Scottsdale Entertainment

Warm evening weather is the perfect accompaniment to socialising and you won’t have to travel very far to find some nightlife action in Scottsdale. However, due to the size of the city, you may find yourself doing a lot of driving to get there. Scottsdale is home to some of Phoenix’s best nightlife with a popular live music scene and many classy bars and clubs. 

Nightlife

Despite sitting in the middle of the desert, Scottsdale has a booming club scene. The bulk of the trendy dance clubs and chic bars are packed into the area surrounding Old Town Scottsdale. These clubs are home to Scottsdale’s wealthy and fashion-conscious, as well as those who would like to be. The neighbourhood is packed every evening after work and is lined with BMWs and limos. The free weekly New Times magazine is the perfect guide to find out what’s happening in Scottsdale and the other party spots in Phoenix.

Theatre and Music

While most of the major entertainment venues are scattered around Phoenix proper, Scottsdale does have a couple of noteworthy places of its own. The Scottsdale Centre for the Arts hosts a range of different types of performance, from alternative dance to classical music. Most of the best touring groups who visit the Valley perform at this centre and it is also home to the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra which performs regularly. Also in Scottsdale is the Kerr Cultural Centre, a cosy venue in a historic home which offers an eclectic schedule. The Stagebrush Theatre is home to the Scottsdale Community Players, who perform a selection of classic plays and comedies throughout the year.

Most of the live music can be found in Tempe, near Arizona State University. Tempe’s Mill Avenue is the best place find the type of sound you’re looking for. More famous bands are likely to play outdoors at the Cricket Pavilion or Mesa Amphitheatre or indoors at the Celebrity Theatre. The city’s largest venue is Symphony Hall, home to the Arizona Opera Company and the Phoenix Symphony. Ballet Arizona also keeps a running schedule of performances.

Festivals

Due to the incredible amount of sunshine Arizona gets, Scottsdale has a fairly busy festival calendar. Most of the events take place during the pleasant winter months between late October and April when outdoor conditions are ideal. The residents also celebrate events and festivals with the surrounding areas.

• The Great Arizona Beer Festival offers two days of live entertainment and beer sampling from over 100 small breweries along the West Coast and the local southwestern region (February).
• The Arizona Renaissance Festival offers a fascinating recreation of a 16th century European market. Medieval jousting, authentic costumes and period food and drink make for a bizarre but wonderful experience (February).
• The Scottsdale Arts Festival is the Valley’s oldest arts festivals and draws nearly 40,000 visitors during its three day fair. Artists from around the country present their work for display and sale (March).
• The National Festival of the West is one of the best western-themed events in the country. If it has anything to do with the American West, cowboys, miners or horses you will find it in this three day festival (March).
• Scottsdale Culinary Festival is a six day food fest with cooking classes, wine tasting, competitions and dinners by some of the country’s greatest chefs. Live entertainment rounds out this wonderful gastronomic affair (April).
• Native Trails presents Native American cultural performances throughout the city including music, tribal dancing, native foods, arts, crafts and jewellery. Performances run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from January to April.
• Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival features local and international performers in a spacious 80 acre park. Vendors sell food while you relax on the grass and have a picnic. In the evenings, you can sit under the stars, listening to the delightful music (April).