Best things to do this fall in Phoenix

Pack up the family and head to one of the Valley's pumpkin patches, like the Schnepf Farm Pumpkin & Chili Party or MacDonald's Ranch pumpkin patch.

• Up for a drive? Check out the Mortimer Farms Pumpkin Fest and Corn Maze in Dewey.

🍻 Toast to Oktoberfest

Prost! The Valley's largest Oktoberfest celebration at Tempe Beach Park doesn't start until Oct. 11, but the kegs are flowing early in Chandler, where the event kicks off Sept. 27.

• Also check out Edelweiss Biergarten, Haus Murphy's Pedal Haus and Wren Südhalle for their celebrations of German culture.

🍂 Go leaf-peeping

Some of our favorite places to catch the vibrant forest displays include:

• Lockett Meadow, near Flagstaff
• Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona
• Hualapai Mountain Park, outside of Kingman
• Santa Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson
• Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista

🧟 Freak out at a haunted house

Get ready to scream! The metro area has several terrifying haunted houses, including the nationally ranked 13th Floor in north Phoenix and the Scarizona Scaregrounds in Mesa, where you can explore multiple horror scenes, including one in total darkness.

👻 Take a local ghost tour

See if you can meet a ghost from Phoenix's past at one of our most haunted locales.

• The Orpheum Theatre hosts its annual "haunted history tours" the last two weekends of October.
• The San Carlos Hotel will reveal its chilling history every Saturday through October.

🛻 Go on a haunted road trip

Arizona's mining past has resulted in several ghost towns — including a few that are said to have real ghosts come out at night!

• Bisbee has plenty of haunted tours to choose from. Don't miss the Copper Queen Hotel, Arizona's longest continuously operating hotel with a few paranormal guests.
• The Jerome Grand Hotel, is a former hospital said to attract visitors from its past.
• Douglas' Gadsden Hotel, rebuilt after a fire in 1928, is known for its restless spirits. Stay in room 333 … if you dare.

🎡 State Fair

The grandest fair of them all is in town Sept. 20- Oct. 27 with promises of new rides and fried food.

• This year's Coliseum Concert Series features The All-American Rejects, Big Time Rush and Vanilla Ice.

🌈 Celebrate Pride

Because it's too hot to gather outdoors in June, Phoenix's unofficial Pride Month is in October. Get ready for a fantastic celebration!

• Festival: Party all weekend (Oct 19-20) at Steele Indian School Park. Check out more than 150 performances across seven stages and an eclectic variety of food vendors, shopping stalls and community resources.
• Parade: More than 2,000 people will participate in the Oct. 20 parade, where Gov. Katie Hobbs, singer David Hernandez and chef Silvana Salcido Esparza will serve as grand marshalls.

🇲🇽 Honor Día de los Muertos

Day of the Dead is a traditional Mexican holiday to remember loved ones who have passed.

• Mesa Arts Center will display its giant ofrenda — an altar honoring deceased friends and family — during its annual festival Oct. 19-20.
• The Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company will perform a traditional Mexican folk dance at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Oct. 26.
• The Mikiztli Día De Los Muertos Festival on Oct. 27 at Steele Indian School Park will have live music, art activities and a candlelight procession.
• The Desert Botanical Garden's annual event from Nov. 2- 3 will feature a community altar and music, dance and storytelling all weekend.
• The Avondale Goodyear Farms Historical Cemetery invites the community to bring photos of deceased loved ones for their altar. Enjoy music, crafts and more at the event on Nov. 2.