Ahh, October! The month has come where we can finally take a step back and breathe here in the Valley. There is so much to do this month that putting together events to check out was a breeze. Whether you’re a foodie, looking for music, or ready for a festival, October has it all – and much more.

Monday, October 1st

–      Get over to Stand Up Live for the NACADA Comedy Show – a stand-up showcase featuring comics from “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Comedy Central, and more. The show starts at 7:30 pm, and tickets range from $10-15.

Tuesday, October 2nd

–      Who doesn’t love Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles? Grab a great dinner and then stick around for a Paint and Sip Night brought to you by Your Art Party. $30 gets you the lesson to make a work of art. There will also be live jazz. Starts at 7 pm.

–      Tom Petty fans can catch a tribute band performing at BLK Live beginning at 7 pm. The night dedicated to the late singer takes place a year after his death. Tickets start at $10.

Wednesday, October 3rd

–      Get your hip-hop fix over at Valley Bar with a night of DJs spinning new hip-hop talent from Phoenix and beyond. Starts at 8 pm, $10 admission.

–      Japanese Breakfast, the solo music project of Michelle Zanner, will be over at the Nile with her indie, dreamy, lo-fi experimental pop. With popular songs like “Everybody Wants to Love You,” and “Boyish,” it’s sure to be a great show. Tickets are $15, starts at 7 pm.

Thursday, October 4th

–      Crescent Ballroom is hosting “Rockin’ Out” – a benefit for breast cancer awareness featuring a variety of female rockers from Phoenix. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 the day of the show, which starts at 7:30 pm.

–      You can still snag a ticket to see legendary folk/rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan at Comerica Theatre, starting at 8 pm. Tickets are as low as $56.50.

Friday, October 5th

–      Head over to the A.E. Building on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus for the 5th annual Food & Thought Community event, featuring a book discussion, signing, and food sampling. Author Adrian Miller discusses his book The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas.

–      Hang out at Bikini Lounge for free live music starting at 7 pm. Local band Moonlight Magic will be gracing the venue with their quirky bossa nova lounge tunes. Bikini Lounge is the oldest Tiki Bar in the Valley and a great place to hang on First Fridays.

–      Indie/punk band The Front Bottoms are performing at the Van Buren starting at 8 pm, and you can snag tickets starting at $25.

Saturday, October 6th  

–      Literary enthusiasts should head over to Phoenix Public Market starting at 8 am for a special “Meet Your Literary Community” event. The morning will consist of literary activities, presentations, and programs until 12 pm. Over 50 local authors and organizations will be represented, with activities including book exchanges, writing groups, etc. And most importantly, the event is free!

–      Downtown Phoenix Oktoberfest takes place from 4-10 pm in CityScape. If you attend the festival, prepare yourself for a variety of German beers and bites. There will be numerous games, contests, and polka dancing. Tickets are $10 online or $15 the day of (or get group admission which includes 4 tickets for $30).

Sunday, October 7th

–      The 2018 Greek Festival of Chandler is here and goes from 11 am-7 pm. Featuring traditional Greek foods, Greek imports, folk dancing, live music, and much more. We can’t think of a better way to experience Greek culture! History is blended with current trends for a celebration of heritage. Admission is only $5, and you can even get one free ticket on their website.

–      The Arizona Ultimate Women’s Expo down at the Phoenix Convention Center is the place to be if you want a variety of pop-up shops, fashion shows, beauty treatments, tastings, DIY workshops and more. Tickets are $10 a person, and the event takes place from 11 am -5 pm.

Monday, October 8th

–      The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com come together as part of their Storytellers Project to present a night of stories surrounding an “Undercover” theme. The night will bring stories all about white lies, costumes, code switching – you name it. Tickets are $12 (or $5 for students). The event is at Crescent Ballroom.

Tuesday, October 9th

–      FilmBar is showing “Living in the Future’s Past,” a documentary presented and narrated by Jeff Bridges. The story details our place on Earth and gives insight into how our human nature influences our future and the world. The showing starts at 7 pm, tickets are $12.

–      RuPaul’s Drag Race World Tour is headed to the Orpheum Theatre for an all new 2018 show. Celebrity judge Michelle Visage hosts performances by several finalists. The show starts at 9pm, and tickets range from $54-155.

