1. Junk In The Trunk Vintage Market
This event at WestWorld of Scottsdale has more than 150 vendors of such items from around the country.
Shoppers can find all sorts of treasures, including antique signs, handmade clothing and accessories, lights made of repurposed cameras and tripods, handmade wooden hearts, antique tools and furniture and vintage wagons and toys.
The market will have an '80s theme. There will also be food trucks selling waffles, coffee, tacos and pizza; a lounge for nursing moms; and a children’s area with lawn games such as tic-tac-toe and cornhole.
Many of the vendors will offer fall and Christmas decorations and gift items for people looking to start their holiday shopping early.
Information: Friday-Sunday, Sept. 14-16. VIP shopping, 5-9 p.m. Friday. Saturday early entry, 8-9 a.m. Regular hours, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $50-$65 for VIP, $20-$25 for Saturday early entry, $8 general admission at the gate, free for age 12 and younger, $5 for parking.
2. Mesa Arts Center Season Kickoff Festival
The event will start with the opening of five exhibitions dedicated to the music.
The exhibitions reflect on jazz music and the African-American experience through quilts, paintings and sculptures.
Artists will also be demonstrating glassblowing, jewelry-making, blacksmithing and printmaking.
There will be three stages of musicians, including Chicago-based jazz, funk, R&B and hip hop group Sidewalk Chalk.
Food vendors will sell paletas, barbecue, hot dogs, kettle corn and other festival favorites.
Information: 6-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Free. 480-644-6500,
The Fest will include meat and vegetarian tacos from 20 restaurants around the Valley, including Mexican, Asian, American-style, barbecue and Caribbean establishments.
Foodies can try creative options such as curry chicken, pork belly, red chicken fajita, jerk chicken or spicy tuna poke tacos. Participating restaurants also will put their own spin on traditional chicken, shrimp, carne asada, brisket and pork tacos.
Guests can also try salsas, achiote chicken, cod dishes, carne asada fries, carnitas, short ribs and chorizo preparations, along with beverages such as fresh fruit frescas, beer and margaritas.
Many restaurants will have $2 to $4 taco samples, and some will offer combo deals with multiple tacos for $10 to $15.
Guests can try to best others in taco, burrito and elote eating competitions with $100 prizes.
The event also offers a tequila sampling area; a low rider car show with over 60 trucks, cars and motorcycles; a kids zone with bounce houses and a piñata party; Lucha Libre wrestling; and live music from heavy metal mariachi group Metalachi and Santana tribute band Evil Waze.
Information: Noon-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $100 presale VIP tickets, $30 presale Tequila Tavern admission, $10-$15 general admission, free for age 12 and younger, additional costs for tacos and beverages. rockintacoaz.com.
Staying clean all the time is no fun for children or adults. Messy Fest on Sept. 15 lets people of all ages let loose and get a little dirty in shaving cream and foam/bubble zones, a color run area, a slime dump and a grape stomp pit.
Families can play tug of war in various types of goo, go on slime or ice cream slip-and-slides, get shaving creamed, take part in food fights and play with slime hula hoops. The tot zone will offer painting activities, mud pies and bubbles for little kids.
Attendees can clean up inside a human car wash or get sprayed off by the Queen Creek Fire and Medical department. There will be a beer and wine garden for age 21 and older.
Part of the proceeds benefit Childhelp, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect and helping young people who have been affected.
Information: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre, 20464 E. Riggs Road, Queen Creek. $5 for (non-messy) spectator pass, $20-$28 for event wristband, $73 for presale family four pack, free for age 2 and younger.