What’s new in Mesa this week?
The Arizona Craft Beer Fest comes to The Post & Macdonald Plaza in downtown Mesa on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM. It’s the festival for the 5th Annual AZ Craft Beer Awards, it’s 21 and up, and tickets run from about $20 to about $68 with fees depending on your entry time.
By Dr. Kevin Shufford | October 17, 2026
If your Halloween plans are still open, here’s one worth penciling in. PHOENIX magazine and the Arizona Craft Brewer’s Guild are teaming up to throw the Arizona Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at The Post & Macdonald Plaza, 26 N Macdonald, in downtown Mesa. Doors open at 11 AM for VIP, and the event wraps at 4 PM. Downtown Mesa’s event page confirms the same date, time, and location.
How the tickets work
There are three entry times, and every level includes a commemorative sample glass. Per the official ticket page, here’s the breakdown:
- VIP: early entry at 11 AM and 25 drink tickets (5 oz pours).
- General admission: entry at 12 PM and 20 drink tickets.
- Late admission: entry at 1 PM and 15 drink tickets.
The ticket page lists a combined price range of $20.22 to $68.38 including fees, though it doesn’t break out which tier costs what, so check the page before you buy. Everyone 21 and up needs a valid ID at the gate, and part of the proceeds supports the Guild’s awards competition.
Why locals will care
This isn’t a one-brewery pour party. The ticket page lists 18 breweries and 5 food trucks so far, with more on the way. That’s a lot of Arizona beer in one plaza, and the festival celebrates the state’s best-in-class brewers from the 5th Annual AZ Craft Beer Awards.
Here’s how I’d play it. Five-ounce pours add up fast, so pick a ride home before you go, eat from the food trucks early, and use the first hour to hit the breweries you’ve never tried. Downtown Mesa is also easy to turn into a full afternoon, since the area around Macdonald has restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance. It’s also on PHOENIX magazine’s list of upcoming Valley events, so expect a crowd.
Tickets are sold through tickets.phoenixmag.com, and the lower-priced late-admission option is the cheapest way in if you’d rather skip the early rush.
A local note
Events like this are one more reason downtown Mesa keeps showing up on buyers’ radar. A walkable core, a calendar that stays busy, and plenty of places to eat and drink all shape how it feels to live nearby. If you’re curious what it’s like to live near spots like this, that’s my world, and you can work with me here.
Sources: event date, times, ticket tiers, and brewery count from the official PHOENIX magazine ticket page, confirmed by Downtown Mesa and PHOENIX magazine’s weekly events guide. Details can change, so confirm before you go.
Dr. Kevin Shufford holds a PhD in Communication and is a professor who teaches how to have healthy relationships, skills he brings to his real estate practice. As a licensed real estate agent and mortgage loan officer serving the Phoenix metro and Southern California, Kevin operates as The Property Professor under Real Broker and One Real Mortgage. Work with Kevin at thepropertyprofessor.blog or call 480-725-4658.
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