PHOENIX (AZFamily) — With blistering Arizona summers behind us and fall season underway, November is one of the best times of the year for festivals. At least a dozen events are planned across the state this weekend alone!
In this edition of Field Trip Friday, Arizona’s Family is on a mission to bring you previews of some highly anticipated events.
Dreamy Draw Returns
In the heart of Scottsdale, the Dreamy Draw music festival returns this weekend, ready to welcome thousands of fans to the desert. The festival not only features a star-studded lineup, but immersive art installations, favorite local food and drinks and tons of vendors you’ll only find in Arizona.
Friday headliner is The Lumineers, most known for their hit songs “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia.” Saturday’s headliner is the rock band Vampire Weekend, known for songs like “Step” and “Campus.” Other big names include Father John Misty, Local Natives, Saint Motel and Chromeo.
Gates open at 2:45 p.m. Friday and 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Scottsdale Civic Center. Tickets are still available here.
Drones, Date Nights and Walks for Causes
Head to the DroneArt Show at State Farm Stadium’s Great Lawn this Saturday and Sunday! Hundreds of drones will create art in the sky, choreographed to classical music. It’s happening tonight and tomorrow night.
If you are in the far north Valley, the 32nd Annual Fall Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival is happening Friday through Sunday. Guests can walk through the open-air gallery, featuring thousands of stunning works of art — from bronze sculptures to oil paintings. Don’t miss out on the wine tasting, food and live entertainment.
Grab that special someone and head to Tempe for a cute date night! The Water Lantern Festival kicks off on Friday and runs all weekend long. Guests write messages of love, hope and optimism on lanterns, which are then released into the water at Kiwanis Park.
Then, on Saturday, the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is happening at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in downtown Phoenix. All funds raised support the Alzheimer’s Association’s research efforts.
All Aboard the Polar Express
Get into the Christmas spirit on board one of the best Christmas attractions in Arizona’s High Country! For 25 years, the Grand Canyon Railway has brought the beloved Polar Express to life for hundreds of families.
With Christmas just weeks away, the attraction is officially back open in Williams! Step onboard as if you’re in the movie and enjoy hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and say hello to St. Nick himself!
The first train to the North Pole leaves this Friday, and tickets are still available! The ride lasts about an hour, with the train leaving each night at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
First Friday Returns to West Valley
We all know about First Friday in downtown Phoenix, but did you know the West Valley also hosts a similar event? Goodyear First Fridays returns on Friday, an event filled with food trucks, vendors and family-friendly fun.
Guests can choose from over 25 food trucks and taste a variety of delicious eats, including tacos, Asian fusion, Hawaiian plates, shawarma, empanadas, dumplings, lumpia, pizza and more! If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, try the Dubai chocolate Brigadeiros, tanghulu, funnel cakes and cheesecakes – just to name a few.
Kids can enjoy a petting zoo, face painting and games. The free event will be held at Goodyear Ballpark on the first Friday of every month. Guests can check it out from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Waterfront Art Show, Foodie Festivals, Local Markets
We can’t forget the stunning Canal Convergence, which kicks off in Scottsdale and runs through Nov. 16. The Scottsdale Waterfront becomes an artistic paradise, featuring dozens of interactive art pieces from around the world. This year’s theme is “Showtime” and features nightly fire shows.
Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale on Saturday and Sunday. Guests can enjoy six polo matches, a pet fashion show, a regular fashion show and an open-air champagne-and-jazz lounge.
Calling all foodies! The Mesa Night Market returns on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festival features local Asian food vendors and various anime and retail vendors. It’s all about highlighting the diversity of food and combining culture with favorite eats.
Grab your pup and head to Hance Park for the Arizona Fall Fest, happening Saturday! This free, dog-friendly festival showcases hundreds of Valley vendors.
Lace Up Your Boots
Grab your cowboy hat and boots — the Hondo Rodeo Fest returns to Chase Field this weekend! It’s Arizona’s biggest three-day rodeo competition and features some of your favorite rock and country artists.
The top eight contestants in each event category are invited to compete in the stiff competition for a $1 million purse. Guests will not only watch premier rodeo riders, but also world champion trick ropers and equestrian stunt riders.
The rodeo is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each night, Friday through Sunday, and is followed by a full concert. Headliners include Nickelback, Kid Rock and Jason Aldean. Tickets are still available!
Full Moon Celebration, Going Green and Race to the Finish Line
Take a drive to Lake Havasu for a gem and mineral show happening this Saturday and Sunday! The show features minerals, fossils and rock collections from around the world, and don’t forget to try your hand at geode cracking.
Look up to the sky at the Moon Viewing celebration at the beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix. This traditional Japanese celebration, known as Otsukimi , invites guests to admire the beauty of the full moon at its brightest and most serene. It begins on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Nature lovers, go green this weekend at Phoenix’s Nature Fest. Guests can participate in a river cleanup, plant native plants, go on group walks and check out food and vendors. It begins on Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Rio Salado 7th Avenue trailhead.
Racers, head to the starting line this Sunday for the 50th Annual Phoenix 10K and Marathon! The event will kick off at Biltmore Fashion Park. For those who want to cheer on friends and family as they run, a live coverage party will begin at 7 a.m.
Check out all of our Field Trip Fridays here.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.azfamily.com ’
