Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What’s new at Tempe’s Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Beach Park?

Also, don't miss America at a Crossroads: Preserving Faith, Family and Freedom on the Tempe Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday October 8th Patch AM
Thursday October 8th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

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:

  • What's new at Tempe's Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Beach Park?
  • What Tempe pawn counters reveal about who's hurting—and who's thriving.
  • Why Arch Enemy's Tempe show had a surprise last-minute drummer swap.

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!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Toasty conditions, with a high of 104 and low of 78 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Near-record heat, temps: high: 103, low: 76.
  • Saturday: Periods of sun; not as hot, with a high of 93 and low of 72 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

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.
   

📸 Around Tempe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Tempe

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Tempe Shout Outs!

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.

🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Best experience horseback riding?
    Please send me your recommendations for best horseback riding experience in/around Maricopa County or  a nearby county. Looking for healthy horses,... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Any recommendations for places to meet and connect with new friends that don't involve bars?
    I don't drink and prefer to avoid environments where people are drinking. No judgment intended, just trying to stay clear since I've had people close… (Nextdoor Sunset)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    A dog who went missing in Tempe, AZ, has been safely reunited with their family after 9 hours, 50 minutes. Message from Finder: "Found on 10-5-2026… (Nextdoor Royal Tempe Estates)
  • PSG Global Solutions posted a job opening for Part Time Retail Sales Merchandiser SAS in Tempe. Apply here.
  • Drury Hotels Company, LLC posted a job opening for Night Auditor in Tempe. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tempe here.

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!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Tempe