OCTOBER HAPPENINGS

PHOENIX CHILDREN’S 5K & KIDS DASH

When: Oct. 7

Where: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale

What: Get ready. Get set. Run the extra miles for sick and injured kids during the 2023 Phoenix Children’s 5K & Kids Dash, brought to you by RSM US LLP and presented by AutoNation! This family-friendly (3.1 miles) event is a great opportunity for fitness enthusiasts and families to enjoy running, jogging, and walking for a life-changing cause at the same facility that serves Major League Baseball spring training!

Info: saltriverfields.com/ phoenixchildrenshospital5k

STING: MY SONGS 2023

When: Oct. 9

Where: Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix

What: Join Sting on his “My Songs” tour, showcasing tracks from his pre-pandemic album, along with fresh renditions of iconic hits including “Englishman in New York” and Police hits including “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” and “Message in a Bottle.”

Info: arizonafinancialtheatre.com

“TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL”

When: Oct. 10 – Oct. 15

Where: ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe

What: ASU Gammage presents “TINA

– The Tina Turner Musical,” an inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. Featuring her much loved songs, “TINA – The Tina Turner Musical” is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd. Info: asugammage.com/tina

MARICOPA COUNTY HOME & GARDEN SHOW

When: Oct. 13, 14, & 15

Where: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale

What: Don’t miss out on Arizona’s premier Home & Garden Show at WestWorld. Dive into over 1,000 vendor displays, offering unbeatable deals on home upgrades, kitchen transformations, chic home décor, solar innovations, landscaping, patio furnishings, flooring solutions, window selections, and more. Enjoy an enlightening gardening workshop, interactive crafts, delightful wine tastings, exclusive tiny homes walkthroughs, and a live pottery wheel.

Info: maricopacountyhomeshows.com

CHELSEA HANDLER: LITTLE BIG BITCH

When: Oct. 14

Where: Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix

What: Chelsea Handler is a comedian, television host, New York Times bestselling author and advocate whose humor and candor have established her as one of the most celebrated voices in entertainment and pop culture. In 2022, Handler made her return to Netflix with her critically acclaimed comedy special “Revolution.” It follows the success of her 2020 HBO Max comedy special “Evolution,” which earned Chelsea a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album.

Info: chelseahandler.com

SALT & LIME FIESTA!

When: Oct. 14

Where: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale

What: Join the festivities during the Salt & Lime Fiesta 2023 as they go bigger and more delicious! They’ll have endless street tacos, cold cervezas, margarita and tequila bars, delicious food vendors, lucha libre, game zones, live music, and much more!

Info: saltriverfields.com/salt-lime-fiesta

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR: A JAZZ TRIBUTE TO 100 YEARS OF DISNEY

When: Oct. 15

Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N Arizona Ave., Chandler

What: Celebrate 100 years of Disney through jazz at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Led by Sean Mason, enjoy iconic tunes like “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” with a fresh jazz twist. Don’t miss this nostalgic musical journey! This production is not affiliated with, sponsored, or authorized by The Walt Disney Company. Info: downtownchandler.org/do/whenyou-wish-upon-a-star-a-jazz-tribute-to100-years-of-disney

FOOD

When: Oct. 20 & 21

Where: ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe

What: FOOD is an intimate dinner party performance that uses smell, taste, touch, and audience instruction to feed a meditation on the ways and whys of eating. Why do you eat what you eat? Where does it come from? What does it really cost? At the heart of FOOD is an immense dinner table, surrounded by audience members. With a signature theatrical flavor combining rigorous design and stage illusion with an absurdist sense of humor, FOOD pulls you directly into the mystery of how we find ourselves at this end of the salad bar. Info: asugammage.com/shows-events/ food

DESERT DOG POLICE K9 TRIALS & PUBLIC SAFETY EXPO

When: Oct. 21-22

Where: WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale

What: Join 70 top canine teams at WestWorld’s Tony Nelssen Equestrian Arena, showcasing their skills in real-life law enforcement scenarios: from agility to narcotics detection. This familyfriendly event also offers a 117,000 sq-ft hall with 150-plus vendors, interactive SWAT, and aviation displays, and the latest in public safety vehicles. A mustvisit for thrilling canine action and insights into modern safety tactics.

