Your vision, your home, our expertise.
Fountain Hills packs its busiest stretch of the year into about four weeks: a free three day art festival on November 13 to 15, a Turkey Trot and a parade on Thanksgiving morning, and Stroll in the Glow on December 5, all on the same street, the Avenue of the Fountains. Here is the calendar, confirmed on the organizers' own pages, plus the trails and weekly market worth knowing, and what living near all of it looks like.
The calendar at a glance
- Every Wednesday: Farmers Market 10 AM to 2 PM and Art on the Avenue 10 AM to 4 PM, Nov 4, 2026 to Apr 28, 2027 (Experience Fountain Hills, checked Nov 4, 2026)
- November 6: Movie in the Park at Four Peaks Park, 6 PM to 8 PM, rescheduled from October 10 (Town of Fountain Hills calendar, checked Nov 4, 2026)
- November 13 to 15: Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts, free (Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, checked Nov 4, 2026)
- November 26: Turkey Trot at 7:15 AM, then the Thanksgiving Day Parade 9:30 AM to about 10:45 AM (Experience Fountain Hills and the Chamber, checked Nov 4, 2026)
- December 5: Stroll in the Glow 5 PM to 8 PM, Balloon Glow 6 PM to 8 PM (Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, checked Nov 4, 2026)
- Daily: The fountain runs 15 minutes every hour on the hour, 9 AM to 9 PM (Experience Fountain Hills, checked Nov 4, 2026)
Wednesdays: the Farmers Market and Art on the Avenue
The easiest way to get a feel for the town is a Wednesday morning downtown. The weekly market and the Art on the Avenue artists set up on the Avenue of the Fountains, on the east median next to Fountain Park, starting November 4, 2026 and running through April 28, 2027. The market runs 10 AM to 2 PM and the art show runs 10 AM to 4 PM. Both are free to browse.
If you are thinking about living close to this, the Downtown Fountain Hills homes for sale page outlines the Town Center area around the Avenue, the Civic Center, and the park. County records on that page show 145 residential parcels in the downtown core, with a median year built of 2005.
November 13 to 15: the Fall Fountain Festival
The Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts is the biggest weekend on the town calendar. Experience Fountain Hills says the festival dates to 1974 and now draws more than 500 artisans, with food and live music. The Chamber lists it for the second full weekend of November: November 13 and 14 from 10 AM to 5 PM, and November 15 from 10 AM to 4 PM, on the Avenue of the Fountains and Saguaro Boulevard. Admission is free.
Expect the downtown streets to be busy all three days. Park in the designated lots or around the fountain, as the Town's guide suggests, and plan extra time if you are driving through the Avenue for any other reason.
Thanksgiving morning: the Turkey Trot and the parade
Thanksgiving, November 26, has two back to back events on the same street. Fountain Hills Community Services runs its 36th annual Turkey Trot 5K Run and Fitness Walk, starting at 7:15 AM on the Avenue of the Fountains just east of Verde River Drive. The event page lists a 5K timed run and a 1.5 mile fitness walk (the Town's fall itinerary says 1 mile, so confirm when you register). Pre-registration is required.
Then the Chamber's Thanksgiving Day Parade, themed Happy Birthday America for 2026, begins at 9:30 AM and wraps up around 10:45 AM on the Avenue. Attendance and parking are free. Spectators stay at the curb or the median.
December 5: Stroll in the Glow and the Balloon Glow
The 37th annual Stroll in the Glow runs Saturday, December 5, from 5 PM to 8 PM. The Chamber says the lighting of the Avenue, including the Town's official tree, is planned around 5:45 PM, with free photos with Santa and the Balloon Glow at Fountain Park from 6 PM to 8 PM. There is no admission to attend.
Any day: the fountain itself
The fountain is still the main draw. Experience Fountain Hills says it runs every hour on the hour for 15 minutes from 9 AM to 9 PM, daily, and can reach 560 feet at full height. Wind above 10 miles per hour in the park can shut the pump off. Our page on homes near Fountain Park notes the park covers 64 acres at 12925 N. Saguaro Boulevard, and county records show about 2,160 homes within about half a mile of it.
