A 13-acre fall attraction returns to Surprise on Friday at 5 p.m. for its second year, with excavators, zip lines, axe throwing and roller skating near the city’s civic center. Organizers expect tens of thousands of visitors over the roughly month-long run and say the festival employs more than 200 local workers during the season.
Organizers are projecting a $3 million to $5 million economic impact this year, with visitor spending expected to reach local hotels, restaurants, stores and attractions, according to ABC15 Arizona. The station also reports that organizers say the festival’s alcohol-sales giveback program has generated six-figure donations to local nonprofits. Guests have traveled from Scottsdale, Prescott, Mexico and New Mexico, ABC15 reports.
A Bet on Filling a West Valley Gap
Festival co-founder Shanelle Kunz told ABC15 that the West Valley has limited entertainment options for the event’s target audiences, including teenagers, college students, date-night visitors and families. Bryan Hayward also described spring training as the major West Valley event he could identify, according to the station. Kunz has said the festival began with her son’s interest in operating a real excavator.
The excavator experience, called The Big Dig, and apple cannons are among the grounds’ attractions, according to YourValley.net. Organizers hope the festival becomes a long-term tradition for West Valley families, as spring training has been a regional tourism draw, ABC15 reports.
Spring Training’s Economic Scale
The Cactus League’s documented impact is a different and much larger historical benchmark: AZPM reported statewide figures of $644.2 million for the 2018 season and $363 million in 2020. Those totals are not West Valley-specific and do not verify the Desert Fall Festival’s projected impact. The festival runs in fall, while spring training is a separate seasonal draw.
City Dollars Tied to Hotel Stays
The City of Surprise has backed the effort with tourism funding support, and the Surprise City Council approved $30,000 for the festival’s second year this month while also voting to extend funding support for two more years, YourValley.net reports. Under that arrangement, the city reimburses organizers $2,500 for every 100 verified hotel room nights; ABC15 reports a $20,000 cap for the city’s tourism program.
The city has provided tourism funding support for the festival, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors.
Origins in Holiday Lights, Now a Fall Fixture
Founders Jordan and Shanelle Kunz built their reputation in the West Valley with Desert Farm Lights, a holiday light show featuring more than one million lights that debuted in 2022, according to KTAR News. They expanded into autumn programming with the launch of the Desert Fall Festival in 2025, giving the couple back-to-back seasonal attractions in the region.
YourValley.net reports a ticket savings promotion ending August 30. The 13-acre venue operates Wednesday through Sunday during its early weeks before shifting to seven-day-a-week operations for its final two weeks, concluding November 1.
The festival site is in Surprise’s City Center.
