Discover Life on
the Eastside
Your go-to guide for everything happening on the East Valley of Phoenix. Local events, weekend plans, patio dinners, desert trails, and the communities that make this side of town feel like home.
- Wed, Nov 11 East Valley Veterans Parade Mesa. Over 100 parade entries honoring veterans through downtown Mesa, 11 a.m. start.
- Sat, Nov 14 Pride in Chandler Chandler. Chandler's annual Pride celebration fills QuartHaus with live entertainment, vendors, and family fun, 4-8 p.m.
- Sat, Nov 14 Mesa Feastival Mesa. Mesa's bi-weekly food truck night returns to Pioneer Park, 5:30-9 p.m., free admission.
- Sat-Sun, Nov 14-15 Canal Convergence Finale Scottsdale. The free light-art festival along the Scottsdale Waterfront closes with a 6-9 p.m. finale Sunday.
Farmers Markets 
Desert Trails 
Patio Dining 
Dog Parks Explore the Neighborhoods
Six distinct towns and cities, each with its own personality. Here is the short list of what makes each one worth a visit, and a move.
Pop. 288,790 Gilbert
Small-Town Heart, Big-City Access
Once the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World," Gilbert is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The Heritage District is the beating heart of town, packed with locally owned restaurants, breweries, and community events, with the new Heritage Park development adding even more dining and retail. Top-rated schools and family-friendly neighborhoods make it one of the most desirable places to live in the East Valley.
Pop. 281,230 Chandler
Innovation Meets Desert Charm
Chandler blends high-tech industry with historic downtown character. Major employers like Intel anchor the economy, while the Chandler Museum and annual Ostrich Festival give the city its personality. Chandler Fashion Center is undergoing a major redevelopment with Din Tai Fung and new dining concepts on the way.
Pop. 517,150 Mesa
The Third-Largest City in Arizona
Mesa offers more space, more affordability, and more diversity than its neighbors. Home to Mesa Community College and a thriving arts district, the city balances urban amenities with desert tranquility. The Mekong Plaza expansion is bringing exciting new dining, while Red Mountain trails and the Mesa Arts Center anchor a vibrant cultural scene.
Pop. 246,170 Scottsdale
Desert Elegance and World-Class Culture
Scottsdale is where the desert meets sophistication. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve offers 30,500 acres of untouched wilderness steps from luxury resorts, art galleries, and award-winning restaurants, including the newly opened Din Tai Fung and Il Bracco. Old Town Scottsdale pulses with nightlife, galleries, and the annual Parada del Sol.
Pop. 89,770 Queen Creek
Farm Roots, Fast Growth
Once a quiet farming crossroads, Queen Creek is now one of the fastest-growing towns in the country, and it still keeps its small-town soul. Arizona’s only working olive mill calls it home, Schnepf Farms keeps the agritainment going all year, and the San Tan Mountains sit right on the town’s edge. New master-planned communities, great schools, and room to breathe make it a favorite for families.
Pop. 45,672 Apache Junction
Gateway to the Superstitions
At the foot of the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is where Old West legend meets desert living. Lost Dutchman State Park, Goldfield Ghost Town, and the scenic Apache Trail to Canyon Lake are all right out the back door, and the town is one of the most affordable places to buy on the Eastside.
A Weekend on the Eastside
Dinner on a patio, a trail at sunrise, a festival downtown, a market on Saturday. This is the rhythm of the week.
This Week & Beyond
The fall calendar is stacked. Everything below is happening soon across the Eastside, grouped by city so you can plan your weekend in minutes.
In Gilbert
3 events Sat, Nov 14 Gilbert Gilbert Art Walk
Gilbert's monthly Art Walk fills the Heritage District with artists, live music, and makers, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beside the farmers market.
Nov 21-22 Gilbert Gilbert Days Parade & Festival
Gilbert's signature celebration: parade through the Heritage District Saturday morning, then the free festival with live music and food at Gilbert Regional Park, 4-9 p.m.
Dec 6 Gilbert Hazel Avenue's Gilbert Holiday Market
250-plus vendors, Santa and the Grinch, and food trucks take over Gilbert Regional Park for a one-stop holiday shop.
In Chandler
2 events Sat, Nov 14 Chandler Pride in Chandler
Chandler's annual Pride celebration fills QuartHaus with live entertainment, local vendors, and family-friendly activities, 4-8 p.m.
Dec 5 Chandler Tumbleweed Tree Lighting
Downtown Chandler lights its iconic 40-foot tumbleweed tree, followed by the Parade of Lights.
