Known as the ‘Gateway to the Great Southwest’, Yuma is located between Tucson and San Diego, and borders Mexico. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the ‘Sunniest Place on Earth’, Yuma is a popular destination that features the Colorado River, Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, Yuma Territorial Prison State Park, Colorado River State Historic Park, a charming historic downtown district, and much more.
Canoe Trips down the Colorado River
From shows, expos, and art and entertainment, to family-friendly festivals that celebrate Yuma’s rich southwestern history, cultural traditions, there’s always happening in Yuma! Make your travel plans now around one of this southwest city’s favorite annual events! Please note, events are subject to change.
For up-to-date event information call City of Yuma Parks & Rec. (928) 373-5200, Yuma Art Center & Historic Theatre (928) 373-5202, or Yuma Civic Center (928) 373-5040, or visit www.YumaAZ.gov.
SPECIAL EVENTS & FESTIVALS:
Oct. 1-2: YumaCon – Bring out your inner geek at YumaCon! Cosplay as your favorite character with many other fans, play video games, and attend panels! Meet new friends and talk with special guest groups and cosplay judges. Play tabletop games or e-sports and explore the vendor gallery for all your geek merchandise needs! Celebrate the arts and see why YumaCon is the place where comics, anime, and pop culture collide! Held at the Yuma Civic Center.
Oct. 7-8: Monster Truck Nitro Tour – Yuma will be motorsport entertainment’s epicenter with the nation’s most competitive monster trucks as they invade the Yuma County Fairgrounds! See these incredible 10,000-pound, car crushing giants compete in racing, wheelie contests, and then rock the house with amazing freestyle action during the Monster Truck Nitro Tour! Plus, you can see the trucks up close at the pre-event Pit Party!
Oct. 8: Tacos & Tunes Fiesta – Enjoy live music and entertainment, a car show, yard games, cold beer and tacos in historic downtown Yuma. Grab a bite at one of our many food vendors or restaurants, stop by the Kidz Zone with your ninos ,and visit the Downtown Yuma shops for a fiesta of a good time!
Oct. 13-16: The 1st Annual Yuma County Fair Fall Fest – Carnival, outdoor exhibitors, great food and drinks, demolition derby, live entertainment and much more!
Oct. 14: Yuma Rocks Music Fest – Live music event at the Yuma Civic Center that highlights local musicians!
Oct. 21: Dia de los Muertos Celebration & Parade – Celebrate family traditions with altars, dancers, live music, art walk, face painting, and more at the Yuma Territorial Prison.
Oct. 29: Community Business Expo – Held at the Yuma Civic Center and featuring over 100 vendors, plus, trick or treating and Halloween costume contest for the kids.
Nov. 18-20: Colorado River Crossing Hot Air Balloon Festival – Presented by the Caballeros de Yuma, this is one of Yuma’s premier fall events. The festival attracts some of the most colorful and unique balloons from the West and Southwest. Staged over three days with mass ascensions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, the festival uses the Colorado River and the Sonoran Desert as its backdrop. The highlight is the Desert Balloon Glow that takes place on Saturday night tethered balloons fill the baseball field and with their burners firing at full blast, the balloons to glow brightly in the dark desert sky, The entire pageant is set to music.
Nov. 19: 14th Annual Gear Heads Car, Truck & Motorcycle Festival – Held at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, this is Yuma’s largest indoor/outdoor show and features live music, food courts, vendors, and more.
Dec. 2: Yuma Festivals’ Old Town Christmas – Historic Old Yuma will light up with twinkle lights on wreaths, light poles, Christmas music, festive food, and the lighting of the Main Street Christmas Tree. Bring your family for a stroll of Old Town on Madison Avenue and Main Street. This event features sweet treats, Santa being rescued from top of the Art Center, free photo with Santa, live performances and all old Christmas traditions to cherish!
Dec. 10: Dorothy Young Memorial Light Parade – A favorite Yuma tradition for nearly two decades, this parade typically draws more than 40,000 Yuma residents and visitors to the Historic North End each year to celebrate the holiday season. The parade covers more than three miles, with plenty of space for spectators. The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. on 4th Avenue and winds through Historic Downtown Yuma, with spectators lining the parade route to view the lighted creations as the parade marches by.
The parade is named in honor of its creator, Dorothy Young, a much-loved event coordinator with City of Yuma Heritage Festivals, who had often indicated that the Electric Light Parade was her favorite event. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/WoVo8gVrQNo
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