M3F Phoenix Scottish Games Indian Fair & Market Melrose Street Fair PHOENIX magazine Dish Fest St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Faire Rodeo Scottsdale Chandler Ostrich Festival Scottsdale Arts Festival Arizona Aloha Festival Gilbert Pizza Festival The Great American Barbecue & Beer Festival Mecum Auctions Art Detour Arizona Bike Week Chandler Jazz Festival Tempe Festival of the Arts Arizona Dragon Boat Festival Phoenix Film Festival
March 3-4
Nonprofit and locally produced, the annual two-day indie rock bacchanal brings national acts, food vendors and a mini marketplace to Downtown Phoenix each spring. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W Culver St, Phoenix, 602-534-2406, m3ffest.com
March 3-5
Enjoy a day of highland pageantry as the Caledonian Society of Arizona hosts this event featuring pipes and drums, highland dancers, Celtic bands, children’s activities, a clan and genealogy area and a Celtic Village filled with a variety of merchants. Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert, phoenixscottishgames.com
March 4-5
More than 600 top American Indian artists exhibit and sell handmade artwork – including baskets, beadwork, quilts, jewelry, paintings, weavings, sculpture, pottery and pueblo carvings. Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-252-8848, heard.org/fair
March 4
Maybe you’ve hit up the Melrose District to impulse-buy a midcentury lamp at Modern on Melrose or for trivia night at Thunderbird Lounge. If you need another reason to visit, try this bustling event featuring food trucks, live music, a farmers market and the handiwork of more than 200 local artisans. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., melrosemerchantsassociation.com
March 5
Eat and drink your fill at this one-of-a-kind food festival, featuring restaurant dishes showcased in the annual January/February dining issue of PHOENIX magazine. This year’s festival will focus on favorite dishes from all 50 states, plus other favorites seen in the magazine’s Best New Restaurant and Best of the Valley issues. The Clayton House, Scottsdale, 3719 N. 75th St., phoenixmag.com/dishfest
March 11
Known as the “Greenest Day in the Desert,” the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire celebrates all things Irish in Arizona. Attendees can enjoy traditional music and dance, dishes like corned beef and cabbage and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, stpatricksdayphoenix.org
March 9-12
The PRCA-sanctioned event attracts world-class bull riders, ropers, steer wrestlers, bronc riders, barrel racers, rodeo clowns and bullfighters. Dances follow most performances. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, 480-648-4369, rodeoscottsdale.com
March 10-12
Flightless fowl strut their stuff in a yearly festival that features carnival rides and games, national and local entertainment, arts and crafts, children’s activities and ostrich races. Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler, 480-588-8497, ostrichfestival.com
March 10-12
Expect a stellar assortment of 175-plus artists from the U.S. and Canada, plus live music and complimentary admission to Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Scottsdale Civic Center Park, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale, scottsdaleartsfestival.org
March 11-12
Shop for plumeria candles and Polynesian leis, chow down on SPAM musubi and bring a lawn chair to watch hula dancers sway on the mainstage. Don’t miss the haka, a Maori warrior dance with chest pounding and chanting. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, 480-350-5200, azalohafest.org
March 18
More than a dozen pizza artisans dole out slices of their best pies at this this East Valley festival, which also includes wine and craft beer bars, live bands, a kids craft zone and local vendor marketplace. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Gilbert Civic Center, 50 E. Civic Center Dr., Gilbert, gilbertpizzafest.com
March 25
Award-winning grilled meats washed down with craft beers. Need we say more? You’ll have to spring extra dough for tasty ’cue and brew samples, but VIP access includes 4-6 drinks with homemade jerky or barbecue meal provided. Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler, chandlerbbq.com
March 28-April 1
Approximately 1,200 classic and collector cars – Corvettes, exotics, trucks, hot rods, resto-mods and muscle cars – cross the auction block at this high-energy event. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, mecum.com
March (TBD)
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Artlink’s annual self-guided tour gives locals a glimpse inside the studios – and the minds – of Downtown artists. Visit the opening night gala for a preview of this year’s featured artists, or download a map and visit workshops from Roosevelt Row to Grand Avenue. artlinkphx.org/art-detour
March 29-April 2
This 26th annual festival and rally celebrates motorcycles and biker culture with five days of local bands, bike shows, demos, vendors, exhibitions and the HandleBar Saloon in The PowerYard, complemented by three nights of concerts by local and touring musicians in The RockYard. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, azbikeweek.com
March 31
Jazz it up at this annual fest, which features a stellar lineup of local talent, spanning genres ranging from traditional and fusion rhythm to smooth jazz. 5-10:30 p.m. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park (Stage Plaza), 178 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler, 480-782-2669, chandleraz.gov
March 31-April 2
Nearly 350 fine artists and craftsmen from across the country showcase original artworks at this street festival. Food trucks, wine and beer gardens, children’s activities and live entertainment are included. Mill Avenue District, Tempe, tempefestivalofthearts.com
March (TBD)
Paddle crews from all over the world celebrate the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing at Tempe Town Lake. See the elegant boats – outfitted with a dragon’s head in front and a tail at the back – glide through the water to the “heartbeat” cadence of each boat’s drummer, a sort-of captain who directs the paddlers with a rhythmic drumbeat. 550 E. Tempe Town Lake, azdba.org
March (TBD)
In a town where Bill and Ted embarked on some excellent adventures, and Clint Eastwood ran a gauntlet at the Arizona Capitol, find nearly 300 films at what MovieMaker Magazine named one of America’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals.” Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, phoenixfilmfestival.comThis article first appeared in the 2023 City Guide, published by PHOENIX magazine in November 2022.
Newcomers’ Guide to Festivals & Events in March 2023
Editorial StaffNovember 2, 2022