In Mesa
8 events Wed, Nov 11 Mesa East Valley Veterans Parade
Over 100 parade entries honoring veterans through downtown Mesa. 11:00 a.m. start.
Sat, Nov 14 Mesa Mesa Feastival
Mesa's bi-weekly food truck night returns to Pioneer Park, 5:30-9 p.m., with 15 to 25 trucks and live music. Free admission.
Sat, Nov 14 Mesa Copper State Whiskey Festival
Arizona's largest whiskey festival pours 100-plus whiskeys with live music and food trucks at Sloan Park, 3-8 p.m.
Sun, Nov 15 Mesa Outlander In Concert
The sweeping music of the hit series, performed live by a full orchestra at the Mesa Arts Center.
Tue, Nov 17 Mesa Alton Brown at Mesa Arts Center
The food scientist and TV host brings his live stage show to Mesa. Equal parts culinary lecture, comedy, and spectacle.
Nov 20-22 Mesa The Wiz
The Tony-winning soulful retelling of The Wizard of Oz takes the stage at Mesa Arts Center. Easy on down the road.
Nov 28-29 Mesa Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
The iconic Christmas music machine brings its beloved holiday show to the Mesa Arts Center.
Dec 11-13 Mesa Mesa Christmas Market
A European-style artisan market in downtown Mesa with handmade gifts, holiday decor, and live entertainment.
In Queen Creek
1 events Sat, Nov 14 Queen Creek Queen Creek Family Market at Schnepf Farms
The monthly Family Market sets up at Schnepf Farms, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with local vendors and food trucks. Free admission.
In Scottsdale
6 events
Going on now
Scottsdale Arizona Fall League Baseball
MLB top prospects take the field at Scottsdale Stadium for the last week of affordable, intimate fall baseball.
Sat, Nov 14 Scottsdale Lee Brice at Talking Stick Resort
Country star joins the Talking Stick Resort fall lineup for a night of modern country favorites.
Sat, Nov 14 Scottsdale Someburros 40th Anniversary Fiesta
The Valley favorite turns 40 at Salt River Fields with live music, a Kid Zone, and a drone show finale, 3-9 p.m. From $10.
Going on now
Scottsdale Canal Convergence: Western Nature
Scottsdale Arts' free 10-night light-art festival along the Scottsdale Waterfront closes Sunday with a 6-9 p.m. finale.
Nov 20-22 Scottsdale Goodguys Southwest Nationals
Thousands of classic and custom cars take over WestWorld for the season's biggest hot-rod show.
Nov 28 - Dec 31 Scottsdale Scottsdazzle
Old Town Scottsdale's holiday celebration kicks off with the tree lighting spectacular and runs through New Year's.
Date Night Pick of the Week
Craft 64: Wood-Fired Pizza and Arizona Brews in a Historic Chandler Post Office
This week's date night pick is Craft 64, the wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria and brewpub tucked into downtown Chandler's historic former post office. Since the Chandler location opened in May 2019, it has been the neighborhood's answer to the question of where to go for a great pizza and a cold Arizona beer without the fuss.
A true scratch kitchen with no freezers and no microwaves, dough from Hayden Mills, produce from McClendon Select, and olive oil from Queen Creek Olive Mill. Thirty-plus Arizona craft beers on tap, including ten brewed in-house, a sixty-foot bar, and a heated, misted patio that makes date night feel easy year-round.
Week of Nov 12-18, 2026 Kids & Teens This Week: Storytime Grooves, Teen Labs, and a Little Eagle Business Fair
The Eastside settles into its comfiest stretch of November this week. Queen Creek's little entrepreneurs open their pop-up shops at the Dream Builders Children's Business Fair on Saturday, Mesa rolls out its beloved Downtown Farmers Market for an easy family morning, Gilbert keeps its evening family storytime groove going, and the libraries of Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and Apache Junction run their full lineup of baby and toddler storytimes, after-school LEGO, cooking classes, homework clubs, and teen makerspace labs.
Every date, time, and age range in the guide is verified against the organizer's own calendar, from Mesa's Haunted Hangar and library Boo! parties to Chandler's Halloween Spooktacular, Queen Creek's Haunted Barn, library storytimes, and teen programs across all five Eastside towns.
5 Things Locals Know
Consider this the unspoken Eastside handbook. Short, true, and hard-won from a lot of weekends out there.
Mornings are magic
Fall mornings are golden. Markets, trails, and patios are all at their best before 10 a.m.
