Annual events in the Greater Phoenix Area

• First Friday Art Walk: Experience one of the nation's largest, self-guided art walks on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m. Tour more than 70 galleries, venues and art-related spaces throughout the Roosevelt Row and Grand Avenue arts districts.

WINTER

• Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts: December Artists from all over the country descend to downtown Tempe for this biannual festival. Expect to browse 300 artists and a wide array of food vendors throughout the over 10-block footprint. This event gives the community an opportunity to connect to great art, enjoy our vibrant downtown area and indulge in great snacks, cuisine, and more, in an open-air and socially distant environment.

• Las Noches de las Luminarias: December Celebrate the spirit of the season with Las Noches de las Luminarias. Stroll the garden’s trails, lined with 8,000 flickering luminaria bags, gaze at twinkling lights and admire the enchanting glow of Dale Chihuly’s glass masterpieces. Happen upon tunes from eclectic entertainment groups and cherish the time spent with friends and family during the holiday season.

• Guaranteed Rate Bowl: December The Guaranteed Rate Bowl features the NCAA bowl season's only matchup between contenders in the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences, and is held annually at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in downtown Phoenix.

• VRBO Fiesta Bowl: January As a member of the College Football Playoff New Year's Six, the VRBO Fiesta Bowl will host a matchup with two of the highest-ranked teams at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale.

• Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction: January Widely regarded as a barometer of the collector car industry, these auctions have evolved into world-class automotive lifestyle events where thousands of the world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience — in person and on live national and international television. Witness auction action at its best, capture the car of your dreams, learn more about collector cars through “Behind the Hobby” symposiums, mingle with celebrities, experience heart-stopping thrill rides in the latest vehicles from America’s top automakers, shop in the vast Exhibitor Marketplace and more.

• Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and ½ Marathon: January This race series promises a flat, fast and fun route in Greater Phoenix. Whether you're a first-timer or Boston-bound, both routes were designed to help you finish in record time. Live bands every mile, local cheer teams and themed water stations add spirit and inspiration as you run through Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. The half marathon starts in Tempe, while the full marathon starts in downtown Phoenix — the finish line for both finish is at Tempe Beach Park.

• Waste Management Phoenix Open: February Annually drawing the largest crowds on the PGA Tour, the Waste Management Phoenix Open has gained legendary status for being unlike any other golf tournament. If you're visiting for the first time, hole 16 is a must-see. With stadium seating and lively crowds, the fan experience at this hole more comparable to a Phoenix Suns game than a traditional PGA Tournament. Visit the website for more information, including a list of events and concerts throughout the week.

• Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show: February The largest event of its kind in the world, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators to WestWorld each year. In addition to 10 days of exciting competitions, gala parties, educational seminars, family-focused events and an international cuisine court, the event features more than 300 vendor booths, offering everything from lavish jewelry and clothing to works of art and more.

• Phoenix Chinese Week Culture and Cuisine Festival: February Phoenix Chinese Week is a series of cultural, social and educational events highlighting the diverse culture of China. This annual, three-day culture and cuisine festival attracts thousands of participants and features the arts, food, dance, entertainment, history and heritage of China.

• Devour Culinary Classic: February For more than a decade, this award-winning culinary festival has featured Arizona’s best chefs, purveyors, wineries, and artists providing a sensory experience of desert sounds, tastes, sights, and feel. In addition to the Culinary Classic, the 7 Chefs Dinner and Devour the World are two of the signature culinary events that round out the week.

• Arizona Strong Beer Festival: February One of more than 200 events planned as part of Arizona Beer Week, the Arizona Strong Beer Festival is an annual celebration of local brews, as well as collaborations with out-of-state breweries.

• Arizona Matsuri: Festival of Japan: February Arizona Matsuri: Festival of Japan features Japanese exhibits, demonstrations, arts and crafts, children's activities, bonsai displays, Japanese cuisine, a Japanese beer and sake garden, games and contests, and live entertainment on four stages.

• Parada del Sol: February Since its start in 1953, the Parada del Sol has grown to be one of the world's longest horse-drawn parades and boasts more than 100 entries, including floats, bands and individual riders. Following the parade, Trail’s End Festival showcases local history, participating school groups, bands, live musical entertainment and shopping.

