What better way to prep for fall than by marking up your calendar with to-dos? Here's a list of fall festivals in the Phoenix area that are worthy of penciling in.
See also: 10 Must-See Plays During the 2013-14 Valley Theater Season
ReMix, ReMaster @ Mesa Arts Center Mesa Arts Center will unleash its autumn art jamboree, ReMix, ReMaster, with a street festival that includes a "Farmers' mART of Inedible Produce in Glass, Metal & Clay," live graffiti art from Such and Champ Styles, painting from Lauren Lee and Kyllan Maney, and music from DJentrification. In conjunction with the street party, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum unleashes new exhibitions, including "Messin' With The Masters," in which modern artists' focus their quirky eyes on classic works, and Linda Ingraham and Tom Eckert's "From Lemons to Lingerie: The Still-Life Redefined" in the North Gallery. Admission is free; food and beverages cost extra. The get-down begins at 6 p.m. Friday, September 13, and continues until 10 p.m. Admission is free.
Funny or Die presents Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival @ Ak-Chin Pavilion Laugh it up. The last stop for the Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival coincides with the fall equinox and takes place at Ak-Chin Pavilion. On the bill will be comedians Jeff Ross, Chris D'Elia, Jim Jefferies, Hannibal Buress, Brody Stevens, and headliners Dave Chappelle and Flight of the Conchords. The show starts at 5 p.m. Sunday, September 22. Tickets are $24 and up via www.ticketmaster.com.
Keen Halloween @ Metrocenter Mall Attend Keen Halloween 2013 at the Sano Fitness Studio at the Metrocenter Mall, and you just might walk away with the skills to shock friends at your next Halloween fiesta. With the theme "Bone to Pick," event includes workshops on how to craft costumes and decorations, while vendors offer up ready-made creations at the Monster Market. There will be costume experts offering free advice at the Evil Genius Costume Bar. Live entertainment and a costume challenge contest will round out the two-day shin-dig, which runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, September 28, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 29. Single-day passes are available in advance for $9.18, and advance weekend passes are $15.30. Get yours and more info via guestlistapp.com/events/162012/.
PoeFest 2013 PoeFest is back for another hellish haunt. From October 4 through 26 on Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 8 p.m., Hotel San Carlos's Ghost Lounge unbuckles the straitjackets of Arizona Curriculum Theater's loonies, er, actors, who bring Edgar Allan Poe's poems and short stories to the stage. The creepiness concludes on All Hallows' Eve with Poe's "The Raven" at the Rosson House repeating every 20 minutes from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 to $20, and can be purchased at www.poefest.org.
CALA Alliance International Festival
This five-week-long journey into the heart of Latino and Latin America art and culture is sure to fill up any eclectic individual's calendar. Beginning Sunday, October 6, and running through Tuesday, November 5, the CALA Alliance International Festival will present performances, exhibitions, and cultural activities, with the CALA Phx Fest at Monroe and Adams streets on November 1 and 2 serving as the culmination. The full schedule has yet to be announced, so keep an eye on www.calaalliance.org.
11th Annual Rainbows Festival and Street Fair @ Heritage Square Park Phoenix Pride owns and operates what it calls "Arizona's Greatest Street Fair," also known as the Rainbows Festival and Street Fair. The 11th annual festival will have numerous exhibitors and plenty of excited revelers. The event extols the diverseness of Arizona's LGBTQ crowd. Festivities happen at Heritage Square Park on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. An entertainment lineup has not been posted as of yet. Admission is free.
Fifth Annual Grand Avenue Festival Phoenix art, fashion, history, culture, and tours collide at the Grand Avenue Festival. There's something for everyone, but it's a particularly special event for those who love to support local artists and learn the historical significance of the Lower Grand Avenue Arts and Small Business District. The Fifth Annual Grand Avenue Festival goes down Saturday, October 19, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
9th Annual Certified Local Fall Festival Along Portland Parkway Local First Arizona holds its 9th Annual Certified Local Fall Festival. You'll find lights, sound, vibrancy, and plenty of art. A slew of local businesses pop up booths full of freebies, buyables, and assorted cool things from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 9. Admission is free.
Phoenix Festival of the Arts @ Margaret T. Hance Park The Phoenix Festival of the Arts is on for round dos. Last year was momentous; maybe this year's art extravaganza will top it. Phoenix Center for the Arts hosts the fest, which will be held at the Margaret T. Hance Park. Specifics have yet to be announced. But surely, you can wait. The festivities won't begin until Friday, December 13, and run through Sunday, December 15.