Info: alecapolicek9.com/k9-trials

DÍA

De Los Muertos Festival

When: Oct. 21 & 22

Where: Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa

What: Mesa Arts Center is pleased to celebrate Día de los Muertos with an annual event created in collaboration with the community. Día de los Muertos is a celebration of Latin American art and culture related to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. The annual free event offers a variety of features, performances and more in celebration of the memories of the deceased.

Info: mesaartscenter.com/ diadelosmuertos

Travis Scott

When: Oct 25 & 26

Where: Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix

What: Inspired by his record-breaking No.1 album “UTOPIA,” Travis Scott’s UTOPIA – Circus Maximus Tour will transport fans into an unparalleled audiovisual experience. This show follows on the heels of Travis Scott’s electrifying live performance at the iconic Circus Maximus in Rome, Italy, which sold out 60,000 tickets in just two days. “UTOPIA” has been deemed the biggest hip-hop release of 2023, holding strong at number one on the Billboard Top 200 for four weeks running.

Info: footprintcenter.com/events/travisscott

Jake Owen

When: Oct. 26

Where: The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale

What: With a career-spanning collection of gold and platinum certifications, ten No.1 singles and over 2.5 billion U.S. on-demand streams, Jake Owen has ascended to stardom as a mainstay country staple. Known for his laidback style and genre defining hits like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “American Country Love Song,” and “Alone with You,” Owen’s last album, Greetings From…Jake, delivered three number one hits – “Made for You,” “Homemade” and “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” – and a top five smash “Down to the Honkytonk.”

Info: talkingstickresort.com

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

When: Oct. 26 - 29

Where: Mesa Center for the Arts, One E. Main St., Mesa

What: Plunge into this stunning allsinging, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!

Info: mesaartscenter.com/index.php/ shows/other-presenters/cyt-spongebobthe-musical

“PICTURESQUE”

When: Oct. 26

Where: ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe

What: Prepare to be transported into a sensory journey that combines the beauty of sound with the depth of emotion. In the first half of the performance, the spotlight will shine on ASU’s exceptionally talented students who have emerged triumphant in composition and concerto competitions.

Carlos Zarate’s compositions will paint sonic landscapes that captivate the imagination, while Michelle Perez’s voice will weave stories that touch the heart.

Bradley Johnson’s bassoon prowess will bring forth a harmonious blend of melody and resonance.

Info: asugammage.com/shows-events/ picturesque

SZA

When: Oct. 29

Where: Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix

What: Following her incredibly successful 17-city sold out run, Grammy-award-winning music trendsetter and icon SZA will continue her touring trek with ten new dates in Europe and twenty-one additional dates across North America due to incredible fan demand. Produced by Live Nation, the S.O.S. Tour will circle back to North America in the fall wrapping up in Phoenix at Footprint Center with special guest d4vd.

Info: footprintcenter.com/events/sza

ON DECK: NOVEMBER

Discover the world’s finest Artists and Craftsmen at Arizona’s premier Art & Wine Festivals. Enjoy live music, delicious food, and superb wine tastings from dozens of local wineries. Free admission.

Kierland

Fine Art & Wine Festival

October 28-29

February 3-4

Litchfield Park Festival of the Arts

NEW

VISION CENTER PRESENTS, “ART AND SERVICE EXPO”

When: Nov. 11

Where: New Vision Center, 1810 N. Tatum Blvd., North Phoenix

What: This is the perfect chance to get your holiday shopping started! NVC is a radically inclusive spiritual center that is showcasing its finest artists/crafters and small business owners with a delightful (and free) outdoor expo! Enjoy a positive, relaxing experience from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with this family-friendly community and load up on unique art/crafts and products all while supporting local artists and small businesses!

Info: newvisioncsl.org

November 4-5

March 2-3

Sonoran Arts

Festival

January 12-14

Tubac Festival of the Arts

February 7-11

Wigwam Festival of Fine Art

February 16-18