Festivals move fast
Mesa Music Festival, Canal Convergence, and Gilbert Days fill up quickly, so mark the calendar early.
The Plaza is the hangout
Water Tower Plaza hosts free Concerts in the Park every Thursday in October. Bring a blanket.
Patio season is back
After a long summer, every Heritage District and Old Town patio is suddenly the best seat in town.
The Preserve is our backyard
Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve puts 30,500 acres of trails steps from Old Town.
Fall Is Officially in Full Swing
Fall is officially in full swing on the Eastside, and this is the season locals wait for all year. This weekend, November 14-15, is the first big November weekend: Canal Convergence lights up the Scottsdale Waterfront for its final two nights, Mesa's food-truck Feastival rolls into Pioneer Park, the Queen Creek Family Market sets up at Schnepf Farms, Chandler celebrates Pride at QuartHaus, and Apache Junction screens a free movie under the stars. Gilbert runs its Art Walk by day and opens its observatory at the Riparian Preserve by night, and Gilbert Days softball kicks off a week ahead of the big parade and festival.
The month ahead is stacked. The East Valley Veterans Parade honors our service members through downtown Mesa on Nov 11, the Copper State Whiskey Festival pours at Sloan Park Nov 14, and The Wiz (Nov 20-22), Gilbert Days with its parade and festival (Nov 21-22), and the Goodguys Southwest Nationals at WestWorld (Nov 20-22) fill the third weekend. Then the holidays arrive: Mannheim Steamroller (Nov 28-29), Scottsdazzle and the Mesa Temple Christmas Lights (Nov 28+), the Tumbleweed Tree Lighting (Dec 5), Hazel Avenue's Gilbert Holiday Market (Dec 6), and the Mesa Christmas Market (Dec 11-13) carry the season to the end of the year.
Canal Convergence: Western Nature
ScottsdaleScottsdale Arts' free light-art festival along the Scottsdale Waterfront closes this weekend: large illuminated installations, live performances, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. Sunday 6-9 p.m. is the finale.
Gilbert Days Parade & Festival
GilbertGilbert's signature celebration: the parade rolls along Gilbert Road through the Heritage District Saturday morning, then the free festival with live music, food, and family fun runs 4-9 p.m. at Gilbert Regional Park, with the half marathon and 10K filling the morning.
Gilbert Art Walk & Farmers Market
GilbertThe monthly Art Walk fills the Heritage District beside the Saturday farmers market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with local artists, live acoustic music, and makers along the sidewalks.
Mesa Feastival
MesaMesa's bi-weekly food truck extravaganza at Pioneer Park, 5:30-9 p.m., with 15 to 25 gourmet trucks, live music, and boutique vendors. Free admission, dinner on you.
Gold Palette ArtWalk
ScottsdaleOld Town Scottsdale galleries stay open late every Thursday with artist meet-and-greets, complimentary refreshments, and new exhibitions. A perfect evening tradition.
Gilbert Farmers Market
GilbertOver 100 local vendors with farm-fresh produce, artisan baked goods, local roasted coffee, and food trucks at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, now on fall hours from 8 a.m. to noon.
Scottsdazzle
ScottsdaleOld Town Scottsdale's holiday celebration kicks off with the tree lighting spectacular on Nov 28 and runs through New Year's with seasonal events across the district.
Mesa Temple Christmas Lights
MesaThe Mesa Arizona Temple grounds glow with hundreds of thousands of lights through the holiday season, free to stroll nightly with the carolers and nativity displays.
Tumbleweed Tree Lighting
ChandlerDowntown Chandler lights its iconic 40-foot tumbleweed tree, followed by the Parade of Lights. A uniquely Arizonan holiday tradition since 1957.
Hazel Avenue's Gilbert Holiday Market
Gilbert250-plus vendors, Santa and the Grinch, and food trucks take over Gilbert Regional Park, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., for a one-stop holiday shop.
Live Like a Local
The East Valley is not just a place to live, it is a place to thrive. From farm-to-table restaurants to desert hiking trails, craft breweries to community farmers markets, this is what everyday life looks like on the Eastside.
Say Hi
Hey there, I'm Tricia
I've spent the last 19 years getting to know every corner of the Eastside, from Gilbert's Heritage District to Old Town Scottsdale, and this site is my way of passing along the good stuff. If you are thinking about making the move here, or you have been a local for years and just want to know what is new, I would genuinely love to say hi.
This is a friendly place, and so am I. Reach out any time for a neighborhood tip, a restaurant recommendation, or a chat about finding your next home on the Eastside.