Fun Scottsdale Events, October 20-23, 2022 — your early weekend is here! With a bunch of rain, suddenly it’s fall! And with temps in the 80s, we’re heading to Fall Festivals, plus early Halloween and Dia de los Muertos festivities. Fun things to do in Scottsdale means outdoor and indoor events and activities for every age and budget.
Scroll for FREE fun things to do in Scottsdale, like hitting the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt! Take a FREE ride around town on the Scottsdale Trolley weekdays — don’t sweat it! Take the dogs out to rough-house at the dog parks and make new friends!
Or, you can plan your dog’s costume and be ready for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos!
Scottsdale Halloween Events 2022
Railroad Park’s Halloween Spook-Track-Ula
Halloween’s happening early at McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, with a great, cheap family event. Tickets are $10-$15 and kids under 2 get in FREE.
TH OCT 20 – MON OCT 31, 6 PM – 9:30PM — Halloween Spook-Track-Ula | Tickets
Libraries’ Halloween Family Fun and Monster Mash
Halloween Family Fun is also happening at Scottsdale’s libraries! Checkout these FREE events for the kids:
Bring your little ghouls and goblins ages 0-8 for family-friendly games and activities:
Halloween Family Fun:
- MON OCT 24, 6 PM – 6:45 PM — Arabian Library | MAP
- TUES OCT 25, 6 PM – 6:45 PM — Appaloosa Library | MAP
- MON OCT 24, 6 PM – 6:45 PM — Mustang Library | MAP
- MON OCT 24, 6 PM – 6:45 PM — Civic Center Library | MAP
For the big kids, ages 12-18 there’s the Monster Mash — watch a scary movie and scarf down monster munchies. To get you in the mood and embarrass your kids and grandkids? Here’s the real Monster Mash from American Bandstand with Dick Clark, October 13, 1964!
Monster Mash:
- THU OCT 20, 4 PM – 5:30 PM — Civic Center Library | MAP
- SAT OCT 29, 4 PM – 5:30 PM — Mustang Library | MAP
Scottsdale Movie Date
New Features and Classic Films
Harkins Camelview Theatre at Fashion Square
FRI OCT 21 | SAT OCT 22 | SUN OCT 23:
Movies look very scary to get in the Halloween spirit! From classic to new horror, prepare to spill your popcorn, scream in the dark and grab your neighbor! Oh, and then have nightmares.
TÁR starring Cate Blanchett as a conductor, is billed as Drama/Musical, looks terrifyingly good. I’m guessing it’s not your average musical!
The creepy 1968 classic Rosemary’s Baby (c. 1968) is showing, with Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes, directed by Roman Polanski.
Stars at Noon, billed by the Guardian as ‘Sex, Lies and Intrigue,’ looks steamy and dangerous. A Drama/Romance/Thriller featuring Benny Safdie, and Margaret Qualley.
Here are other films playing this week and everything you need to know about Harkins! See you at the movies!
Art, Music, Theater and Comedy
THU OCT 20, 7 PM – 9 PM: FREE Scottsdale Art Walk in Old Town.
Parking Map and Tips in Old Town
Arrive early for good parking! Here are other fun, safe ways to avoid Old Town traffic snarls, tickets and DUIs: Riding Around Old Town Scottsdale.
Old Town Parking Map
Live Music Daily | Weekly — Downtown | Old Town
- Belle’s Nashville Kitchen — Live music daily
- Rusty Spur Saloon — Since 1951. Live music every day
- Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row — Live music weekly
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
- FRI OCT 21, 8 PM — Hold on to Hope Opening Reception — FREE — | Tickets | Holocaust Survivor Oskar Knoblauch’s experience in WWII and celebrates the positive influence he has made in the lives of countless Arizona school children.
