Contrast Makes Autumn in Arizona So Sweet

Fall in Arizona is the finest time of year in the Desert Southwest. And there's no better place to appreciate the wonders of fall, than in Arizona.

The Fall Checklist: An Arizona Perspective

The checklist for fall in most of the United States looks like this:

• Cooler Temperatures
• Sweaters & Cozy Blankets
• Changing Leaves
• Pumpkin Spice

The fall checklist in Arizona looks the same, with some slight adjustments:

• Not Quite So Hot Temperatures
  • It's 89, not 104
• Sweaters & Cozy Blankets
  • They'll begin appearing in a store near you. Buy them, but don't even think of using them yet. Better yet, wait a few weeks. We won't even need them until they go on clearance sales.
• Changing Leaves
  • Appear on our Social Media feeds. We're just peeping them from our friends and family "back East". A few leaves are changing in higher elevations, but our show starts much later on.
• Pumpkin Spice
  • Yeah, we sip Pumpkin Spice Lattes. We just enjoy them over ice.

Festival Season Returns in the Arizona Fall

We celebrate Fall a little differently in Arizona, than they might in Vermont or Michigan. In Arizona, the minute our temperatures begin to drop, Arizona comes back to life. We turn up our air conditioners and swamp coolers and emerge back to the outdoors.

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5 Reasons Fall is Great in Arizona

1. State and County Fairs in September

If you've ever lived in the Midwest or the East Coast, you probably went to your state and county fairs sometime in the summer.

The Santa Cruz County Fair is in the middle of September. The Cochise County Fair happens the last week of September. The Arizona State Fair is the last weekend of September and the first weekend in October.

Why? Because it's safer for the animals and everyone attending. The heat can be dangerous for humans and animals, which is why we wait for cooler temps.

2. Hiking is Great in Cooler Weather

Even in the middle of September or early October, the temperatures can still climb into the 90s, depending on where you are. The good news is, it doesn't get as hot as quickly and the temperatures cool down more quickly.

All that fresher, cooler air makes for a great hike! Make sure you pack enough water. This is still Arizona, after all!

3. Longer Fall Weather Than Other Parts of the Country

Our fall may seem to arrive a little later than other parts of the country, but it sticks around a little longer.

If you've ever seen your friends in Michigan or Ohio digging out from under feet of snow over Thanksgiving weekend, you'll understand how much nicer it is here. I can't count the number of times we've held Thanksgiving outside!

4. Fall Festivals

The city parks in Arizona are booked solid with fun events from the first of September, right through the holidays. Oktoberfest, Wine Festivals, Art Festivals, Fun Festivals - you name it. When the cooler temps hit, Arizona emerges, ready for fun.

5. Rodeos

For the same reason Arizona County Fairs happen in the fall, you're more likely to find rodeos happening in the fall in Arizona. It's safer for the riders and the livestock.

One of the oldest rodeos in the nation is the Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo. It's been going strong for over 100 years!