Outdoors: Adero Canyon and McDowell Mountain Regional Park
November through April is prime hiking season here. The Town's Adero Canyon Trailhead, at 14800 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, is open dawn to dusk every day and is reached on a paved road through the neighborhoods off Palisades Boulevard. The Town notes that many trails run next to homes, so stay on the trail and respect private property. For what is on the market near the trailhead, see Adero Canyon homes for sale.
North of town, McDowell Mountain Regional Park covers 21,099 acres. Maricopa County Parks lists winter hours of 6 AM to 8 PM daily from November 1 to April 30, and the county is waiving the day-use entry fee for veterans on November 11. You can see where Fountain Hills, Downtown Fountain Hills, and Adero Canyon sit on our Northeast Valley map, which has a Fountain Hills zoom area.
Coming in 2027: the Dark Sky Discovery Center
Fountain Hills is an International Dark Sky Community, and the International Dark Sky Discovery Center is being built to showcase that. As of November 4, 2026, the center's website lists its opening as early 2027. Until then, Experience Fountain Hills points to dark sky events run by local groups, both free and paid.
What this means if you are shopping for a home here
Most of the season's big events happen on one street. That is a plus if you want to walk to the Avenue, and it is something to weigh if you prefer quiet. Across Fountain Hills homes for sale, our city page shows 282 homes, condos, and townhomes listed as of November 4, 2026, with a median list price of $787,000. Over the past 12 months, 673 homes sold at a median of $725,000, or $341 per square foot, after a median of 55 days on market.
At the foothills end of town, the Adero Canyon page shows 7 homes listed as of November 2, 2026, at a median list price of $1,950,000, and 23 sales over the past 12 months at a median of $1,825,000 ($648 per square foot) after a median of 67 days on market. Most of the town falls in ZIP 85268; see homes for sale in 85268 for the ZIP level picture, or Fountain Hills condos for sale if a lock and leave place near downtown is the goal.
Practical tips for event season
- Visit a street on an event day. If a home is near the Avenue or Fountain Park, go back during the festival weekend or a Wednesday market to hear and see the traffic, parking, and noise for yourself.
- Check the fountain schedule before showing guests. It runs at the top of the hour, so time a visit for 10 minutes before the hour, and have a backup if it is windy.
- Hike early or late in the day. Adero Canyon closes at dusk and McDowell Mountain Regional Park closes at 8 PM in winter.
- Avoid this mistake: scheduling a downtown home tour or an open house on November 13 to 15 or Thanksgiving morning without checking street closures and parking. Pick another day, or plan to park farther out and walk.
- Confirm the week of. Weather moves outdoor events. The Town's Movie in the Park at Four Peaks Park was rescheduled from October 10 to November 6, 6 PM to 8 PM, because of the forecast.
The honest caveats
Event details come from the organizers' pages as of November 4, 2026, and they can change. Two sources disagree on the Turkey Trot walk distance, so confirm on the registration page. The home figures above come from our own city and community pages built on MLS data, cover different as-of dates, and mix all property types at the city level. Adero Canyon's 23 sales are a small sample, so a few sales can move its median a lot. Prices vary widely by street, view, lot, and condition.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts in 2026?
The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce lists the fall festival for Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15, 2026. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM on Friday and Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday, on the Avenue of the Fountains and Saguaro Boulevard. Admission is free.
What time does the Fountain Hills Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
The Chamber lists the 2026 parade, themed Happy Birthday America, for Thursday, November 26. The parade begins at 9:30 AM and wraps up around 10:45 AM on the Avenue of the Fountains. Attendance and parking are free.
Is there a Turkey Trot in Fountain Hills on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Fountain Hills Community Services lists its 36th annual Turkey Trot 5K Run and Fitness Walk for Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2026, starting at 7:15 AM on the Avenue of the Fountains just east of Verde River Drive. Pre-registration is required, and early bird pricing ran until November 1, so check the event page for current fees.
When is Stroll in the Glow in Fountain Hills?
The Chamber lists the 37th annual Stroll in the Glow for Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 5 PM to 8 PM on the Avenue of the Fountains. The lighting of the Avenue is planned around 5:45 PM, and the Balloon Glow at Fountain Park runs from 6 PM to 8 PM. There is no admission to attend.