Wednesday, October 10th

–      The Coronado restaurant in Phoenix is celebrating three years of being in business and is throwing a 10-10-10K party, in the hopes of hitting 10,000 followers on Instagram. They’ll have food and drink specials, a guest DJ for patio dancing and giveaways. The party starts at 7 pm.

–      Singer/songwriter Lily Allen brings her No Shame Tour to the Marquee Theatre starting at 7 pm. Tickets range from $30-50 at this all-ages show.

Thursday, October 11th

–      The Phoenix Zoo is hosting “Roars and Pours” – starting at 5:30 pm, guests 21+ can enjoy craft brews and food while walking along select trails in the zoo. There will be animal encounters, games, live music and more. Tickets are $10.

–      Rock band Mayday Parade with special guests (This Wild Life and William Ryan Key) will be at the Van Buren for a show at 7 pm. Tickets start at $28.

Friday, October 12th

–      Who doesn’t love a free movie? The weather is finally nice enough to enjoy an outdoor film presented by CityScape as a part of their “City Lights Movie Nights” series. The Disney Pixar film Coco will be shown at 7 pm for free.There will also be a festive pop-up, low riders, live music, and more.  

Saturday, October 13th

–      The Japanese Friendship Garden is presenting a bamboo workshop beginning at 10 am. The workshop shows how to select, plant, and care for bamboo. Tickets are $35.

–      A whole day dedicated to Tacos!? Over 100 varieties of tacos will be available for the 9th annual Arizona Taco Festival, all $2 each. Besides the tacos, there will be live music, ice cold margaritas, Lucha Libre Wrestling, a Chihuahua beauty pageant, and much more. Tickets are $12 online, $15 at the gate from 11 am – 7 pm.

Sunday, October 14th

–      The Four Peaks Oktoberfest is back at Tempe Town Lake from 10 am- 8 pm. Did we mention the free admission? Cause they got that too. Featuring a beer garden, live music, rides, dancing, and yes, Dachshund racing, we highly recommend you head over to Tempe to check it out.

–      The Desert Botanical Gardens are a great way to spend a weekend, and what makes Sundays better is that there are concerts to enjoy from 3:30-5:30 pm. Marmalade Skies will be performing at Ullman Terrace. Tickets for the concert are $29.95 which get you access to the gardens too.

Monday, October 15th

–      Combine macramé and weaving techniques when you attend this three-hour class to create a macramé wall hanging featuring weaving, wrapping, and fringing. All supplies are provided for you to make and take home a wall hanging. Starts at 6 pm, tickets are $125.

–      Too Many Zooz is performing at Crescent Ballroom, bringing urban funk sounds to the stage. Tickets are $17-20, show starts at 8 pm.

Tuesday, October 16th

–      The Orpheum Theatre will be hosting the Nicole Pesce Jazz Trio (featuring piano, saxophone, and vocals) for an intimate night of music in the Lobby Lounge. The show starts at 6:30 pm and a $5 donation is suggested.

Wednesday, October 17th

–      Bar Flies, a monthly reading series, is back at Valley Bar for another night of stories told by various members of the Phoenix community. Tickets for this 7 pm show are $6. This month’s theme is “Rescue Me!”

–      You might as well just spend your entire night at Valley Bar – after Bar Flies, hang out for a set by DJ Kate Scratch Fever, spinning the best Funk, Soul, and Rock n’ Roll beats. Music starts at 9 pm.

Thursday, October 18th

–      Head over to the Herberger Theater for a Halloween-themed modern dance performance. “A Haunting We Will Go” will feature critically acclaimed “The Return of Dracula”. Tickets range from $14-28, and the show starts at 7:30 pm. It’s to die for……

–      Get your weekly roundup of the week’s current events (entertainment, music, politics) at “This Week Sucks Tonight,” hosted by comedians Anwar Newton and Michael Turner. The free event starts at 11 pm.

Friday, October 19th

–      Science with a Twist is back at the Arizona Science Center. The adults-only night is $12 and allows you to explore the museum as well as enjoy drinks and food for sale. “Strange Science” is the theme for this month. Starts at 6 pm.

–      The Phoenix Symphony presents the score from the classic Tim Burton film The Nightmare Before Christmas. See the music come to life at the show starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets range in price, starting at $30.

Saturday, October 20th

–      Embrace the Halloween season and head over to the Children’s Museum for a night of Costumes and Cocktails. There will be a costume contest, haunted house, cash bars, interactive exhibits, food trucks, and much more. Get tickets for $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Festivities start at 7 pm.

