We're looking ahead to fall because the summer temperatures have us burnt out!
The good news is that September tends to be when temperatures start to drop, which also signals the start of event season in the Valley.
We rounded out some of the top festivals happening around Phoenix in September. Scroll below to start finding ways to fill the calendar.
If you're looking ahead, here is a look at the top food and drink festivals happening in October and November.
Did we miss one? Send an email to Josh.Frigerio@abc15.com with the details.
1-4 | Saboten Con - A four-day convention for anime and manga enthusiasts at the Phoenix Sheraton in downtown Phoenix. There will be panels and cosplay demos.
2 | Wickenburg’s Fiesta de Septiembre - The festival celebrates the start of Hispanic Heritage Month with mariachi, folkorico, music, arts and crafts, and salsa and guacamole contests.
2 | Phoenix Cooks - An inclusive food and drink showcase with unlimited samples of food, wine, beer and spirits from the Valley’s top chefs and restaurants. The event benefits Special Olympics Arizona.
8 | The Good, The Bad and The Weird - A kick-off festival for Mesa Art Center's 2017-2018 season. Event includes the opening of five art exhibitions at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, live music performances, a custom car show, and a film screening.
9 | Teddy Bear Day - An annual event that brings Teddy Bears to downtown Glendale. From 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., people can display their bear collections, make crafts and buy a bear to donate to local first responders and emergency rooms.
9 | Children’s Learning & Play Festival - A free children’s festival at WestWorld of Scottsdale with games and activities for kids and authors and speakers focused on S.T.E.M. ideas.
15-24 | Arizona Restaurant Week - Restaurants throughout the state offer special three-course dinners for $33 or $44 per person.
15-17 | Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market - Dozens of vendors set up shop in Scottsdale and showcase their vintage and vintage-inspired goods.
16 | Rockin’ Taco Street Fest - A food festival in downtown Chandler. Local food vendors will serve tacos and salsas. There will also be a salsa competition and taco eating competition.
16 | Messy Fest - A family-friendly festival where the goal is to make a mess. There will be a mud pit, life-sized finger painting, and mashed potato tug-of-war.
16 | Constitution Fair - an evening celebration of the U.S. Constitution in Gilbert with replicas of The White House, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. There will also be a fireworks show.
22-23 | Old World Oktoberfest - Peoria’s Oktoberfest event with German music, food and competitions.
23 | Brazilian Day Festival - The 8th annual Brazilian Day Festival is celebrating 100 years of Samba in 2017. There will be Samba, Afro, and Coco dance performances, traditional Brazilian food and workshops.
23 | Queen Creek Founders’ Day Festival - The annual festival celebrates the founding of Queen Creek with pig races, inflatables, and a cornhole tournament between MCSO and Queen Creek Fire.
23 | Global Dance Festival - Relentless Beats’ 18+ dance festival at Rawhide Western Town with Flosstradamus, Showtek, Yellow Claw, Gareth Emery, Slander and SNBRN.
29-Oct 1 | A Taste of Greece Greek Food Festival - An annual festival put on by Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Chandler. There will be Greek food, dancing and music.
30 | Roosevelt Row Chile Pepper Festival - A chile pepper-inspired food, music and dance festival in downtown Phoenix. The event benefits Roosevelt Row CDC.
30 | Summer End Margarita & Mojito Festival - Sip and sample margaritas, mojitos and craft cocktails at Rawhide Western Town. The festival benefits Calling All Angels Foundation.
30 | SanTan Brewing Oktoberfest - Local brewery, SanTan Brewing, will host its 10th annual Oktoberfest event. There will be lederhosen, dirndls, live music, beer, a brat-eating contest and polka.
30 | Mariachi and Folklorico Festival - September is Hispanic Heritage Month. Local mariachi and folkorico troupes will perform at Chandler Center for the Arts.
30 | Somos Peoria - A food and music festival with Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys.
30-Oct. 1 | Garlic Fest - Queen Creek Olive Mill sells the garlic it has grown along with garlic-infused products in its market like garlic olives, barbecue sauce or olive oil.
