Thursday, October 8th • 7AM - 10AM
Guided Bird Hike
📍 Estrella Mountain Regional Park - 14805 W. Vineyard Ave.
Join Ranger Eric for an early-morning hike through the Sonoran Desert to spot resident and migratory birds, including possible cormorants, herons and pelicans near the Gila River. The hike is about 1 mile and includes some moderate terrain.
Registration is required and limited to 10 participants.
Thursday, October 8th • 10AM – 1PM
Goodyear Job Fair
📍 Goodyear Recreation Campus - 420 S. Estrella Pkwy.
Looking for a new job or ready for a career change? Meet with employers and explore opportunities across healthcare and social services, government, hospitality, law enforcement, manufacturing, finance, warehouse distribution, and more. It’s a good chance to connect with local employers and see what’s available right here in the West Valley.
Thursday, October 8th • 11AM - 1PM
Discovery Station: Snakes of the Sonoran Desert
📍 Estrella Mountain Regional Park - 14805 W. Vineyard Ave.
Learn about the diversity, behavior and ecology of local snakes with Ranger Eric, including how to stay safe around venomous snakes and Gila monsters. There will also be live snakes on display! No registration required—just stop by anytime during the program.
Thursday, October 8th • 4PM - 5PM
Cozy Crafters
📍Georgia T. Lord Library - 1900 N. Civic Square
Kids ages 6–12 can enjoy an afternoon of stories, discussion and hands-on art projects inspired by what they read. It’s a drop-in program, so no registration is required, but space is limited.
Saturday, October 10th • 5PM - 9PM • Free Event
Ritmos y Raíces | Rhythm and Roots
📍Goodyear Ballpark - 1933 S Ballpark Way
Celebrate Hispanic heritage with an evening of live cultural performances, Lucha Libre wrestling, and a Hispanic-owned mercado featuring local artisans and small businesses. You can also browse displays highlighting the flags and history of Hispanic countries while enjoying food, drinks and a night of community and culture.
Sunday, October 11th • 8AM - 1PM
Farmers Market at Goodyear Ballpark
📍Goodyear Ballpark - 1933 S Ballpark Way
Come shop from 50+ local makers while enjoying fresh produce, healthy eats, and a lineup of experiences you won’t find at your typical market. Check out cold plunges and sauna sessions at The Reset Lounge, red light therapy, compression recovery, acupuncture, sound healing, stretching and meditation. There’s plenty for the whole family too, including a live violinist, dog agility course, gel blaster battles, Cars & Coffee, and farm-to-table experiences. Come shop, recover, play, and leave feeling better than you came.
Sunday, October 11th • 8AM
Hustle & Stride Run Club: Sunday RunDay
📍Palm Valley Community Center - 14145 W Palm Valley Blvd
Start your Sunday with some miles and good company. This local run brings runners together for a morning workout in Goodyear, with warm-ups and stretches kicking off at 8 AM and the run starting at 8:15. Whether you’re looking to get your weekend miles in or just want to meet other local runners, grab your water and come join the group.
Monday, October 12th • 11AM - 1PM
Discovery Station: Remembering the Hohokam
📍 Estrella Mountain Regional Park - 14805 W. Vineyard Ave.
Learn about the people who built a thriving civilization in the Sonoran Desert more than 1,000 years ago. Meet Ranger Kevin and explore the Hohokam’s incredible engineering, farming, hunting, gathering, and craftsmanship. You’ll also get a chance to see artifacts they left behind and learn more about the Ancestral Sonoran Desert people. No registration required, just drop in!
Monday, October 12th • 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Estrella Mountain Community College Admissions Q&A
📍Georgia T. Lord Library - 1900 N. Civic Square
Thinking about going back to school or exploring college options? Stop by the library for a presentation from an admissions representative from Estrella Mountain Community College. Learn about available programs and services, then stick around for a Q&A. Open to teens and their families as well as adults of any age interested in continuing their education.
Wednesday, October 14th • 5:30PM - 7PM
Business Builders: From Kitchen to Commerce
📍Georgia T. Lord Library - 1900 N. Civic Square
Local food business owners and entrepreneurs can learn more about Maricopa County’s plan review and permitting process for food establishments. This session covers what you need to know when opening or developing a food business, including county requirements, plan submittals, and the permitting process. A useful resource for anyone planning to open a restaurant, food establishment, or other food-related business in the area.
Wednesday, October 14th • 10AM - 11AM
Storytime at Bouganvillea Park!
📍Bouganvillea Park in Estrella
Little ones and their grownups can enjoy a Halloween-themed morning featuring a reading of Where’s My Mummy?, followed by snacks, music, playtime, and playground fun. Kids are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Halloween costume.
Friday Night Lights
October 9, 2026
Find your team and purchase tickets here or at the door.