–      The Phoenix Lantern Fest will be taking place at the Pinal Fairgrounds, with gates opening at 2 pm. Food, live music, and more are present, before the lantern launch at around 6:45 pm. The sight of thousands of lanterns in the sky is beautiful. Tickets start at $60.

Sunday, October 21st

–      Enjoy day two of the Phoenix Rainbows Festival, celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ community. From 10 am – 6 pm, there will be food trucks, craft cocktails, and pet friendly fun. Free admission!

–      Crescent Ballroom is hosting indie electronic band St. Lucia for a show with special guest Arkells. Starts at 8 pm with tickets between $30-99.

Monday, October 22nd

–      Head over to the Town of Carefree to tour the Enchanted Pumpkin Garden, featuring world-renowned pumpkin carver Ray Villafane’s creations. Free daily admission from 10 am – 9 pm. There will be live pumpkin carving displays and much more.

Tuesday, October 23rd

–      The Irish Cultural Center hosts folk dancing starting at 6:30 pm. There will be dancing instruction, a program presenting international folk dancing, and time to request your favorite dances. No prior experience needed. $3-5 donations are recommended.

–      The New Guard Big Band is Phoenix’s premiere jazz orchestra and are bringing their talents to Valley Bar for a show spotlighting Count Basie and his famous orchestra. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show which starts at 7:30 pm.

Wednesday, October 24th

–      Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant bring their popular “Stuff You Should Know” podcast to the stage at the Orpheum Theatre for a live version. Described as “like the podcast, but 10-20% funnier”, it’s a great way to spend the night. Tickets starting at $30, show at 8 pm.

–      Musician and singer Zhu is coming to the Van Buren for a second show (one was earlier this year) starting at 8 pm. Tickets available starting at $35.

Thursday, October 25th

–      Grab tickets to the Chocolate and Art Show held at the MonOrchid Gallery in Phoenix. Apart from the numerous art displays, there will be live music and free chocolate. Starts at 8 pm, tickets are $15.

–      FilmBar is showing classic romantic comedy Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind at 7:30 pm. Admission is $9.95 and gets you a complimentary small popcorn and $1 off your first drink!

Friday, October 26th

–      Fans of local music should consider attending the Apache Lake Music Festival. Not only does the two-day event take place in a beautiful landscape, but the 9th annual festival has received critical acclaim as one of the best music festivals in the Southwest.  Camp out and enjoy music (a win-win). You can get a pass for both days for $50.

Saturday, October 27th

–      Spend your Saturday morning over at the Phoenix Public Market, where you can grab a bite to eat and browse through the local vendors selling everything from handmade goods to fresh fruits. Starts at 8 am.

–      Mountain View Park in Mesa is hosting a “Ride in Movie” at the park – where you’re encouraged to walk or bike over for a free showing of Halloween classic film Hocus Pocus. There will also be free Kettle Corn! Starts at 6:30 pm.

Sunday, October 28th

–      Mesa Arts Center is hosting their annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival, where admission and parking are free! The event takes place from 12-5 pm and includes delicious food, artist demos, live music and entertainment, a Mercado marketplace, custom car show and much more.

Monday, October 29th

–      Pop Icon Christina Aguilera is heading to Comerica Theatre as a part of her Liberation Tour. Tickets range from $39.50 and up for the show starting at 8 pm.

Tuesday, October 30th

–      Get your Halloween fix at the “Scarizona Scaregrounds” in Mesa to experience four haunted attractions, from a startled darkness maze to a zombie paintball fight. Open from 7-10 pm. Prices range depending on if you want access to a single attraction or more.

–      In the spirit of Halloween, Harkins Theater at Tempe Marketplace is hosting showings of Nightmare on Elm Street 1984.Ticket prices and show times vary.

Wednesday, October 31st

–      If trick-or-treat isn’t your style, you can catch singer/songwriter Jessie J. at the Van Buren as a part of her R.O.S.E tour. Tickets start at $37.50 for the show beginning at 8 pm.

–      Chatterbox Storytelling Open Mic is back for a special Halloween edition. This event gives everyone in the community a place to share a story surrounding a theme, which is “Haunted” for this month. There will also be a costume contest. The free event starts at 7:30 pm.

What are your plans for the month? Any of these picks make your list of must-haves? Tag us with #PHXFray and #FrayLife so we can see!

View More Articles By Emily Holloway

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