If you’re looking for activities in Tucson to fill your calendar with this month, you’ve got plenty of options.
Maybe you want to eat your way through 50-plus food vendors at a free folklife festival or run a 5K through Barrio Viejo. Perhaps you’d rather be scared senseless as you make your way through a haunted house or show off your costume at a Halloween party in a hotel that’s rumored to be haunted.
All of that—and much more—is on the schedule this month. Keep reading to learn more about the 14 best things to do in Tucson this October.
1. Big Gay Weekend
Big Gay Weekend is an annual multi-day celebration centered around the Big Gay 5K. Walk or run through Tucson’s historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood, or head to the Pour Decisions Playground to cheer on participants with a cold drink in hand.
If you’d prefer to run a shorter race, sign up for the High Heel Havoc, a one-block race done in heels. The fun continues at the after-party and pool party.
Other activities throughout the weekend will include a kick-off event with drinks and a sign-making station, a desert planter decorating workshop, drag brunch, drag bingo, and a movie screening.
Date: Oct. 23-25
Location: Downtown Tucson
Cost: $45 (5K), $25 (High Heel Havoc)
2. Boo at the Zoo
Boo at the Zoo is a family-friendly Halloween event at Reid Park Zoo featuring meet-and-greets with costumed characters, games, trick-or-treating, a pumpkin patch, and a fall festival zone with games.
Date: Oct. 21-25
Location: Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court
Cost: Tickets cost $16 for adults and $14 for children.
3. Cyclovia
For one day this fall, select streets in downtown South Tucson will be off-limits to cars for Cyclovia. This block-party-style event will feature three miles of car-free city streets that you can walk or bike while sampling treats from food vendors and participating in activities along the way.
Date: Oct. 25
Location: Downtown South Tucson
Cost: Free
4. Dine outside
With temperatures finally starting to cool off, October is the perfect time to enjoy a meal or drink al fresco in Tucson. A few top spots with great outdoor spaces include:
Jojo’s
Located inside the historic Old Town Artisans courtyard, Jojo’s has a two-level outdoor space that feels like a garden oasis. Seating is centered around a pond and surrounded by greenery, with twinkling lights hanging above and climbing up tree trunks.
Jojo’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with the latter menu consisting of a variety of tacos, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers like fried artichoke hearts and ceviche.
Address: 76 W. Washington St.
Coronet
For an upscale outdoor dining experience, head to Coronet and grab a table in the charming, historic courtyard set against the 1860s adobe architecture. Coronet is actually three establishments in one—a restaurant, a cafe, and a cocktail bar—each with its own menu, so there is something for everyone.
Address: 198 W. Cushing St.
Cafe a la Cart
After exploring the Tucson Museum of Art, head to the courtyard, where you’ll find Cafe a la Cart. Enjoy American bistro fare in the Monet-inspired garden patio, complete with tons of greenery and twinkle lights.
Choose from a selection of sandwiches and salads for lunch, or indulge in brunch dishes like chilaquiles or the Sonoran brisket benedict.
Address: 150 N. Main Ave.
The Boxyard
For a casual outdoor meal or drinks, stop by The Boxyard. Here, you can choose from four restaurants and three bars that all share a large courtyard. Food options range from burgers to burritos to Vietnamese sandwiches.
Address: 238 N. 4th Ave.
5. Dogtoberfest
Your new furry best friend might be waiting for you at Dogtoberfest. Hundreds of dogs from local shelters and rescue groups will be at the event looking for their furever home.
Dog lovers who aren’t looking to adopt are welcome too—and there will be plenty of fun for you and your pets, including a costume contest (for humans and dogs), a hot dog bobbing competition (for dogs), music, food vendors, and a kids’ zone.
You can also take advantage of low-cost vaccinations and microchipping.
Date: Oct. 25
Location: Udall Park Amphitheater, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
Cost: Free, but the organizers request dog or cat food and supplies as a donation.