• Arizona Gay Rodeo: February The Arizona Gay Rodeo, an IGRA-sanctioned rodeo, is a traditional rodeo event that also includes camp drag events, vendors, food, full-service bars, drag performances, dancing, rodeo royalty, games and more — all in a festival-style atmosphere. Rodeo events include bull riding, steer riding, chute dogging, calf roping (on foot), mounted breakaway roping, barrel racing, pole bending, flag race, team roping, steer decorating, *goat dressing and a *wild drag race. Bareback Bronc riding and Ranch Saddle Bronc Riding will not be offered.
  

SPRING

• Cactus League Spring Training: February -March Cactus League Spring Training is a seasonal rite that descends on the Greater Phoenix area every February and March with the iconic sounds of cracking bats, snapping mitts and happy fans. For baseball lovers, it doesn’t get much better than this: sunny weather, affordable tickets and unparalleled proximity to the best players in the game.

• Arizona Renaissance Festival: February - April The Arizona Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 16-stage theater, a 50-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast — all rolled into one nonstop family adventure. This unique, outdoor event combines entertainment and wares reminiscent of what may have been found in a 16th Century European village market, celebrating the arrival of the King and Queen to their shire. Walk through the gates to be transported back in time.

• World Championship Hoop Dance Contes: March Top American Indian and Canadian First Nations hoop dancers compete at the Heard Museum for the prestigious World Champion title and cash prizes. At this two-day competition, men and women compete on an equal field. The art of hoop dance was first employed as a healing ceremony, today it's shared as an artistic expression to celebrate and honor Indigenous traditions throughout North America.

• M3F Music Festival: March M3F is a 100% nonprofit music festival that was established in 2004 and has become a musical destination for festivalgoers. This three-day festival has attracted visitors to Arizona with such previous acts as Odesza, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Empire of the Sun, Griz, Flume, Beck, Kid Cudi, Chromeo, Father John Misty, Grouplove, The Avett Brothers, The Revivalists, The Roots, The Shins, Slightly Stoopid, and many others.

• Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival: March Created in 1988 to celebrate Chandler's history of ostrich ranching, this festival features — you guessed it — live ostriches. But it's grown to also include national and local entertainment, thrilling stage shows, over 50 exhilarating midway rides and games, classic festival food, interactive activities for all ages, meet and greets with your favorite mascots, ostrich-themed educational activities, exciting attractions, upscale arts and crafts and much more.

• Arizona Aloha Festival: March Join the Arizona Aloha Festival for two days of celebrating the cultures of the South Pacific islands. Live entertainment on several stages includes music, dance, and lectures. Shop traditional crafts, modern gifts, apparel and more in the Island Marketplace. And vendors serve up some of the favorite foods of the people of Hawaii and the South Pacific, including kalua pig, manapua, Vilo Vilo chicken, Spam musubi, haupia and malasadas.

• Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market: March Long-standing, nationally recognized event, this is the largest art market in Arizona and the second largest market of its kind in the country. It features more than 600 Native artists from 116 tribal affiliations in the U.S. and Canada. A variety of traditional and cutting-edge media dazzle guests each year.

• Maricopa County Fair: April The fair features the largest county fair carnival in Phoenix with over 35 rides. Foodies will appreciate the wide selection of fair food, which includes such unique items as Steve's flaming hot turkey legs, deep-fried coffee, the Mac Doggie Dog and so much more. The shopping pavilion is filled with more than 60 vendors, plus there are over 25 more vendors outside. Agriculture and livestock are a part of the fair's history and tradition, and are a mainstay.

• Rainbows Festival: April - May Presented by Phoenix Pride, Rainbows Festival has been dubbed “Arizona’s Greatest Street Fair." The annual event is a celebration of the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community that draws community members, friends, families, allies downtown for more than 150 exhibitors and two stages of entertainment throughout the weekend.

• Spring Arizona Restaurant Week : May For 10 days, diners can enjoy menus specially designed to showcase the true culinary talents that exist within the state — from the finest five-star restaurants to locally owned and chef-driven “hidden gems.” During the event, participating restaurants offer culinary adventurers a unique tasting opportunity (in addition to their regular menus), featuring three-course prix-fixe menus for just $33 or $44 per person. Wine pairings to enhance each course are offered at some establishments for an additional cost. Menus are available for dine-in as well as to-go.

SUMMER

• Phoenix Fan Fusion: June Phoenix Fan Fusion is the premier pop culture event in the desert Southwest that attracts thousands of comic book, superhero, cosplay and anime enthusiasts for a one-of-a-kind experience. 

• Desert Botanical Garden Flashlight Tours: June - September Flashlight Nights are nighttime self-guided adventures through Desert Botanical Garden, where nocturnal explorers can bring their own flashlights to shine along the trails, in search of night-blooming plants and desert animals that emerge after dark.

