Things to do with kids in the Phoenix area
Listings last checked · Covers this weekend (Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18) plus places open most days · Past events drop off automatically
Quick answer: This weekend (Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18) we list 9 family events around the Phoenix area, 2 of them free. City guides: Scottsdale (8 places, 14 upcoming events); Phoenix (14 places, 10 upcoming events); Tempe (7 places, 2 upcoming events); Mesa (5 places, 5 upcoming events); Chandler (5 places, 1 upcoming event); Gilbert (5 places, 1 upcoming event); Cave Creek & Carefree (5 places, 2 upcoming events).
This is our starting point for families in the Phoenix metro. It shows what's happening this weekend across the Valley, with links to a page for each city we cover. Every event was checked on the organizer's official page, and every price marked verified was copied from the venue's site.
Family events this weekend (Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18)
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
- When
- Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18 (Daily during attraction hours) · During attraction hours
- Cost
- Included with admission (from $22.99 online)
- Ages
- All ages · Indoor
Halloween LEGO builds, glow-in-the-dark Ghoulish Glow workshops and The Great Monster Chase 4D movie.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Día de los Muertos exhibit & scavenger hunt — Burton Barr Library
- When
- Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18 (On display during library hours) · During library hours
- Cost
- Not stated. See the official page.
- Ages
- All ages · Indoor
Community altar, nichos and papel picado, plus a scavenger hunt with a prize on the 5th floor.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch at Mother Nature's Farm
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18 (Daily) · Daily 9am–9pm
- Cost
- $15 under 42 in. · $17 over 42 in. (under 1 free)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Admission includes a take-home OZ pumpkin, hayride, straw bale maze, spider web crawl, farm animals, mega slide and more.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18 (Daily except Tuesdays; closes 3pm on Halloween) · 9am–5pm (last entry 5pm)
- Cost
- $15 per person (under 2 free)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Petting zoo, gold panning, hay-bale maze, pedal cars, carnival games and pumpkins; pony and train rides extra.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Pumpkin & Chili Party at Schnepf Farms
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18 (Wednesdays–Sundays in October) · Wed 4–9pm · Thu noon–9pm · Fri & Sat 10am–10pm · Sun 10am–9pm
- Cost
- Not stated. See the official page.
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
30th annual fall festival: 25+ rides, 10-acre corn maze, hayrides, petting zoo, pig races, pumpkin patch and a Spooky Train after dark.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 · 10am–4pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
60+ craft vendors plus free kids' face painting, costume characters, trick-or-treating and costume contests.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Pumpkin Days & Corn Maze at Tolmachoff Farms
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18 (Wednesdays–Sundays through Oct 31) · Wed–Thu 1–8pm · Fri 1–10pm · Sat 10am–10pm · Sun 10am–8pm
- Cost
- $20 per person (1 & under free)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Big pumpkin patch, family and mini corn mazes, petting zoo, jumping pillow and play areas. (Separate haunted maze is for older kids/adults.)
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Scottsdale Fall Festival
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 · Starts 5pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Free trick-or-treating, carnival games, hands-on arts & crafts, live band & DJ and food trucks.
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- When
- Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18 (October evenings; timed-entry wristbands sold online) · 6–9:30pm (entry 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30 or 8pm)
- Cost
- $15 per person (2 & under free)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Gently spooky train ride, carousel, storybook train and a haunted walk-through (best for older kids).
