Visitors might flock to Scottsdale for the great winter weather, but this year they’ve got even more reasons to stay and never want to leave! While the rest of the country deals with ice and snow, Scottsdale residents embrace the sunshine and warm winter days, with a packed social calendar of some of the hottest events in the country taking place in our backyard!
The 2023 Scottsdale event calendar is even more stacked than usual with the addition of Super Bowl LVII, taking place in Glendale this upcoming Sunday. Even if you weren’t able to snag tickets to the big game, check out some of the other events happening in the Valley in the next two months. They call it Scottsdale’s super season for a reason!
NFL Experience
Leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, Lowe’s is presenting the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center. This family friendly event takes place all week long leading up to the big game on February 12. It’s a great way to participate in the festivities even if you don’t have tickets to the actual game.
Tickets are free for kids 12 and under, and $40 for anyone else, so this is a much more budget-friendly option than buying tickets to the real game! The NFL experience is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 3 pm-10 pm each night and will have a multitude of games and exhibits to explore.
Some attractions include a free autograph signing with NFL stars, youth football clinics, Super Bowl memorabilia show, NFL Rush Zone, and exhibits showcasing the AFC & NFC championship trophies, and much more!
Taste of the NFL
For the football loving foodie, the “Taste off the NFL” event on Saturday, February 11th is made for you! Starting at 4 pm at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix, participants can taste food prepared by famous chefs, including Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Tim Love, and Mark Bucher. There will also be food stations prepared by the masterminds behind some of Phoenix’s top rated restaurants.
General admission tickets may be pricey, but you can feel good knowing the proceeds benefit GENYOUth’s End Student Hunger fund. Make sure you come hungry!
Play Football Family Festival
For the kids that dream of being pro football players, there’s not a better event to attend than the Play Football Family Festival in Chandler on February 11th. This festival brings an interactive experience to Phoenix during Super Bowl weekend, and allows kids to meet current and retired NFL players, work on their skills, try on a professional football player’s equipment and immerse themselves in the world of professional football. The event will be ongoing from 10 am to 1 pm on February 11th, and is free to anyone in the community. Families will need to sign a waiver before kids can participate in all the activities.
Sunday Big Game Tailgate & Watch Party
If you prefer to watch the big game in a more festive party setting, Oasis Pool at Gila Resort & Casino is hosting an epic watch party this year. Their Hall of Fame tailgate starts at 11 am, and is guaranteed to deliver the ultimate game day experience.
The venue will have massive LED video screens for ideal viewing, DJs, and lots of opportunities to win fun giveaways. They will be serving BBQ with a full bar of drinks available for purchase. General admission is $49 a ticket, and VIP tickets cost $249 for a premium open bar ticket.
WM Phoenix Open
The WM Open, also known as “The People’s Open” is known for being one of the most lively and fun golf tournaments in the United States. On average nearly half a million spectators turn out every year to watch this stop on the PGA Tour.
The WM Phoenix Open takes place from February 6th-12th this year, perfectly coinciding with all of the other fun events happening in the Valley. Tickets cost $75 for general admission for a single daily ticket, which gets you access for the day to witness “the greatest show on grass!”
To make the most of your day, plan to arrive early to have the best chance of avoiding parking or shuttle delays, but know that ticket holders are free to come and go until 3:30 pm each day. Make your way over to Hole 16, which is known for being a fun place to hang out to do some people watching, get a drink, and enjoy being part of the party.
Coors Light Birds Nest Concert Series
At the end of the day when the sun goes down on the WM Phoenix Open, the golf course turns into a nighttime concert party for the Birds Nest concert series. Each night from Wednesday-Saturday a variety of amazing artists take to the stage for an epic concert in the desert.
Headliners this year include Jason Aldean, Machine Gun Kelly, and the Chainsmokers. Even if you don’t make it to the concert series this year, remember to mark your calendar next year to buy tickets in advance, as this is always a Scottsdale event you don’t want to miss!
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Another iconic event taking place in the Valley this month is the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. This annual horse show takes place at WestWorld, and brings over 2400 horses, trainers, and breeders to the Valley every year, all competing for a chance to win big awards and prizes.
This year marks the 68th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and there is a packed line up of activities running from Thursday, February 16th- Sunday, February 26th.
There’s a lot to experience at the horse show, with opportunities to meet the horses, get behind the scenes tours of the barns, watch the competitions, and do some shopping from local vendors. Visiting the show is a great way to spend a weekend outside at WestWorld, enjoying beautiful horses that have come in from all over the country. Tickets are $15 for adults and the event is free for children twelve and under.
Baseball Spring Training
Just as the football season ends for the year, Cactus League Spring Training kicks off in the Valley! This year there is a stacked lineup of teams playing all around the metroplex. The Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and the Chicago Cubs all make Scottsdale their home through March as they prepare for the season. With spring training games almost every day from the end of February through March, you have plenty of opportunities to catch a game and cheer on your favorite players.
If you are rooting for the home team, the Arizona Diamondbacks will be training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale. Plan a fun outing with friends to catch them during one of their weekend games. Tickets are more affordable during spring training, and lawn seats start at around $23. Find all the details for your favorite team on the MLB website here!