6. Go hiking
Hiking during the summer can be challenging in Tucson with high daytime temperatures that sometimes climb past 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But come fall, the weather is much more favorable for outdoor recreation. A few spots worth exploring that boast great hiking trails include:
- Sabino Canyon
- Saguaro National Park
- Tumamoc Hill
- Mount Lemmon
- Catalina State Park
7. Marana Pumpkin Patch
If you’re willing to travel just a bit outside of Tucson, Marana Pumpkin Patch promises plenty of fall fun. There are 70 acres of pumpkin patch to explore, plus tons of other attractions included with admission, such as carnival-style rides, farm animals, and pig races.
Date: Oct. 3-31
Location: Marana Pumpkin Patch, 14950 N. Trico Road, Marana
Cost: Tickets start at $20.
8. Nightfall
Thrill seekers should add Nightfall to their October to-do list. During this month-long Halloween horror event, movie studio and theme park Old Tucson transforms into a town of terror with haunted mazes, scare zones, live shows, and rides and games spread across 22 acres.
This year, a local tattoo shop will also be on-site offering flash tattoos and piercings.
Date: Every weekend in October
Location: Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road
Cost: Standard tickets start at $51.
9. Nightmare on Congress
Start your Halloween celebrations early at Nightmare on Congress. This Halloween party will take place at Hotel Congress (which is rumored to be haunted) and feature two costume contests with $2,000 in prizes. There will also be Halloween tributes to Bob Dylan, DEVO, and Paramore, followed by more music by multiple DJs.
Date: Oct. 24
Location: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Cost: Day-of tickets start at $20.
10. One of a Kind Market
Whether you want to get a head start on your holiday shopping or simply support small local businesses, One of a Kind Market is worth checking out. This market will bring together more than 40 local artists and vendors. In addition to shopping, there will be crafts and activities for all ages and local coffee and baked goods to enjoy while you explore.
Date: Oct. 24
Location: Ben’s Bells Downtown Studio, 40 W. Broadway Blvd.
Cost: Free
11. Salem Night Market
If you love all things strange, spooky, and supernatural, visiting the Salem Night Market is a must this month. This free event brings together more than 30 local artists and small businesses selling handmade goods, gothic art, and other oddities.
Food and drinks, music, and flash tattoos will also be available. Costumes are encouraged.
Date: Oct. 17
Location: 236 S. Scott Ave.
Cost: Free
12. Spooky Movie Night with Cats
Cuddle up with some kittens and watch a scary movie during Hunter’s Kitten Lounge’s Spooky Movie Night with Cats event. This two-hour cat lounge session includes a free drink and snack. Films haven’t been announced yet, but they will be PG-13 or R-rated, making this an adults-only event.
Date: Oct. 17, 21, 24, 30, and 31
Location: Hunter’s Kitten Lounge, 5319 E. Speedway Blvd.
Cost: $25
13. The Slaughterhouse
The Slaughterhouse is another frightening option for horror fans this month. This haunted house is located in a former meatpacking plant and features spooky sets, costumed actors, and immersive special effects designed to create unforgettable scares.
While you wait to enter, you can sample fare from local food trucks, test your skills in a mini escape room, play games, or have a drink at the Slaughterhouse Bar.
Date: Thursday through Sunday from Oct. 2 to Nov. 1
Location: 1102 W. Grant Road
Cost: General admission tickets start at $20 (prices increase throughout the month).
14. Tucson Meet Yourself
Tucson Meet Yourself is a free folklife festival celebrating the traditional arts, music, dance, and food of Southern Arizona. At this year’s event, you’ll find 10 themed villages where you can shop, eat, and interact with artisans and cooks.
More than 50 food vendors will be present, serving everything from crepes to Sonoran hot dogs. Sample authentic dishes from countries including Korea, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Palestine, Peru, and many others.
Demonstration areas put a spotlight on Tucson trades and occupations like guitar making and desert gardening. The festival will also feature live entertainment, including traditional dances and musical performances.
Date: Oct. 16-18
Location: Jácome Plaza (101 N. Stone Ave.) and surrounding streets
Cost: Free
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
