Despite our residual warm summer temperatures, there are plenty Fall Festivals in Phoenix, AZ to enjoy! This is the time of year for sunflower fields in Arizona and the last chance to schedule your Christmas mini sessions for those gorgeous holiday cards. As your Arizona family photographer, that’s what my calendar is full of at this time and these Phoenix fall festivals would round out the perfect family day before or after your session!

6 Must-See Fall Festivals in Phoenix, AZ

Some Phoenix Fall Festivals in this list are local to the valley while others will help you get out of town and explore Arizona in the fall. Remember when you go outside of Phoenix to pack your warm weather clothes! Enjoy the changing leaves and cooler temperatures we don’t always get a taste of here in the valley.

Desert Fall Festival

Brought to you by the same fabulous hosts of Desert Farm Lights, Desert Fall Festival is the perfect west valley experience. Imagine the cooled-off nights wrapped in cozy flannels and boots, while live music plays and your family picks pumpkins, roasts smore’s and dogs over a small fire, and you get to snap the cutest pics along the way at each photo station. Sound amazing? There is so much more. Hay archery, apple cannons, zip line rides, bungee jump trampolines, an incredible light maze and even cookie decorating. There is something for kids of every age 3 and up, and all included in one ticket price all of October!

One amazing feature of this Phoenix Fall Festival is their “low sensory days” where they limit attendance and keep the noise to a lower volume than normal. Perfect for sensory needs families or even just an overwhelmed mama who typically feels like avoiding big events.

Enjoy food and drinks (adult beverages are available) sold at the venue or plan to stop for some on your drive, as outside food and drink are not allowed. Military members can enjoy a 10% discount at the gate! A number of tickets are reserved for military so unlike general admission, sold-out nights may still have the reserved military tickets. Find all the festival hours, prices and FAQs here on the website.

Apple Annie’s Orchard Fall Celebrations

Possibly one of the biggest fall festivals in Phoenix, AZ is at Apple Annie’s. You can pick where to start for the day or even make it a weekend or week-long fall fest. Pick apples at the orchard, then head over to their incredible 12.5 acre corn maze, before having your choice of pumpkins to pick straight off the vine! Follow up the hard work with a walk through some of the tallest sunflowers in Arizona, maybe even take some home, and finish by lying back on a hay ride. Apple Annie’s fall pumpkin celebration is every day from 9am to 4pm, rain or shine and lasts all of October. Enjoy the fall weather at The Farm: 6405 W. Williams Rd Wilcox, AZ    and find contact info and pricing on their website here.

The Willis Farm Fall Festivities

Take time to explore just outside of Phoenix, an Arizona fall festival at the Willis Farm! This is a fantastic option to spend the weekend or a fall break with family in a wholesome experience that doesn’t break the bank. You can’t go wrong with a game zone, pumpkin picking, corn shopping and of course exploring any of the mazes. The Willis Farm offers a train ride as well as three corn mazes – a small, big and haunted corn maze. Everything is priced separately, but all at very low costs, making it easy to only pay for what you will enjoy. Hours and prices vary by day and activity, but you can see it all here on their website! Plan your trip and find The Willis Farm at 381 S. 1st E. Street Snowflake, AZ 85937.

Grand Canyon Deer Farm

Another fall festival experience just outside of Phoenix, AZ fall festivals is a visit to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm during the month of October. This is one of the best experiences for a hands-on animal experience for kids! At Grand Canyon Deer Farm you can feed and see so many of our native animals on the farm. During this season you can add pumpkin picking and a hay maze to your experience, included with your general admission. The deer even eat pumpkin and there are some of the cutest photo ops. It’s such a sweet experience to see all the critters enjoying the fall! Keep up with the GC Deer Farm on Facebook here for the most accurate updates. Costs are those associated with park entry found on their website here and directions mapped directly here 6769 Deer Farm Rd, Williams, AZ 86046.

Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party

Add this annual festival hosted by Schnepf Farms to your calendar. This festival is great for kids aged 0 to 100 with the options for a daytime or nighttime experience. During day or night, while enjoying live music, have your pick from roller coasters and riders that feel like old-school classics, a train tour, hay ride and plenty of games and activities like the petting zoo, mini golf, and corn hole. You’ll have the chance to explore the 4 acre corn maze and 10 acre celebrity corn maze and have a stroll through the pretty sunflowers.

When the sun goes down, show off your moves or learn something new with nightly line dancing and keep nice and warm by the bonfires. Reserve a bonfire just for your friends and family with your admission ticket purchase if you want to cuddle up together without worrying about there being enough room to enjoy the heat.

Outside food or drinks are not permitted, but there are plenty of options to purchase at the party. Purchase individual tickets, or sign up for a season pass and visit all month long. Both options are per-person pricing. Schnepf Farms is always adding new and exciting features to their annual fall festival, so stay up to date on all of the details on the pumpkin and chili party website here. Plan your visit to Schnepf Farms at 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Military, Veterans, Law Enforcement and Firefighters may purchase discounted tickets in-person.

Fall Fest at Slide Rock State Park

Not far off from Phoenix, AZ, this fall festival is a gorgeous drive away to the Coconino Forest and hosted only 1 day per year. Enjoy crisp fall weather, stunning autumn colors of the forest, and pack a picnic to enjoy at Slide Rock State Park’s Fall Fest. The park staff will share educational information about the park and creatures, along with a few surprises along the way. Kids will have various activities to enjoy like mini cart rides, hanging out with firefighters, play corn hole, dress a scarecrow, and more. There is always something new to explore as each year’s vendors vary. This is a great chance to get outdoors and learn about wildlife, nature and even farming. Don’t forget to check for their apple picking availability and packing shed! The Fall Fest and apple picking are included with the park entrance fee of $20 per vehicle. The date varies by year, so check for this year’s Fall Fest date right here. Slide Rock State Park’s entrance and directions can be found at 6871 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336.

Fall Festivals in Phoenix, AZ This Year!

The benefit to having so many wonderful fall options around Phoenix and Arizona is finding what fits for your family’s schedule and needs every year. There is so much more to explore once the weather starts to cool off, and the rest of the fall and winter seasons bring out some of the best events around the valley. If you’re looking for more ways to spend time with your family and friends this season, check out the options below and don’t forget to book your family pictures for next fall!