- FRI OCT 21, 8 PM — Flamenco Intimo, Dance | Tickets
- SAT OCT 22, 8 PM —
- Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos – Fiesta de Muertos y Danza | Tickets
- SAT OCT 22, 8 PM — Flamenco Intimo, Dance | Tickets
Ravenscroft Jazz in N. Scottsdale
FRI OCT 21, 7 – 9:30 PM — $10 — JAZZBIRD NIGHTS: MARY PETRICH & PHOENIX WOMEN JAZZ COLLECTIVE | MAP
SAT OCT 22, 7:30 – 9:30 PM | RAVENSCROFT JAZZ SERIES – ALICIA OLATUJA | Tickets | MAP
SUN OCT 23, 6 PM – 8 PM — FREE — JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: PETE PANCRAZI QUARTET | MAP
Kierland Commons Fall Concert Series 2022
SAT OCT 22, 5 PM – 7 PM — FREE — Colton Avery | MAP
Scottsdale Drag Shows
FRI OCT 21 | SAT OCT 22, 7 PM | Illusions the Drag Queen Show | MAP
SUN OCT 23, 1:30 — Illusions the Drag Queen Brunch Show | Old Town | MAP
SUN OCT 23, 1:30 PM — Diva Royale Drag Queen Show | Old Town | MAP
Talking Stick
- SAT OCT 22 6:20 AM | Salute the Sun Yoga and Meditation @ Orange Sky, 15th Floor | — FREE — Sign-up
Scottsdale Farmers Markets
SAT OCT 22
Farmers Market North Scottsdale — 9 AM – 1 PM @ Living Water Lutheran Church Troon North. Produce, food trucks, live music and artisans. | MAP
Old Town Farmers Market — 8:00 AM – 1 PM. Lots of great food, entertainment, artisanal fare, and people and dog watching! MAP
SUN OCT 23
Farmers Market North Scottsdale — 9 AM – 1 PM @ Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Parish. Produce, food trucks, live music and artisans. MAP
Scottsdale Tours
Are you a visitor or homie seeking a little or a lot of adventure? Fun things to do in Scottsdale await your bucket list! Get guidance from local experts who will show you a good time, out in the spectacular Sonoran Desert or in Old Town. Fall is perfect for exploring our many outdoor fun spots and meeting new friends:
- Arizona Desert Mountain Jeep Tours — ‘Scottsdale’s “Original” AZ Desert Mountain Jeep Tours’
- Sonoran Desert Jeep Tour at Sunset
- Kactus Jock Rydables Tours — if you’re goofy, this is your ride!
- Old Town Scottsdale Tours
- Scottsdale Walking Tours Oct – April — FREE
- Desert Wolf Tours — ATV tours
- ATV Desert Tours Scottsdale
- Time to Ride Self-guided ATV/UTV tours, Cave Creek
Ongoing Scottsdale Outdoor Activities
More Fun things to do in Scottsdale Outdoors
Top Golf Scottsdale’s Bargain Special:
MON – FRI 10 AM – Noon | $15 per person | Hit unlimited balls!
How about golf, hiking, strolling or cycling to maximize your outdoor fun for FREE? Frisbee golf is free! Here you go — everything you need to know and tables of amenities for fast choices to suit everyone’s wants and needs to seize our sunshine and shade!
NOTE: Even though it’s cooler, it’s still the desert. Be smart. Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen and your hat. Be mindful of your furry friends, plus tiny and older ones getting too tired and hot. Watch where you’re stepping, for rattlesnakes, cacti and rocks — no bites, pokes, sprains or falls to spoil your fun.
- Golf: Table from N. to S. with all the good stuff!
- The Indian Bend Multi-use Trail
- Parks, Playgrounds, Fishing and Dog Parks
- Hiking, Walking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing and Horseback Riding
- Scottsdale Cycling and Self-Propelled Wheeling
- Tennis and Pickleball
Upcoming Events in Scottsdale — Plan Ahead So No FOMO!
Check out these upcoming events and get your tickets. So you don’t miss any of these fun things to do in Scottsdale:
Talking Stick
- SAT OCT 22 6:20 AM | Salute the Sun Yoga and Meditation @ Orange Sky, 15th Floor | — FREE — Sign-up
- SAT OCT 29, 9 PM | Wicked Ball, Halloween Party | Tickets | MAP
- FRI NOV 25, 7 PM and 10 PM | Ron White, Comedian | Tickets | MAP
- FRI DEC 22, 8 PM | ZZ Top | Tickets | MAP
Scottsdale’s 51st FREE Fall Festival!
Dress up the kids, dogs, and yourself in a costume, grab the candy bags (poo bags are at the park — I guess a clean one could be used for candy) and let’s go! There’ll be inflatables, game booths, food trucks, live entertainment, a costume contest and more!
SAT OCT 29, Noon – 4 PM — FREE — Eldorado Park | MAP
Scottsdale Public Library FREE Concert!
- SAT NOV 5, 5 PM – 7:30 PM | — FREE — Concert for Scottsdale Public Library Cardholders! | Scottsdale Stadium | MAP
- Scottsdale Public Library Cardholder Celebration Event
- Bring your library card or sign up for one online!
Frank Lloyd Wright Discovery Days — FREE
Fun things to do in Scottsdale includes a rare treat — FREE Halloween weekend family activities at Taliesin West’s Discovery Days! See art, architecture, and nature. And, there will be live music, dance performances, craft demos, food trucks and more. Wear your costumes!
Daylight’s burning—let’s go kick up our heels and not miss a minute of our fun Scottsdale events October 20-23, 2022!
April Halstead
Scottsdale Lifestyle Blogger
I’m a 5th generation native Arizona gal who loves showing and telling what makes Scottsdale an amazing place to visit and make home! I hope you enjoy our city through my lens, making your own discoveries and memories here!
