Best October and November Festivals for Families in Phoenix 2023, Updated

The last weekend before Halloween is soon upon us. Check out the celebrations below:

What a glorious time of year to be in the Valley of the Sun. The heat has been turned down, so let the festive fun of the fall season begin.

Image: visitphoenix.com

It’s hard to know where to begin when planning things to do in beautiful October and gorgeous November. With cooler weather coming up, many festive events are planned for around the Valley. From spooky Halloween events to Dia De Los Muertos celebrations to harvest festivals, we have it all in the Valley of the Sun.

For family fun and frivolity, well worth your time, check out Phoenix on the Cheap’s best celebrations of October and November below.

Halloween Spook-Track-Ula at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park – Scottsdale

Stop in for a spell as the Paradise & Pacific Railroad at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is transformed into a haunted park of fun for the Halloween Spook-Track-ula. This family-friendly event is perfect for kids of all ages. The event’s main feature, a spooky train ride created with younger children in mind…a bit spooky, but not too frightening.

The Spook-Track-Ula runs from October 7 through 31 beginning at 6 pm. Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance here. On select weeknights, tickets are $10 after 8 pm.

Ticket fees are for a 90 minute time block of fun, which includes unlimited train and carousel rides. Time blocks run from 6 – 7:30 pm and 8 – 9:30 pm. The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is located at 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale, 85250.

Halloween Stroll – Downtown Tempe

Calling all ghosts, goblins, and princesses of all ages to Tempe’s Halloween Stroll Downtown. Join the fun for a not-so-spooky Halloween. Events planned include games like Dart Boogie, crafts, a Kids-Only Costume Contest plus trick-or-treating with over 25 downtown merchants.

Stroll on over, on Sunday, October 29 from 2 to 5 pm to Downtown Tempe, in the area of Ragsdale-MLK Park at 24 East 6th St, Tempe 85281. No entrance fee is listed on the website.

Dia De Los Muertos Phoenix Festival

Dia De Los Muertos is a day when homage is paid to ancestors with prayers, offerings of food, and the building of altars to the beloved departed. Each region has its unique style of celebration.

In Arizona, the annual Dia de los Muertos is a Celebration of Life. Making appearances at Dia de los Muertos this year will be Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, La Llorona looking for her children, skeletons looking for dance partners, and La Procesión, a celebratory procession in which the audience joins performers in a candlelit, joyful burst of music, dance and remembrance.

Join this FREE, fun, festive, and uniquely southwestern cultural experience on Sunday, October 29 from 2 to 7 pm at Steel Indian School Park, located at 300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix 85012.

Dia De Los Muertos – Mesa

The Mesa Arts Center is the location for another FREE celebration of of Dia De Los Muertos. Experience over a dozen cultural performances and live music and entertainment. The community is invited to participate in the memories of the deceased with a community altar. There will also be altar contests with submissions by the community. Artist demonstrations are also planned.

Join this celebration of remembrance October 21 and 22 from 10 am to 5 pm each day. The Mesa Arts Center is located at One East Main St., Mesa, 85201. This is a free event.

Harvest Festival at Enchanted Island – Phoenix

Don’t miss the Harvest Festival at Encanto Park’s Enchanted Island in Phoenix. Pony rides, corn box, petting zoo, pumpkin golf and bowling are planned, not to mention carnival games and bouncy houses. The climax of this Harvest Festival is a hayride through the historic Encanto Park neighborhood. Point of Phoenix history–the Encanto Park neighborhood was the first community development in the Valley, going back to 1939.

Families will pay $17 per person for unlimited access to the Harvest Festival and $32.75 per person for unlimited access to the Harvest Festival and amusement park rides. 55 and over pay only $8 for the Harvest Festival.

The Harvest Festival will take place on November 18 and 19 from 11 am to 6 pm at Encanto Park, located at 1202 West Encanto Blvd., Phoenix, 85007.