PHOENIX — Can you believe it is almost October? Fall is officially here – even though the temps sure don’t feel like it.
For this Monday Saving Monday, 12News is sharing some of the best ways to have fun this fall without breaking the bank.
“It is so nice to be out on the farm in the fall, especially right now,” said Christy Davis of the Arizona Urban Agriculture Foundation. “We’re getting a tease of the early mornings, and it’s just going to start getting crisp. What better way to spend your day than out here in agriculture."
Davis says Agritopia Farms in the East Valley is a great place to start.
“Farm nights, second Wednesday of every month from September until May,” she said. “In October, we’re going to have a mocktail class… it’s taught by our beekeeper, who’s actually a bartender here at the farm, so there’s probably going to be some honey in it.”
And what is fall without a corn maze?
“Vertuccio Farms, which is the longest-running corn maze in Arizona... their tickets are $16, but if you bring in a non-perishable food item, you can get $2 off your tickets," said Zoey Shircel with Visit Mesa.
Celebrate Mesa Day is also coming up. The free-family event will be complete with face painting and a petting zoo.
“It’s perfect for kids and families,” Shircel said.
And don’t forget about the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival at Mesa Arts Center, another event you can enjoy at no cost. It honors the rich traditions of Latin American culture tied to the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead.
In Phoenix, many of the outdoor shopping areas have been planning for months, including Desert Ridge, where they’re getting ready for their annual pumpkin patch.
“You can come out and pick a pumpkin... we also offer free pumpkin painting inside the patch,” said Katie Hauptman of Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix. “I do have a 2-and-a-half-year-old, so it makes the fall season so fun.”
Got a sweet tooth? They have a creepy candy crawl too.
“There will be no candy shortages here,” said Hauptman.
If you’re looking to get out of town, Josh Coddington with the Arizona Office of Tourism says you should head to one of our state or regional parks, like Alamo Lake State Park’s star party in western Arizona.
“Its remoteness is also its superpower,” Coddington said. “…because it means it’s far away from light and great for star gazing.”
You can also head south to Kartchner Caverns State Park.
“They do a bat fest,” said Coddington. “They bring in people who talk about bats, about what they eat, how they use echolocation. It’s included with your park admission to Kartchner Caverns State Park, which is only $7 per carload.”
To get more information on more than 40 haunted and spooky attractions across Arizona, you can visit the Spooktacular Arizona digital passport. It’s a free download on the Arizona Office of Tourism website.