November is here, and the Valley is gearing up for a busy month of festivals, culinary experiences, holiday traditions and opportunities to support local. There’s something on the calendar for just about everyone!
Culinary Curator’s Holiday Cooking Classes | Nov. 5 and 23
Chef and culinary instructor Debbie J. Elder is bringing holiday inspiration to the kitchen with classes at Culinary Curator in downtown Fountain Hills. Upcoming experiences include French Tart Art & Dinner on Nov. 5 and Pie Perfect, a holiday baking experience, on Nov. 23, with interactive instruction and a shared meal.
BBQ & Bluegrass Classic | Nov. 6–7
Downtown Mesa will fire up the smokers and tune the strings for its annual BBQ & Bluegrass Classic, featuring 34 barbecue competitors, bands, bluegrass jam sessions and AZ Distilling spirit tastings. Saturday’s festivities also include a KidsQ competition, a beer garden and a kids zone sponsored by Raising Cane’s.
The Art of Mezze at Salt & Sol | Nov. 6
Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas is introducing The Art of Mezze, a culinary series celebrating Mediterranean-inspired dining and entertaining. The Autumn Edition begins at 5 p.m. and offers a build-your-own mezze board experience for two, including ingredients and a glass of wine, starting at $50.
Esplanade Community Table | Nov. 7
More than 150 guests will gather at the Esplanade, 2501 E. Camelback Road, for a family-style dinner prepared by James Beard-nominated chefs Roberto Centeno, Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin. The four-course meal benefits St. Mary’s Food Bank, and tickets are $500 per person.
Ursa and Queen of Cups Wine Dinner | Nov. 12
Ursa will welcome Arizona winemaker Emmett of Queen of Cups for a dinner in its upstairs private dining room, featuring four Arizona wines paired with bites created by Chef Aaron. Guests can arrive at 5:30 p.m. for a welcome cocktail before the 6 p.m. event, with tickets priced at $65 per person.
Walk-N-Roll for Spina Bifida Association of Arizona | Nov. 7
The community is invited to gather at The District Stage at Tempe Marketplace to raise awareness and funds for the Spina Bifida Association of Arizona. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., with the walk starting promptly at 10 a.m., offering friends and families an opportunity to support those affected by spina bifida.
Someburros 40th Anniversary Fiesta | Nov. 14
Someburros is celebrating four decades of family and Sonoran-style favorites with a fiesta from 3 to 9 p.m. at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, featuring music, food, games, raffles, a kids zone and a drone show. General admission is $10 and VIP tickets are $30, with proceeds benefiting Rancho Feliz, which serves families in Agua Prieta, Mexico; children 5 and younger attend free, and ticketed guests receive free parking.
SugarJam’s Seasonal Cocktails | All Month
SugarJam The Southern Kitchen in Scottsdale is serving up limited-time cocktails inspired by the flavors of fall and the holidays through December. November’s featured drink, Fall Fashion, combines Diplomático Rum, Disaronno, chai spice syrup and aromatic bitters for $16.
Movember Cocktails at Mastro’s | All Month
Mastro’s City Hall, Mastro’s Steakhouse and Mastro’s Ocean Club are supporting the Movember movement with two limited-edition cocktails benefiting the Movember Foundation and its men’s health initiatives. Featured drinks include Date Night, a bourbon cocktail with fig and date syrups, for $24, and Smokey & the Bacon, a smoky bourbon-based cocktail, for $25.
Shape Up Us Family Fun Community Event | Nov. 7
Shape Up Us and the City of Glendale are bringing The World’s Largest Pickleball Lesson to Glendale Heroes Regional Park for a free, all-ages celebration. Families can also enjoy a 5K fun run, a one-mile walk, a Ninja Warrior obstacle course, rock climbing, bounce houses, entertainment, face painting and vendor booths.
Veterans Day Parade | Nov. 11
Phoenix’s annual Veterans Day Parade returns with a new route along Third Street, traveling north from McDowell Road to Indian School Road and beginning at 11 a.m. The free celebration honors veterans and the nation’s 250th anniversary with military units, marching bands, community groups and the theme “250 Years of Freedom, 30 Years of Honor.”
Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships | Nov. 7
The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships returns to WestWorld of Scottsdale for its 15th anniversary, featuring three major polo matchups, a rugby match, fashion shows and live entertainment. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., with the first polo match at noon, the featured England Select Polo Team versus Dark Horse Dallas All-Stars match at 2 p.m. and an Army versus Navy military matchup at 4 p.m.
Walkin’ on Main | Nov. 14
Old Town Cottonwood’s historic Main Street will host the 20th annual Walkin’ on Main from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with local wine, classic cars, live music and art alongside shops, galleries, tasting rooms and restaurants. Admission is free, while wine tasting tickets cost $20 in advance and include a commemorative glass and six tasting tickets, or $25 at the door.
