About this Event
Holland Center Prickly Pear Festival 2026
The 2026 Holland Center Prickly Pear Festival will be on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Holland Community Center in Scottsdale, AZ — free to attend, with food, demos, and Halloween fun
Event Overview
The Prickly Pear Festival is an annual community event hosted by the Holland Center’s Desert Awareness Committee, celebrating the Sonoran Desert’s native fruit. It combines educational demonstrations about harvesting, cleaning, processing, and juicing prickly pear with tasty samples of smoothies, salsa, bread, and more
This year’s festival also kicks off Halloween with costumes encouraged, face painting, caricature art, spooky music, storytelling, a nature walk, and additional desert-themed activities
Date, Time & Location
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Holland Community Center, 34250 N 60th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85266
Admission
- Free admission — no ticket purchase required
- Parking is free
Agenda Highlights
- 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Booths open (outdoor & indoor)
- 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Nature walk (Host: Mark Lewis)
- 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Jojoba oil demonstration
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Caricature artist (limited availability)
- 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Chloe in the Desert storytelling (Desert Awareness Committee)
- 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Face painting (lobby)
- 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Mesquite flour demonstration
What to Expect
- Educational: Learn about prickly pear parts (tuna, nopales, pads) and desert plants
- Culinary: Sample smoothies, salsa, bread, and pudding
- Family Fun: Costumes encouraged, face painting, caricatures, spooky music, storytelling
Tips for Attending
- Arrive early for popular demos and activities.
- Wear a costume for Halloween kickoff.
- Check the Holland Center’s official event page for any updates or special announcements.
This is a unique blend of desert education, local cuisine, and seasonal celebration — perfect for families, food lovers, and anyone curious about the Sonoran Desert.
Event venue & nearby stays
Holland Community Center, 34250 North 60th Street, Scottsdale, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.