• Arizona Diamondbacks: April - October America's favorite past time can be found right in the heart of downtown. Chase Field plays host to the Arizona Diamondbacks — and their loyal fans — seven months out of the year (catch them at Cactus League Spring Training, too), but there's something about a summer baseball game that just hits different. Maybe it's the hotdogs, maybe it's the 4th of July fireworks. Either way, take us out to the ballgame!

• Phoenix Rising: April - October The USL's Phoenix Rising FC takes the field at Wild Horse Pass for its regular season schedule. Experiences range from field-side VIP tables to the ultra-hyped fan zone on the stadium's south end — both of which can expect player interaction.

• Phoenix Mercury: May - September Fondly known as the X-Factor, fans of the three-time WNBA champions head to downtown for one of the city's most beloved summer traditions. The Phoenix Mercury — including Olympic goal medalists Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith — offer nonstop action on the home court all summer long.

FALL

• Fall Arizona Restaurant Week: September ‘Tis the season for the return of one of the most popular culinary events of the year. During these 10 days, diners can take advantage of three-course meals and prix-fixe menus for just $33 or $44 per person at participating restaurants around the state.

• Arizona State Fair: October For more than a century, the Arizona State Fair has been a gathering place for nearby locals, residents from the far corners of the state and visitors. Filled with cute animals, blue ribbons, fried food, immersive exhibits and all the carnival rides you can imagine. Additional scheduling includes a star-studded concert series and the All-Indian Rodeo, one of the longest-running Arizona State Fair events.

• Four Peaks Oktoberfest: October Celebrate the season German-style with three days of live music, brats, keg tappings, dachshund races, dancing, karaoke, carnival rides and more.

• Phoenix Pride Festival & Parade: October  The annual Phoenix Pride Festival is a two-day celebration designed to bring LGBTQ+ community members, and allies, together for a weekend of camaraderie in honor of our past and in celebration of our future. The festival features over 150 entertainment performances on six stages and more than 300 exhibitors showcasing a diverse variety of food options, shopping opportunities and community resources. The parade, which takes place along Third Street, kicks off the first day of the festival.

• Phoenix Greek Festival: October This festival is an opportunity to share in the rich history, culture, and culinary delights of Greece. In addition to the authentically prepared Greek cuisine, you can indulge in a shopper’s paradise where vendors sell a variety of items including Greek jewelry, artwork and food. Additionally, the nationally recognized community dancers — in traditional costumes from the various regions of Greece — will perform throughout the weekend.

• Schnepf Farms Pumpkin & Chili Party: October Throughout October, Schnepf Farms offers such fall activities as hay rides, a 4-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch, pig races. Come hungry and choose from chili, burgers and succotash. Take a spin on exciting rides or the farm's train. Fireworks light up the sky Friday and Saturday nights. Don't forget to grab your Halloween pumpkin during your visit.

• Spooktacular Hot Air Balloon Festival: October The annual Balloon Spooktacular — featuring nightly firework shows, live music, a pumpkin patch and a free KidsZone — is a safe, fun and memorable trick-or-treat experience for the entire family. More than 20 majestic hot air balloons illuminate the sky as they participate in the world's longest continuous glow (over 3 hours), tethered balloons are available for rides and balloon candy stations serve up more than 4,000 pounds of candy.

• Mikiztli Dia de los Muertos Phoenix Festival: October The annual Mikiztli Dia de los Muertos Festival features music, dance, masked performances, art activities for kids, artist's mercado and candlelight closing procession with ceremony and celebration. This festival is a unique and exciting artistic event that keeps families connected to their cultural heritage and traditions. Other noteworthy observations of this holiday take place at Desert Botanical Garden (pictured) and the Mesa Arts Center.

• Herberger Theater Festival of the Arts: November Celebrate the arts in our community and enjoy performances by more than 25 arts groups, including dance, live music, and aerialists. Additionally, this festival includes children’s activities, pet adoptions, food, craft beer and wine tasting and more. Proceeds benefit the Herberger Theater’s Youth Outreach Programs.

• PGA Tour Champions' Charles Schwab Cup Championship: November Featuring the top 36 players of the season, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship is the culmination of the PGA Tour Champions road to the Charles Schwab Cup, a year-long competition that ends with the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs. The Charles Schwab Cup Championship boasts an illustrious list of champions including two-time winners Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Jay Haas, Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman and Bernhard Langer.

All information is sourced from VisitPhoenix.com