner! Gather your family and friends and embrace the season with these fun fall festivals and activities.
Fall Festivals and Events
Vertuccio Farms Annual Fall Festival
Sept. 27 - Oct. 31
Vertuccio Farms Fall Festival is a must-visit event for all ages this season. With attractions like the pizza farm, giant tube roll, barrel train ride, spider web crawl, and extreme air pillow, there's something for everyone to enjoy. And, of course, no fall festival is complete without a pumpkin patch and the iconic 5-acre corn maze, making this the perfect family-friendly celebration of the season.
Celebrate Mesa Day
October 12 | 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Celebrate Mesa in true festival style! Check out this free event this fall, located at Red Mountain Soccer Complex. From face painting to a petting zoo, there is something for everyone to have a good time. Bring your friends and family and celebrate all that Mesa is!
Dia De Los Muertos Festival
Oct. 19 -20 | 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Mesa Arts Center proudly celebrates and hosts this annual event. Dia De Los Muertos is a celebration of Latin American art and culture related to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. In honor of the deceased, this free, annual event features beautiful art, live performances and more!
Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party
Oct. 3-31
The Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party event was voted by Phoenix Magazine, New Times, and Sunset Magazine as ‘The Best Fall Family Event in the Greater Phoenix Area.' Guests can expect numerous farm activities including amusement rides, zip lining, train rides, hayrides and outdoor games. Included in the experience will also be a 4-acre and 10-acre corn maze, a petting zoo, and two play yards for children. Chili dinners will also be sold at the Main Food Grills, as well as a variety of other food options including burgers, BBQ, succotash, and peach wood-fired pizzas (Schnepf Farms is the largest organic peach grower in Arizona). Buy your tickets online now!
Fall Scenery
Saguaro Lake
Enjoy the beauty of nature! When the temperatures start to cool down, getting outside is nothing short of amazing in Arizona. Whether you're enjoying a sunset cruise on the Desert Belle, having a picnic by the lake or simply watching the sunset, the vibes at the lake are perfect for the fall!
Hiking
Step outside and smell the...cacti? Seriously, enjoy the beautiful views that Arizona offers, especially right here in Mesa. No need to wake up before dawn when the temperatures are substantially cooler in the fall. And don't forget about the destination! Those views don't disappoint. Check out different hikes to try out here.
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum
This arboretum, located in Queen Creek Canyon, just 30 minutes from Mesa, is the state's oldest and largest botanical garden. With spectacular views of Picketpost Mountain, Boyce Thompson Arboretum features a beautiful collection of plants, historic buildings and hidden gardens along miles of trails. The Arboretum has been called "the most enchanting" Audubon Important Birding Area in Arizona and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Vibrant fall colors take over the lush flora, making late November the best time of year to explore the gardens.
Fall Flavors
Enjoy pumpkin breakfast and lunch at T.C. Eggingtons! Whether you want to start your day with pumpkin pancakes or get cozy with a pumpkin latte, pumpkin lovers will rejoice with these seasonal eats!
Fall Recipes from Mesa
When the weather starts to cool down, there's no better adventure than exploring the delicious flavors of the Fresh Foodie Trail. Mesa is a culinary gateway here in the Southwest with a flourishing collection of charming, neighborhood farms and food-centric outposts providing a year-round bounty of seasonal goods for visitors to enjoy. Make your own Farm-to-Table experience from products along the trail and enjoy a nice home cooked meal.
Find More Things to Do
Packed with excitement, the Mesa area offers visitors an explosion of educational, cultural and outdoor attractions. From interactive museums to Broadway musicals and old west towns, Mesa's got it all!