Pumpkin and Chili Party at Schnepf FarmsQueen Creek
all of October, closed some weekdays · check the date
Pumpkins and a chili dinner, hayrides, pig races, a corn maze and rides, and it sells out, so buy ahead.
Fall in Phoenix and Northern Arizona3 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Mother Nature's Farm Pumpkin PatchGilbert
late September into early November, 9 to 9 · check the date
A pumpkin patch with a hayride, a straw bale maze, pedal cars and a corn pit, and some of the pumpkins are huge.
Fall Festival at Vertuccio FarmsMesa
early October into early November · check the date
A corn maze, petting zoo, a super mega slide and train rides.
The little stuff, by town2 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
Fall in Glendale
Pumpkin Days at Tolmachoff Farms
October · check the date
A pumpkin patch, a corn maze, a petting zoo and a jumping pillow on the west side.
Fall in Scottsdale
MacDonald's Ranch Pumpkin Patch
October · check the date
A pumpkin patch with pony rides, hay bale climbing and an Old West feel.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Phoenix and Northern Arizona4 things
Most of these post their 2026 dates in the fall, so these show last year's windows. The Polar Express books up fast, so reserve early.
Mesa Temple Christmas LightsMesa
nightly 5 to 10, the day after Thanksgiving through December 30 · check the date
The temple grounds covered in Christmas lights, free and so pretty.
Glendale GlittersGlendale
nightly 5 to 10, the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Day · check the date
Sixteen blocks of downtown lit up with over a million lights, the biggest free light display in the state.
ZooLights at the Phoenix ZooPhoenix
nightly from Thanksgiving week into mid January · check the date
The zoo lit up at night, open late every night of the season.
The Polar Express in WilliamsWilliams
nightly at 5:30 and 7:30, early November through December 30 · check the date
A 90 minute train ride through the woods up north to the North Pole to see Santa, just like the book.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Queen Creek
Christmas at Schnepf Farms
Thursday to Sunday nights 5 to 10 through late December · check the date
The farm dressed up for Christmas after the pumpkin season ends.
Christmas in Phoenix
APS Electric Light Parade
the first Saturday in December (last year Dec 6) · check the date
A nighttime parade of lit up floats through central Phoenix.
Christmas in Jerome
Light Up the Mountain in Jerome
the Saturday after Thanksgiving · check the date
The old mining town on the hill lights its tree, with Santa and Mrs. Claus there all day.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Phoenix and Northern Arizona fall and Christmas questions
When are the Mesa Temple Christmas lights?
Usually nightly from the day after Thanksgiving through December 30, 5 to 10, and they're free.
When does the Polar Express run in Williams?
Usually early November through December 30, at 5:30 and 7:30 each night. Reservations are required.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.