Desert Edge vs Verrado
7 PM 📍Verrado High School
Estrella Foothills vs Cibola
7 PM 📍Estrella Foothills High School
Trivium Prep vs Mountain Side
7 PM 📍Trivium Preparatory Academy
Want to see every game?
👉 View the full Goodyear high schools sports schedule here.
🏈LAST WEEK’S SCORES
Millennium 42, Verrado 14
Desert Edge 21, Canyon View 17
Estrella Foothills 9, Youngker 23
Trivium Prep 22, Veritas Prep 35
Election season is here
Early voting starts today, October 7, for Arizona’s November 3 General Election. There’s a lot on the ballot this year, so I put together a small list of some of the bigger races and issues worth taking a closer look at before you vote. This isn’t meant to tell you how to vote, just to give you a quick starting point and a rundown of some things you may want to know about. Your exact ballot will depend on your address, so be sure to check your sample ballot before heading to the polls.
I’m also breaking the election coverage up over the next two weeks so it doesn’t turn into a giant wall of information. This week, I’m taking a closer look at the statewide propositions. Next week, I’ll break down the Governor’s race and Arizona Legislature races, including who’s running and some of the biggest issues they’re talking about. SOURCE
🍴EAT THIS WEEK
Chido MX Mexican Restaurant
📍560 N Estrella Pkwy #12
(623) 882-8010
I love finding those local spots that are easy to overlook, and Chido MX is one of them. Located off Estrella Parkway, this Mexican restaurant has a little bit of everything. Think tacos, birria, carne asada, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos and aguas frescas. If you’re anything like me, the birria tacos alone are probably enough reason to stop by.
⭐ LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Deadwax Records
📍14175 W Indian School Rd D1
(602) 456-1333
This small, locally owned shop carries new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, turntables and other music goodies. It’s the kind of place where you can walk in looking for one thing and leave with something completely unexpected. Whether you’re a serious collector or just getting into vinyl, it’s a fun little local spot worth checking out.
Peoria Asian Night Market — Peoria
Friday, October 9th • 5 PM - 9 PM • Free Admission
📍Centennial Plaza Park - W Cinnabar Ave
The Peoria Asian Night Market is taking over Centennial Plaza Park with an evening full of great food, local vendors and plenty to browse. Expect everything from Korean fried chicken and Taiwanese street food to Filipino favorites, bao, dumplings, Japanese cheesecake and more. You’ll also find anime artists, handmade goods and unique vendors throughout the market. It’s free to attend, so grab the family or a few friends and make a night of it!
Front Porch Festival & Old Towne Marketplace — Glendale
Saturday, October 10th • 10 AM - 4 PM • Free Admission
📍 Historic Downtown Glendale - 5836 W. Palmaire Ave.
Start your visit at the Arizona Information Center inside Memory Lane Trinkets & Treasures at 5836 W. Palmaire Ave. to grab an event map and activity list. The first 100 visitors will also receive a free commemorative event sticker.
Local shops and restaurants will have fall-themed activities, including make-and-take crafts, seasonal menu items, specialty tea experiences, and plenty of autumn décor and gifts. You’ll also find local artisans and makers throughout the area demonstrating their work.
Fiesta Grande — Surprise
Saturday, October 10th • 5 PM - 10 PM • Free Admission
📍Mark Coronado Park - 15960 N. Bullard Ave.
Surprise Fiesta Grande is bringing a full night of music, culture, food and family fun to Mark Coronado Park. Come out to enjoy live entertainment, traditional performances, local vendors and plenty of activities for all ages. And you won’t want to miss Lucha Voz bringing some high-flying Lucha Libre action to the celebration. Bring the family, grab something good to eat, and enjoy a night of celebrating Hispanic culture and community.
Movie in the Parks: Toy Story 5 - October 17
Bring the family for an evening with Woody and Buzz, food trucks, face painting, crafts, yard games and a themed photo opportunity, followed by Toy Story 5 under the stars.
Fall Festival - October 24
A big family Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating on the field, entertainment and a costume contest with categories for kids, adults, families/groups and more.
I will give more information when we get closer to the events, but I want to make you aware now so you can plan ahead! 💛
And that’s a wrap on 004 of What’s Up Goodyear! 🎉
I hope you found something fun to add to your calendar. Whether you’re checking out a local event, trying somewhere new, or simply getting out and enjoying the fall weather, I hope you have a great week! If you check out any of these events, make sure to tag me on socials! And if you know someone who would enjoy What’s Up Goodyear, forward this newsletter their way so we can keep growing our little community.
See you next Wednesday,
Get out there and enjoy your city!
- What’s Up Goodyear 💛
P.S. Know about an upcoming event, a new local business, community news, or something else I should include? Hit reply and send it my way! I’m always looking for more things to share with our Goodyear community. 💛