Good morning, Mesa.

Vertuccio Farms at 4011 S.

Power Road in Mesa will host Christmas Fest from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23 with holiday music, photo spots with a giant ornament, and a visit to a 25-foot corn stalk tree for family and friends. The farm will open its gates daily at 5:30 p.m. and close at 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays—admission is $15 per person and Santa will visit with photo sessions from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7 and Dec. 12 to Dec. 23.

Every September in Mesa, the Arizona Fire School gathers over 700 firefighters for a four-day training event that includes live-fire drills and rescue scenarios—demonstrating the strength of partnerships from rural volunteer districts to urban departments.

Organized by the Arizona State Fire Training Committee and backed by local sponsors, the event provides over 300 scholarships to help rural firefighters boost their skills.

Arizona artist Ashley Pennington transforms antique porcelain dolls using corpse face paint (inspired by black metal) into eerie Halloween decor, and she upcycles reclaimed materials to revive neglected antiques for the season.

Mesa Public Schools announced it will open two new high schools next year by expanding its junior highs at Shepherd and Franklin to include high school grades—each starting with only 9th graders and growing to a maximum of 150 students per grade.

The district said the move aims to offer parents a smaller school option in a competitive enrollment market.

Parents told the Arizona State Board of Education that special needs children are being pushed to graduate even though they are not ready for adult life—many feel the system does not offer enough transition services after meeting formal credit requirements.

The debate continues as families call for more time in school to learn life skills before receiving a diploma.

Twenty-four Arizonans with PTSD, including firefighters, police officers and veterans, will join an FDA approved study using psilocybin — a naturally occurring psychedelic found in mushrooms — starting next month.

The research, backed by the legislature, Department of Health Services and the Mayo Clinic, will test whole mushrooms in groups of eight to track safety and effectiveness.

A new report from the Commonwealth Fund found that Arizona ranked 45th among US states for climate-related health risks—poor air quality and extreme heat were major factors.

The study noted that while the state did well on issues like healthcare worker commuting emissions and lower natural disaster risks, many residents face ongoing challenges.

Jim Bob's Burger Pop-Up

All day — Worth Takeaway — Varied prices — Enjoy delicious burgers and unique merch all Halloween weekend!

Demun Jones Meet and Greet

6:00 – 6:30 p.m. — The Rosetta Room — Free autographed merch included — Hang out with Demun, snap a pic, and enjoy exclusive merchandise.

Mesa Networking Event

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — The HUB Grill and Bar — $25 drop-in fee — Network with entrepreneurs to amplify your influence and grow your business.

TRSH Concert

6-9 p.m. — The Underground — Tickets starting at $70 — Experience an unforgettable event with TRSH performing live in Mesa.

Forward! To the Moon Planetarium Show

5-10 p.m. — Mesa Community College Planetarium — Reserved tickets required — Experience a captivating planetarium show exploring lunar adventures at Astronomy Night.

Mesa Night Market

4-9 p.m. — AZ International Marketplace — Free entry — Explore a vibrant showcase of local food and anime vendors at this diverse Asian food festival.

The Jins Live Performance

7-8:30 p.m. — The Underground — Tickets from $95 — Experience an unforgettable live music event with The Jins at The Underground in Mesa.

Dixon Dallas Concert

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Rosetta Room — Ticket prices vary — Experience the captivating sounds of emerging country artist Dixon Dallas in an intimate setting.

Mesa Networking

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — The HUB Grill and Bar — $25 drop-in donation — Connect with entrepreneurs and influencers to foster meaningful collaborations and business growth.

Arizona WordPress Meetup - Monthly Meetup

6:30-8:30 p.m. — CO+HOOTS Coworking | Mesa — Free entry — Engage in a hands-on session about utilizing Gravity Forms with a touch of Jetpack Forms.