How often does the Fountain Hills fountain go off?
According to Experience Fountain Hills, the fountain runs every hour on the hour for 15 minutes from 9 AM to 9 PM, every day. If wind in Fountain Park is above 10 miles per hour, the pump may shut off automatically, so a scheduled show can be shortened or skipped.
When is the Fountain Hills farmers market?
Experience Fountain Hills lists the Farmers Market every Wednesday from 10 AM to 2 PM and Art on the Avenue every Wednesday from 10 AM to 4 PM, from November 4, 2026 through April 28, 2027. Both are on the Avenue of the Fountains next to Fountain Park and are free to browse.
What are the winter hours at McDowell Mountain Regional Park?
Maricopa County Parks lists hours of 6 AM to 8 PM daily from November 1 to April 30. The park covers 21,099 acres in the lower Verde River basin. A day-use entry fee applies, and the county is waiving it for veterans on November 11.
What are the hours for the Adero Canyon Trailhead?
The Town of Fountain Hills says the Adero Canyon Trailhead is open dawn to dusk, seven days a week. It sits at 14800 N. Eagle Ridge Drive and is reached by following Eagle Ridge Drive from Palisades Boulevard through the Adero Canyon neighborhoods. Trails run next to homes, so stay on the trail and respect private property.
Is the International Dark Sky Discovery Center open yet?
Not yet. As of November 4, 2026, the center's website says it is opening in early 2027 and offers a sign up for opening information. Until then, Experience Fountain Hills lists other free and paid dark sky events around town.
Do I need tickets for the big Fountain Hills holiday events?
The fall festival, the Thanksgiving parade, and Stroll in the Glow are listed as free to attend. The Turkey Trot requires paid registration. Plans can change with weather, as the Town's October Movie in the Park showed when it moved to November 6, so check each organizer's page the week of the event.
The bottom line
If you want to see what Fountain Hills is like before you buy, this is the best window of the year to do it: walk the Avenue on a Wednesday, come back for the festival or the parade, and hike Adero Canyon on a cool morning. Then look at homes with that experience in mind, because how close you want to be to the Avenue is a real choice here, and it shows up in both lifestyle and price.
Read more: Moving to Fountain Hills from out of state: what to know before you buy · Fountain Hills listing success rates: where homes sell and where they stall
Thinking about a move to Fountain Hills?
White-glove service at every price point.
Book a Call Get My Home ValueBrowse homes: Fountain Hills homes for sale · Downtown Fountain Hills homes for sale · Adero Canyon homes for sale · Homes for sale in 85268
Related: Explore the Northeast Valley map · See our recently sold properties · More market insights
Your advisors
Kyle Hermann
Associate Broker | Realtor®
602.814.7266
kyle@azluxurypartners.com
License BR665419000
Meet Kyle
Cheryl Solano
CRS® | Realtor®
480.518.0181
cheryl@azluxurypartners.com
License SA541911000
Meet Cheryl
Art Buck
Associate Broker | Realtor® | CCIM
480.510.7689
art@azluxurypartners.com
License BR014102000
Meet Art
Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties
Sources
- Experience Fountain Hills, Fall Events in Fountain Hills itinerary, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts November 2026, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, 37th Annual Stroll in the Glow 2026, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Experience Fountain Hills, 2026 Turkey Trot 5K Run and Fitness Walk, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Town of Fountain Hills, Community Events calendar (Movie in the Park), checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Experience Fountain Hills, World Famous Fountain and About Fountain Hills, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Town of Fountain Hills, McDowell Mountain Preserve and Trails, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- International Dark Sky Discovery Center, home page, checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
- Arizona Luxury Partners, Fountain Hills homes for sale page (MLS data, as of Nov 4, 2026). Link
- Arizona Luxury Partners, Adero Canyon homes for sale page (MLS data, as of Nov 2, 2026). Link
- Arizona Luxury Partners, Homes near Fountain Park and Downtown Fountain Hills pages (Maricopa County records), checked Nov 4, 2026. Link
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. This article is for general information only and is not financial, lending, legal, or tax advice. Arizona Luxury Partners | Real Estate Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties, 21020 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Brokerage License LC629808000. Equal Housing Opportunity.
