We’ve entered event & festival high-season here in the greater Phoenix area. Plan accordingly!
#1 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction
January 17-25
Casual fans and major car collectors from around the world will converge in Scottsdale for the most fantastic automobile auction in the nation. Attendees will have the chance to bid on rare and historic vehicles. Doors open at 8 a.m. Check website for ticket prices. VIP packages are available. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, 844-528-3598, barrett-jackson.com
#2 Innings Festival
February 20-22, February 27-28
The best indie and mainstream artists and an array of MLB legends will gather on the south shore of Tempe Town Lake to celebrate all things baseball. Headliners include Mumford & Sons, Twenty One Pilots, Blink-182, Luke Bryan and local boy made good Dierks Bentley. Check website for set times and ticket prices. Tempe Beach and Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, inningsfestival.com
#3 Cactus League Baseball
Beginning February 20
The Arizona tradition continues. Fifteen Major League Baseball teams will start their season here in the Valley as they prepare for the 2025 season, giving fans a unique opportunity to see their favorite players up close and personal. Ticket prices and locations vary. cactusleague.com
#4 Concours in the Hills
February 14
FREE!
Every year, this event features a diverse array of vehicles on display, including contemporary and classic race cars, high-performance vehicles from both domestic and foreign manufacturers, muscle cars, sports cars, hot rods, military vehicles and helicopters. All are showcased against the city’s famous fountain. Admission and parking are free; donations are appreciated and will support the Phoenix Children’s Hope Fund. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fountain Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fountain Hills, givetopch.org
#5 Waste Management Phoenix Open
February 2-8
The People’s Open returns to the Valley for another exciting year. Get ready to cheer on your favorite PGA golfer from the famous 16th hole for the “greenest show on grass.” Visit website for tee times and ticket prices. Tournament Players Club, 17020 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, wmphoenixopen.com
#6 Paw Patrol Live: A Mighty Adventure B
February 7-8
Get ready to save Adventure Bay! Victoria Vance has unleashed her latest invention at a block party, and now the Mighty Pups need the audience’s help to save their friends in this epic experience. Check website for times and ticket prices. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix, 602-514-2919, livenation.com
#7 VRBO Fiesta Bowl
January 8
The 55th edition of the Fiesta Bowl will host a College Football Playoff semifinal. Based on recent years, fans can expect a tense, high-scoring matchup that will keep everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last play. 5:30 p.m. State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, 480-350-0911, fiestabowl.org
#8 Arizona Fine Art Expo
January 16-March 29
Attendees can meet and watch nationally acclaimed and award-winning artists at work in 124 patron-friendly studios as Thunderbird Artists hosts this art adventure. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $12, season pass; $10, seniors and military. 26540 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-837-7163, arizonafineartexpo.com
#9 Duran Duran
January 5
There aren’t many ’80s bands that can still sell out arenas like they did back in their heyday. Art rockers Duran Duran, known for cinematic music videos and synth-heavy hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “The Reflex,” are part of that elite company. Duran Duran will be making a quick run along the West Coast during the holiday break and has thankfully included Phoenix as one of its stops. 8 p.m. Check website for ticket prices. Mortgage Matchup Center, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, 602-379-7800, mortgagematchupcenter.com
#10 Devour Culinary Classic
February 21-22
Enjoy the beautiful scenery at Desert Botanical Garden while enjoying some of the best selections from the local food scene, including Clever Koi, Tryst Café and BlueFire Grille. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. for general admission; early entry begins at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $150. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, devourgoodfood.com
BOARD MEETING
When you think about the history of skateboarding, your mind likely zeroes in on California – Dogtown and Z-Boys and that whole Venice/Santa Monica scene. But don’t discount Arizona. In 1965, the first skate park in the world, Dry Surf Skate Board Rink, opened in Tempe. Six decades later, the story of Dry Surf and Valley skaters is chronicled in the Tempe History Museum exhibit Dry Surf: Local Skateboarding History, which wraps on January 31. “The Dry Surf exhibit is special because it is a collaboration with the local skateboarding community,” says museum manager Josh Roffler, who co-curated it with Valley skater Rob Locker, owner of AZPX Skateboards. “Dozens of skaters loaned hundreds of photographs, video clips and artifacts to go into the final display.” If you dig the collaborative feel of Dry Surf, you’ll want to return for the museum’s next exhibit, Ranfla Vida: Local Lowrider Communities and Cultures, set to open on March 22. Admission is free, though donations are accepted. 31 E. Fifth St., Tempe, 480-350-4311, tempe.gov/government/community-services/tempe-history-museum
– Leah LeMoine