✓ Checked Oct 17, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Verified-price places in Phoenix
Phoenix Zoo
- Price
- Adult $44.95 · Child $32.95 (child 3-13)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Daytime general admission; ages 14+ adult
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Children's Museum of Phoenix
- Price
- Adult $19 · Child $19 (child 1+)
- Best for
- Ages 0–10 (our guidance)
Non-member general admission
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Musical Instrument Museum
- Price
- Adult $24 · Child $10 (child 4-12)
- Best for
- Ages 4–17+ (our guidance)
Teens 13-19 $15
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Desert Botanical Garden
- Price
- Adult $32.95 · Child $14.95 (child 2-17)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Oct 1-Dec 31 'starting at' prices
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Hall of Flame Fire Museum
- Price
- Adult $19 · Child $15 (child 6-17)
- Best for
- Ages 2–12 (our guidance)
Adult 18+; ages 3-5 $10
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Verified-price places in Cave Creek
Cave Creek Regional Park
- Price
- $10 per vehicle ($5 per person on foot, bike or horse)
- Best for
- Ages 3–17+ (our guidance)
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
- Price
- $5 per person; under 15 free (cash, annual pass or Cave Creek resident card)
- Best for
- Ages 4–17+ (our guidance)
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Cave Creek Museum
- Price
- Adult $10 · Child free (child under 12)
- Best for
- Ages 4–17+ (our guidance)
Students 12+ $8. Open Oct–May: Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun 1–4:30pm; Fri 10am–4:30pm
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Verified-price places in Scottsdale
Butterfly Wonderland
- Price
- Adult $33.95 · Child $23.95 (child 2-12)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Adults 13+
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- Price
- Adult $3 · Child $3 (child 3+)
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
Park entry free; train/carousel $3 per ride, 2 and under ride free; all-day wristband $12
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Verified-price places in Tempe
SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
- Price
- Adult $18 · Child $18 (child all)
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
'Tickets from' price, varies by date
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona
- Price
- Adult $22.99 · Child $22.99 (child all)
- Best for
- Ages 3–10 (our guidance)
'Starting from' per person; adults need a child
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Verified-price places in Mesa
i.d.e.a. Museum (Mesa)
- Price
- Adult $12 · Child $12 (child 1+)
- Best for
- Ages 0–12 (our guidance)
$12 per person; under 1 free
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Usery Mountain Regional Park
- Price
- $10 per vehicle ($5 per person on foot, bike or horse)
- Best for
- Ages 3–17+ (our guidance)
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Verified-price places in Chandler
Arizona Railway Museum
- Price
- Adult $15 · Child $10 (child 2-12)
- Best for
- Ages 2–17+ (our guidance)
Open Sat–Sun 10am–4pm, Sept–May. Under 2 free; family ticket (2 adults, 3 kids) $40
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Verified-price places in Gilbert
HD SOUTH – Gilbert Historical Museum
- Price
- Adult $6 · Child $3 (child 5-12)
- Best for
- Ages 3–17+ (our guidance)
Under 5 free; seniors $5. Open Tue–Sat 10am–4pm
✓ Price verified Oct 17, 2026 · source
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids around Phoenix this weekend?
Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center (Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, Tempe, Included with admission (from $22.99 online)); Día de los Muertos exhibit & scavenger hunt — Burton Barr Library (Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, Phoenix); Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch at Mother Nature's Farm (Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18, Gilbert, $15 under 42 in. · $17 over 42 in. (under 1 free)); MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch (Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18, Scottsdale, $15 per person (under 2 free)); Pumpkin & Chili Party at Schnepf Farms (Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18, Queen Creek); Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Pumpkin Days & Corn Maze at Tolmachoff Farms (Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18, Glendale, $20 per person (1 & under free)); Scottsdale Fall Festival (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (Sat, Oct 17 – Sun, Oct 18, Scottsdale, $15 per person (2 & under free)).
What free family events are around Phoenix this weekend?
Scottsdale Sparkle Halloween Market (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free); Scottsdale Fall Festival (Sat, Oct 17, Scottsdale, Free).
Which Phoenix-area cities does Little Outings cover?
We have city guides for Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Cave Creek & Carefree. The zip-code search works anywhere in the US, but our hand-checked event coverage is focused on the Phoenix metro.
How does Little Outings check these listings?
Every event here was checked on the organizer's official website or calendar, and each listing shows the date we last checked it and links to that source. Past events drop off the page automatically. Dates, times and prices can change, so confirm on the official page before you go.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website or calendar and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site. Price levels without a source are our estimates. Read how we verify listings.