High Visibility (Blaze Orange) at Western Spirit | Opens Nov. 14
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West continues its Women of the Southwest series with High Visibility (Blaze Orange), an exhibition opening Nov. 14 that explores the relationship between people and the land. Through photography, video, collage and installation, artist Wright uses debris collected from improvised gun ranges in Utah’s West Desert to examine what people leave behind.
What She Said at W Scottsdale | Nov. 20
W Scottsdale and Modern Day Wife are bringing back the eighth annual What She Said speaker series for an evening celebrating women in fashion, beauty, wellness and business. The event is expected to welcome more than 1,000 guests for panels featuring more than 30 speakers, luxury pop-ups, networking, a live runway show and appearances by Bershan Shaw and Kate Monroe.
Scottsdale Children’s Business Fair | Nov. 14
Young entrepreneurs will take center stage at The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., selling handmade items, crafts, games and other products. The family-friendly event gives children a chance to build confidence and practice communication, entrepreneurship and money-management skills.
Arizona Nutcracker Performance | Nov. 22
The District Stage at Tempe Marketplace will host a seasonal performance of the Arizona Nutcracker from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Families can enjoy a festive afternoon of holiday ballet without needing to plan an entire evening around the show.
Veterans and First Responders Appreciation at Kona Grill | Nov. 9–11
Kona Grill is offering veterans, active-duty military members, first responders and Gold Star families a complimentary entrée with the purchase of a starter for dine-in guests. Choices include Pad Thai Noodles, Macadamia Nut Chicken, Kona Stir-Fry and Lemon Garlic Penne, and the restaurant will donate to Folds of Honor for every Budweiser and Bud Light sold during the promotion.
RA Sushi‘s Veterans and First Responders Appreciation | Nov. 9–11
RA Sushi is also honoring veterans, active-duty military members, first responders and Gold Star families with a complimentary entrée when they purchase a starter for dine-in service. Select options include teriyaki chicken, yakisoba, salmon poke and the Crazy Monkey Roll, while beer sales will support Folds of Honor through a donation for every Budweiser and Bud Light sold.
CIVANA Move + Manifest | November
CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree is hosting Move + Manifest, a two-hour Sunday afternoon experience combining mat Pilates, refreshing drinks, nourishing bites and a guided vision-board workshop. The $99-per-person experience invites guests to reflect on the season ahead and create a visual reminder of the little things that bring them joy.
Lerner & Rowe Gives Back Meal Giveaways | Nov. 11 and 20
Lerner & Rowe Gives Back is distributing free Thanksgiving meal packages to families in need. The Phoenix event takes place Nov. 11 at AZ Athletic Grounds, with 1,000 meal packages available beginning at 4 p.m. until supplies run out, followed by a Nov. 20 event at Mohave High School in Bullhead City, where 500 packages will be available.
Westside Concepts Toys for Tots Drive | Nov. 2–Dec. 10
Westside Concepts is partnering with Marine Toys for Tots to collect new, unwrapped toys at its locations, including Haymaker, NW Coffee, Copper & Sage, Cantina Gueros and Four Corners Taphouse. Guests who donate a toy will receive a $5 gift card for a future visit.
Hash Kitchen Food Drive | Nov. 1–Dec. 31
All Hash Kitchen locations are collecting nonperishable food donations for St. Mary’s throughout November and December. Guests who bring a donation will receive a $5 bounce-back coupon for a future visit.
Marketplace Holiday Tree Lightings | Nov. 23, 25 and 28
The Valley’s holiday season gets underway with three festive tree-lighting celebrations: Desert Ridge Marketplace’s Cheerville event on Nov. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m., Tempe Marketplace on Nov. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and Scottsdale Quarter on Nov. 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Expect holiday characters, Santa photos, crafts, letters to the North Pole, entertainment, snowfall and giveaways, with a raffle package valued at more than $1,500 that includes a one-night stay at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain‘s November Experiences | Nov. 7-24
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa is offering a lineup of wellness and culinary experiences, including outdoor yoga, dance and music on Nov. 7, a cigar and tequila dinner on Nov. 11, a bourbon pecan pie demonstration on Nov. 12 and outdoor Reformer Pilates on Nov. 14. The month wraps up with a Gemini Full Supermoon gathering on Nov. 24 featuring guided meditation, Yoga Nidra and grounding rituals, with individual experiences ranging from $45 to $250 per person.
Caesars Republic Scottsdale Holiday Tree Lighting | Nov. 13
Caesars Republic Scottsdale welcomes the season with its third annual tree lighting, featuring Santa, treats, music and cocktails. The free event begins at 5:30 p.m., with the nearly 40-foot tree lighting at 6 p.m., followed by the One Tree Holiday concert featuring One Tree Hill stars Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele.
