Arts & Culture Bars & Nightlife Community Food, Restaurants & Dining Music & Events Spotlight Fara Illich August 28, 2015

Updated for November: Fall is full of events and things to do in Downtown Phoenix, from food and art festivals to community celebrations.

Here are 10 ways to Live it Up in Downtown Phoenix:

Dia de los Muertos en ALAC: Friday, Nov. 6

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the heart of Downtown Phoenix with Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center and its artists. Festivities will include: a mercardo (market); face painting; musical performances; food; artist-made altars honoring family members, community leaders or historical icons; ofrendas (offerings) like flowers, candles, food, drinks, photos and personal mementos; and more. The celebration starts at 5 p.m. Free.



A runway fashion show featuring fashions made of recycled materials

Free tours of historic and adaptively reused commercial buildings

Hanging garden and woven fence installations

Creative hands-on kids’ activities

Various individual activities and parties at the businesses and art galleries along Grand Avenue

Herberger Theater Center is celebrating the arts with performances, dance, food, visual art, live music, children’s activities, film shorts and more at the sixth annual Festival of the Arts. Admission is $5 or free for kids 12 and under, active military, and veterans. Proceeds benefit the Herberger Theater’s youth outreach programs. 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.The weekly Monday night run or walk is throwing a birthday party in honor of its one-year anniversary. The night will feature an interactive 1.5-mile route, more prizes than ever, a health fair and more! Attendees can win FitBits from Blue Cross Blue Shield, try their hand at a special trivia game, and indulge on delicious birthday cake baked just for Meet Me Downtown. 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.The sixth annual festival hosted by Local First Arizona celebrates all things local with a full day of music, vendors, food and fun. The event includes kids’ activities, a beer and wine garden, silent auction, and more than 100 vendors selling unique gifts. Do some early holiday shopping or just bask in the beautiful weather with family and friends. Free admission.One of the most highly anticipated events of the year, the Grand Avenue Festival features music, tours, art, kids’ activities, food and more from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Here’s a taste of what to expect:

For the second year, Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts will lead a grand procession through the Grand Avenue neighborhood to promote creativity and community. Anyone is welcome to participate in this free, family-friendly production. This year’s theme, “Big Top PAPA,” commemorates a decade of the parade with carnivalesque fanfare. The public procession starts at 6 p.m.

Tour de Coops: Saturday, Nov. 14

Have a bawking good time and tour backyard hen houses during the seventh annual Tour de Coops. Hosted by the Valley Permaculture Alliance, the fundraising event takes attendees to various hen houses to highlight sustainable gardening in urban environments. Tour de Coops demonstrates how chickens can be housed in urban residences, celebrates passionate coop owners, and shows how these land-bound birds are naturally beneficial for your urban garden.

Roosevelt Home Tour: Sunday, Nov. 15

Travel back in time and discover the turn-of-the-century architecture on an informative self-guided home tour of the historic Roosevelt Neighborhood in Downtown Phoenix. The neighborhood spans from McDowell Road to Van Buren Street and from Central to Seventh avenues with beautiful homes dating between 1893 and 1930. The event also includes a small block party with food trucks and a craft fair. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.



A new event series will bring celebrated authors to the Orpheum Theatre for nights filled with laughter, dialogue, and inspiration. The event series kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 17 when Rainn Wilson , famous for his role as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s The Office, visits with his memoir about finding his place in comedy, faith and life. Isabel Allende visits Friday, Nov. 20 with her new novel, “The Japanese Lover.” Arts & Letters is presented by Changing Hands Bookstore in partnership with Downtown Phoenix Inc. Sometimes dubbed the best city for pizza — outside of Italy — Phoenix is finally getting its very own pizza festival. On Saturday, Nov. 21, the Phoenix Pizza Festival will take over Civic Space Park for a celebration of everyone’s favorite food. The event will feature 15 pizza makers offering $2 slices and above (sizes vary from slices to full pies) paired with craft beer and wine plus desserts, coffee and other treats. The festival benefits the Local First Foundation and will sell out, so make sure to buy your tickets in advance!One of the most cherished community events returns for a fun-filled celebration of pie. Pie Social features the culinary creations of 15 local chefs paired with community-baked pie from 2-5 p.m. The family-friendly event will include live music by The Senators and Tobie Milford, pie-related vendors, face painting, and more. Attendees can choose to bake and bring two homemade pies in exchange for five tasting tickets or can purchase five tickets for $10. Free admission.Looking for more fun-filled events? You’re in luck! We’ve compiled them all into one, convenient web address: www.dtphx.org/liveitup