As the desert blooms in spring, creating a canvas of colorful Palo Verde trees and flowering cacti, these local Phoenix events also explode with colorful and creative community.
Whether you want to meet literary rebels who love banned books, hear queer poetry in the Phoenix Art Museum’s sculpture garden, paint fabulous canvases with local drag performers or publish your own indie zine, we’ve got you covered.
These six local (and affordable) events highlight some of Phoenix’s most unique independent spaces, and are sure to inspire with their authentic artistic vibes.
Changing Hands Banned Bookstore Pop-Up
For rebellious bookworms, Changing Hands Bookstore hosts a Banned Bookstore pop-up shop inside its Tempe and Camelback stores for Independent Bookstore Day Weekend. This event will feature banned books, community resources, and center BIPOC, female, and radical authors for you to discover. The pop-up will also feature mobile bookshops Beyond Words, Twice Upon a Time, The Book Haul, and Lit Twis’t. Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. Free admission. changinghands.com
Thems Fruity Poetry Night at Phoenix Art Museum
Queer creative collective Thems hosts its monthly Fruity Poetry Night open mic (if you’re feeling brave, anyone can read) in the sculpture garden at Phoenix Art Museum. A sober and safe space for the entire spectrum of the queer community, regardless of gender identity or romantic orientation, this evening will celebrate queer storytelling surrounded by legendary art. The event features special guest Yosimar Reyes, the first undocumented person named Santa Clara County Poet Laureate. Readers can sign up upon entry. Wednesday, April 30, 5-7:30 p.m. Free admission part of Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays at the museum. themsphx.com
Ghost Poetry
If you’re feeling more like friendly competition, Phoenix’s popular poetry slam, Ghost Poetry, is held monthly at The Rebel Lounge. Fifteen poets compete for cash prizes, judged by five randomly selected audience members. Ghost Poetry draws a diverse crowd, platforming poets of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, genders and experience levels. Ghost Poetry also offers monthly Writing Nights featuring guidance from local poets and writers. $10-$12 admission. Upcoming events include poetry slams on April 29 and May 14, and a Writing Night at Changing Hands Bookstore on May 20. ghostpoetryshow.com
Roz Hernandez Stand-Up Comedy Night at Stacy’s at Melrose
Trans comedian Roz Hernandez is known for investigating haunted hotel rooms, being called “essential, hilarious, profane, and profound” by Margaret Cho, and her Hulu show with Kristen Stewart, Living for the Dead. Now she brings her 2025 comedy tour Roz Hernandez Does Comedy in a Gay Bar?! for a one-night-only stand-up performance and meet and greet at Stacy’s at Melrose. Thursday, May 1. 8-11 p.m. Tickets are $26.50. stacysatmelrose.com
Sip & Stroke at RIPPLEPHX
Nonprofit LGBTQ+ community space RipplePHX hosts Phoenix’s only queer “paint and sip” event every month. Led by fabulous local drag performers, and providing a safe space for anyone in the queer community and its allies, RipplePHX’s Sip & Stroke is a wonderful way to be in vibrant community, while supporting AIDS/HIV research, grass-roots social services and creating an iconic art piece. Sip & Stroke goes bilingual every other month. 18-plus event. $5-$25 Next Sip & Stroke event is May 10 at 6 p.m. ripplephx.org
Wasted Ink Zine Distro Workshops
Since 2015, Wasted Ink Zine Distro has been a creative, inclusive space for DIY publishers, artists, activists and those wanting to make their own zines. Wasted Ink is dedicated to uplifting voices of historically marginalized creators who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, chronically ill or neurodivergent. The business believes self-publishing is an act of resistance, allowing writers and artists to speak directly about their lived experiences while shaping their culture. With a new Downtown Phoenix location (323 W. McDowell Rd.), it offers ongoing mini zine-making workshops, indie and DIY publishing talks, as well as creative events this spring and summer for out-of-the-box artists and writers in the Valley. wizd-az.com
