This week’s lineup includes a plein air painting festival in Sedona, western films and Celtic music in Tucson, and a garden festival and plant sale in Phoenix. 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
Phoenix: Arizona State Fair
When: Thursday, October 22 through Sunday, October 25, and continuing Thursdays through Sundays through November 1. Gates open at noon. Last entry is 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
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.
There are two weekends left 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 Master Gardeners Fall Festival below is just a few miles north on Saturday morning, so a gardener could visit both in one day.
Phoenix: Maricopa County Master Gardeners Fall Festival and Plant Sale
When: Saturday, October 24, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Metro Tech High School, 1900 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix
Cost: Free admission. Free parking is in the Thomas Avenue lot. Bring cash, because student clubs and some vendors accept cash only.
This 24th annual event is hosted by the Maricopa County Master Gardeners and Metro Tech High School. More than 70 Master Gardener volunteers grow more than 700 plants for the sale, and they are on hand to give advice on choosing, placing and caring for plants. There are also craft vendors, baked goods made by Metro Tech culinary students, prize drawings and a rummage sale. Proceeds support Metro Tech student programs and the University of Arizona Master Gardener program. Organizers suggest bringing a wagon to carry purchases.
While you’re there: Encanto Park is a short drive south, and the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum are a few minutes east on Central Avenue.
Sedona: 22nd Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival
When: Public events run Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 24. There is a paint-out at D.A. Ranch on Monday, October 19, and artist demonstrations at the Sedona Arts Center on Tuesday, October 20, and Thursday, October 22.
Where: The Sedona Arts Center is at 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona. D.A. Ranch is at 1900 Dancing Apache Road, Cornville.
Cost: Tickets for the D.A. Ranch event are sold through the Sedona Arts Center. Check with the Arts Center for demonstration fees and the full schedule.
This is one of the oldest continuously running plein air festivals in the western United States. Master painters work outdoors and capture Sedona’s red-rock landscapes in real time, and visitors can watch the paintings take shape and buy original work. The demonstrations are a relaxed, low-walking way to enjoy the festival.
While you’re there: The Page Springs wineries are close to D.A. Ranch in Cornville. In Sedona, the Sedona Heritage Museum and Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village are both a short drive from the Arts Center.
Tucson: 40th Annual Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games
When: Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25. Listed hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Rillito Raceway Park, 4502 N. First Avenue, Tucson
Cost: A festival listing shows tickets from $12 to $150, depending on the package.
This festival is run by the volunteer, nonprofit Tucson Celtic Festival Association and celebrates Scottish, Irish, Welsh and British heritage. Visitors will find bagpipe bands, Celtic music and dancing, Highland athletics, whisky tastings, Celtic food and vendors. Clan and heritage booths are a good stop for anyone interested in genealogy.
While you’re there: The Rillito River Park path runs right past the grounds, and Tohono Chul gardens and Tucson Botanical Gardens are both a short drive away.
Tucson: 11th Annual Wild Bunch Film Festival
When: Wednesday, October 21 through Sunday, October 25, with screenings from about 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. A movie-set tour follows on Monday, October 26.
Where: Galaxy Theatres, 100 S. Houghton Road, Tucson, with some events at other local venues
Cost: Tickets are sold at the festival registration table during festival hours. Last year, each day required a separate ticket.
This festival is devoted to western films and the western lifestyle, and it is a natural fit for lifelong fans of the genre. The program includes film screenings, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, workshops and social events. Highlights include a screening of Birthright Outlaw on October 25 followed by a Q&A with actor Tom Proctor, then the festival’s awards show. The festival ends with a filmmaker and screenwriter tour of Harker’s Museum and Movie Set on October 26.
While you’re there: The Cactus Forest Loop Drive in Saguaro National Park East is close to the theater and can be seen entirely from the car, and Colossal Cave Mountain Park is about 20 minutes southeast.
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.
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 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. Be cautious of anyone who calls, emails or texts claiming to be from Medicare, and use only official program phone numbers.
Sources:
Axios Phoenix: 2026 Arizona State Fair
University of Arizona Extension: 2026 Fall Festival and Plant Sale
Maricopa County Extension Calendar
Sedona Arts Center: Season of Events
Visit Sedona: Sedona Plein Air Festival
Clan Buchanan: Tucson Celtic Festival 2026
TheCraftMap: Tucson Celtic Festival
Tucson Lifestyle: Wild Bunch Film Festival
KXCI: 11th Annual Wild Bunch Film Festival
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