Hey there, Tempe! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
🎃 Hosting a Halloween event in Tempe? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: America at a Crossroads: Preserving Faith, Family and Freedom and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Dust off the Lederhosen and Dirndls (antiquetrader.com) — Tempe's long‑running Four Peaks Oktoberfest returns to Tempe Beach Park October 9–11, 2026, bringing German and local beers, bratwurst, live music, and a full‑size carnival to the lakefront. Alongside dachshund races, runners can tackle 10K, 5K, and 1K "Runnin' for the Brats," while similar Oktoberfest celebrations unfold in cities across the country throughout the fall.
2. Pawn shops are booming. One Valley broker says that's a red flag (abc15.com) — A longtime broker at Tempe Pawn and Gold says record-high customer traffic shows how many Tempe-area residents are struggling to cover basics like rent, utilities, and groceries. While his shop and a nearby upscale jeweler are both booming, they describe very different customer realities, from people pawning valuables to those investing in gold or funding new ventures. Together, they paint a mixed picture of the local economy's winners and losers.
3. Watch Arch Enemy Perform Live With Thrown Into Exile Drummer Hank Lin In Tempe (metalanarchy.com) — Fans at the recent Arch Enemy show in Tempe saw an unexpected lineup change when regular drummer Daniel Erlandsson missed the concert due to illness. Hank Lin from Thrown Into Exile stepped in after learning the set in under three hours, and the band thanked Tempe fans for their support. The tour now moves on with Erlandsson expected back onstage in Salt Lake City.
4. Viral video of Arizona cheerleader slammed to ground by police and punched draws national outcry (nbcnews.com) — A Tempe police encounter involving an Arizona State University cheerleader is drawing national scrutiny after video shows officers shoving, tackling, and apparently punching her during a July arrest. Civil rights attorneys and her lawyer are challenging the force used and the handling of her sexual assault complaint, while Tempe officials say an internal investigation and city prosecutor review are underway ahead of her November court hearing.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Tempe PatchAM possible:
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Tempe! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Tempe Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.