20 things to put on your Tucson bucket list for fall

The golden leaves on the ground are just dead from a hot summer and temperatures are still in the 90s but, you guys, it's officially fall in the Old Pueblo.

It's a gorgeous time of year. The mornings and evenings are "cooler." The days are a little shorter and the light is prettier. Plus, pumpkin spice everything. 

We've put together a bucket list for fall in Tucson. Get out. Do some stuff. Don't bring a sweater. You'll thank us later. 

1. Go to a pumpkin patch

Seriously, even if you don't do the Halloween thing, go to a pumpkin patch during the fall season. There are corn mazes, hay rides, petting zoos, delicious food and more.

• The Marana Pumpkin Patch & Farm Festival is located at 14901 N. Wentz Road and runs from October 1-30. The season opens with a showing of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" at 6:30 p.m. October 1. 

• Buckelew Farm is located at 17000 W. Ajo Way. Its Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the last four weekends of October. You can also do Terror in the Corn, The Great Pumpkin Race 5k or the Zombie Mud Run 5k at Buckelew.

• Apple Annie's Pumpkins and Produce is located at 6405 W. Williams Road in Willcox. It's about a two hour drive, but such a fun day. The Fall Pumpkin Celebration takes place on the following weekends: Sept. 24-24, Oct. 8-9, Oct. 15-16, Oct. 22-23 and Oct. 29-30.

2. Get scared

Get in the Halloween spirit by having the bejeezus scared out of you at one of these places.

• Nightfall isn't just a haunted house. It's a haunted town. The people at Old Tucson Studios go all out to make sure you have a memorable experience. It runs Sept. 29-31. It's located at 201 S. Kinney Road.

• Slaughter House calls itself Tucson's most terrifying haunted house. There are five haunts to choose from: All New Voodoo Bayou, Cirque Du Slay, The Boiler Room, City Meats and Apocalypse. It's located at 1102 W. Grant Road.

• The Ravenhearse Family Classic Haunt is located inside Trail Dust Town at 6571 E. Tanque Verde Road, Suite 27. There are three levels of haunt, from family-friendly to super scary. It's open year round, but the Halloween schedule runs Sept. 29 to Nov. 6 with haunts scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 5-10 p.m. Sunday.

3. Go to Oktoberfest

Beer, music and bratwurst. Need we say more?

• Oktoberfest at Ski Valley on Mount Lemmon will take place from noon to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday now through October 9. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley is located at 10300 Ski Run Road. It's free to go, but bring money for food.

• Oktoberfest at Trail Dust Town happens from 5-10 p.m. October 7. Meet local brewers, have German inspired food and dance to polka music from the Bouncing Czechs. Trail Dust Town is located at 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road.

4. Go to a music fest

• The Fall Ball Music Festival is hosted by KFMA and takes place every year. The year's lineup includes Weezer, Panic! At the Disco, Beware of Darkness, Holy White Hounds, Iration and The Struts. It's on Oct. 16 at the Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road.

5. Hike

Now that the mornings and evenings are cooler, go for a hike. Our fave is Seven Falls at Sabino Canyon. It's glorious. It's about four miles each way, so you should probably leave the littles at home for this one.

Sabino Canyon is located at 5900 N. Sabino Canyon Road.

6. Play in the street

You can literally play in the streets during the fall Cyclovia event, hosted by Living Streets Alliance. The fall event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. October 30 and goes from Miramonte to The Garden District. Click here for more info. 

7. Support local art

The Tucson Studio Tour is a city-wide event in which artists open their studios to the public. Go meet local artists and buy unique pieces for gifts or for yourself. It's free to go. It's happening November 12-13. Click here to stay up to date on details. 

8. Honor lost loved ones

The All Souls Procession is a Tucson tradition not to be missed. Dress up. Make an altar, make a float, carry a picture and walk with thousands of other Tucsonans to honor those you've lost. The procession is November 6. If you have little kids, try the Procession of Little Angels November 5. They can craft wings, glow-stick lanterns and paper flowers. It's also a great way to talk to them about grief and loss. Click here for more info. 

