This week brings the final weekend of the Arizona State Fair and some of the state’s most meaningful Día de los Muertos celebrations, plus an art show in Green Valley. In-person events are listed alphabetically by city or town, with nearby attractions for each. A second section lists free online and phone programs from nonprofit and community organizations, including help with Medicare open enrollment, which is underway now.
Please note: Event dates, hours, prices and details can change without notice, especially for community-run events and outdoor festivals affected by weather. Before you go, confirm all information directly with the event organizer or official website. This guide is for general information only, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of third-party schedules.
In-Person Events
Chandler: Entre Dos Mundos Día de Muertos Celebration and the 27th Annual Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival
When: Sunday, November 1. The community celebration runs from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the Mariachi and Folklórico Festival begins at 4 p.m.
Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler. The community celebration is on the terrace, and the festival is on the Steena Murray Mainstage.
Cost: The community celebration is free. Festival tickets are $49, $59, $69 or $79.
Entre Dos Mundos is a free, family-friendly Día de Muertos celebration hosted by the City of Chandler. Afterward, visitors can stay for the 27th Annual Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival, presented by Chandler Center for the Arts and C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona. The pairing makes for an easy afternoon and evening outing: a free cultural celebration outdoors, followed by a seated indoor concert of mariachi music and folklórico dance.
While you’re there: Historic downtown Chandler’s shops and restaurants surround the arts center, and Dr. A.J. Chandler Park is across the street.
Green Valley: Art at Green Valley
When: Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31. Check with the organizer for daily hours.
Where: Continental Shopping Plaza, Green Valley
Cost: Check with the organizer
This outdoor show features fine art, fine crafts and homegrown products. It is a convenient, low-key outing for Green Valley and Sahuarita residents who want to browse local work close to home. There are no food booths, so plan to eat at one of the plaza’s restaurants.
While you’re there: The Titan Missile Museum is just minutes away, and Madera Canyon is a scenic drive into the Santa Rita Mountains. The art galleries of Tubac are about 20 minutes south on I-19.
Phoenix: Arizona State Fair, Final Weekend
When: Thursday, October 29 through Sunday, November 1. Gates open at noon. Last entry is 9 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Where: Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix
Cost: Seniors 62 and older pay $14, and adults pay $20. Official parking is $25, or use the free park-and-ride lot at Phoenix College.
This is the last chance this year to enjoy fair food, livestock barns, exhibit halls and live entertainment. Seniors who prefer a slower pace can spend the afternoon in the agricultural and exhibit buildings.
While you’re there: The Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum are a short drive east on Central Avenue.
Sedona: Día de los Muertos at Tlaquepaque
When: The Marigold Mural Project is Thursday, October 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Day of the Dead celebration is Sunday, November 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, 336 AZ-179, Sedona
Cost: Tlaquepaque’s Día de los Muertos events have been free in past years. Confirm at tlaq.com.
Tlaquepaque marks the season with two events. On October 29, the Marigold Mural Project takes place on Calle Independencia. Visitors can paint tributes to loved ones on a 26-foot community remembrance wall alongside artist Lovejoy, and supplies are provided. On November 1, the village celebrates Día de los Muertos with the sights, sounds and traditions of the holiday. The village’s courtyards and walkways are a beautiful, unhurried setting for an afternoon visit.
While you’re there: The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a few minutes south on SR 179, and the Sedona Heritage Museum is a short drive away in Uptown Sedona.
Coming Up Next Week
Readers planning ahead may want to mark their calendars for the Cowboy Festival at the Historic Empire Ranch near Sonoita, on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival is presented by the nonprofit Empire Ranch Foundation and features Western heritage demonstrations, arena and livestock exhibits, cowboy cooking and Western entertainment. In recent years, the foundation has asked for a $20 parking donation, and the event is otherwise free. In Tucson, the 37th Annual All Souls Procession returns in November. Check allsoulsprocession.org for this year’s date and route.
Online and By Phone: Free Help for Seniors
The programs below are run by nonprofit or community organizations and are free. Most did not post specific dated sessions for this week at press time, so check each program’s schedule for current classes.
Medicare Open Enrollment Help (SHIP Counseling)
When: Medicare’s annual open enrollment runs through December 7. During this period, you can change Part D drug coverage, enroll in or switch Medicare Advantage plans, and change Medigap plans.
Cost: Free
Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. In Arizona, it is provided through the regional Area Agencies on Aging. In Pima County, the nonprofit Pima Council on Aging is the local SHIP office. It provides Medicare presentations, workshops and one-on-one consultations at no charge and does not sell Medicare plans. Pima County residents can call the PCOA Medicare SHIP Helpline at 520-546-2011 on weekdays. Readers elsewhere in the state can find their local Area Agency on Aging at arizonaaging.org. With about five weeks left in open enrollment, now is a good time to book an appointment before calendars fill up.
Senior Planet from AARP: Free Online Technology Classes
When: Live online classes are held throughout the week, with about 50 classes on the schedule each week.
Cost: Free, with no AARP membership required
Senior Planet is a nonprofit affiliated with AARP that teaches older adults to use technology. Its interactive online classes are offered in English, Spanish and Chinese. Topics include using Zoom and video chat, finding low-cost internet, smartphone apps, online safety, and fitness classes such as Morning Stretch and Tai Chi. Classes often have as few as 12 to 15 people and most last about an hour, which makes it easy to ask questions. Visit seniorplanet.org or call 1-888-713-3495 to find a class.
AARP Virtual Community Center: Tech Help
When: Ongoing schedule of live online classes
Cost: Free
The Tech Help area of the AARP Virtual Community Center offers free classes taught by instructors from Senior Planet and AARP state offices. Most run 45 to 60 minutes and cover popular apps and tools such as Google Calendar. The Virtual Community Center can be found at aarp.org.
Before You Go
Dates, times, admission prices and event details listed here were gathered from organizer websites and public event listings and are subject to change. Some events had not yet posted final 2026 hours or pricing at the time of publication. Always verify information with the event organizer before traveling, and check local weather and road conditions. For online programs, confirm class times and registration directly with the sponsoring organization. Medicare open enrollment is a busy season for scams, so be cautious of anyone who calls, emails or texts claiming to be from Medicare, and use only official program phone numbers.
Sources:
City of Chandler: Entre Dos Mundos Día de Muertos Celebration
City of Chandler: 27th Annual Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival
FestivalNet: Green Valley Events
Arizona State Fair Hours
Axios Phoenix: 2026 Arizona State Fair
Tlaquepaque Events
Sedona Monthly: Día de los Muertos at Tlaquepaque
Visit the Sky Islands: Cowboy Festival at the Empire Ranch
KGUN: Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival
Visit Tucson: All Souls Procession
Arizona Daily Star via InsuranceNewsNet: Medicare Open Enrollment
This Is Tucson: Pima Council on Aging Medicare Workshops
ASURA: Area Agency on Aging and SHIP
AARP: Senior Planet and AARP Online Classes
AARP: AARP Joins With Nonprofit to Teach Tech
SeniorNavigator: Senior Planet Free Online Classes