9. Go to a park

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Seriously. The weather is now perfect for picnics. Especially in the evenings. Pick a park and have some good old fashioned family fun. 

10. Eat pumpkin stuff

Have you ever had pumpkin empanadas? No? You're missing out. Go get some. La Estrella Bakery's location at the Mercado, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento, has them. Click here for the bakery's website. 

12. Enjoy the pretty light

Go out and take pictures in the late afternoon or early evening when the light is warm and golden. 

13. Find fall color

You might not find too much of it in Tucson proper, but you'll find plenty on Mount Lemmon. Go on a fall color scavenger hunt with the kids or with your camera. 

14. Go to a community Halloween event

• Howl-o-ween at Reid Park Zoo happens from 6-8 p.m. October 28-30. The kids can trick-or-treat and check out the costumed characters and decorations throughout the zoo. It's $9.50 per person/$7.50 for members. 

• The Spooky Kids Costume Party takes place at Haggerty Plaza on 4th Ave. from 7-9 p.m. October 28, plus there's trick-or-treating all along the avenue. There will be prizes, live music and goody bags. It's free.

• The Halloween Be Kind Bash at Trail Dust Town is from 4-7 p.m. October 30 and includes trick-or-treating, entertainment and a free costume contest. For $12 you can purchase a wristband that gets you admission into two Trail Dust Town attractions, the Wild West Stunt Show and a round of golf and tokens at Golf N' Stuff. Plus, part of that money goes to Ben's Bells. 

• Night of Fright Pima Air and Space Museum is a non-scary Halloween carnival which includes trick-or-treating, pony rides, temporary tattoos, baked goods walk and games. It's happening from 5-9 p.m. October 28 and costs $10 for anyone age 13 and up. Ages 12 and under are free.  

15. Run or walk a 5k

Fall is running season here. If you've never done a 5k, do it. You don't have to run. How often is something so good for you also lots of fun? Don't worry. You don't have to run. Nobody will judge you if you walk and the last person to cross the finish line gets a huge applause. 

One of our favorites is the Thanksgiving Cross-country Classic. There's a 5k and a 1.5 mile fun run. Both go through Reid Park. You'll jump hay bales and mud pits and build a caloric deficit for Thanksgiving dinner. :) 

16. Go to a festival

It's also festival season. You'll find local arts, food and entertainment at one of the many Tucson festivals.

• Tucson Meet Yourself aka Tucson Eat Yourself, is all about the foods and cultures of the people here. Go hungry. Stay a while and watch dancers and musicians and check out the arts. It's happening October 7-9 downtown. Click here for deets.

• The Holiday Artisans Market at the Tucson Museum of Art takes place Nov. 18-20 and features more than 100 juried artisans of pottery, glass, jewelry, textiles, fine art and gift items. There will also be local food vendors and live music. Admission is free to the market and the museum that weekend.

• The Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games takes place Nov. 4-6 at Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave. You'll see live music, fire dance performances, celtic vendors and food and competitions in Highland games, pipes and drums and Highland dance. 

17. Cheer for riders (or ride) in El Tour de Tucson

El Tour de Tucson happens November 19. It's held each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and attracts more than 9,000 cyclists. If you're not riding in the race, go cheer them on. 

18. Outdoor theater

• Shakespeare in the Park is performing "Romeo & Juliet" at the Himmel Park outdoor amphitheater, which is at 1000 N. Tucson Blvd., at 7 p.m. Sept. 22-25 and Sept. 29-Oct. 2. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket. It's free, but there is a suggested donation of $5. 

• Valley of the Moon's fall show, "The Case of Sleepy Hollow," starts October 7 and will start every 15 minutes from 6-9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October. The performance is a walking adventure, in which you become part of the story. Costumes are encouraged. Admission is $10 for adults. Kids under 7 get in free. Valley of the Moon is located at 2544 E. Allen Road. 

19. Drink pumpkin spice anything

Tucson Coffee Roasters, which is located at 3225 N. Swan Road, has its own version of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, which is made with fresh roasted espresso, homemade vanilla, pumpkin spice and topped with nutmeg. 

20. Enjoy it

Summer will be back before you know it (once it actually leaves).