Attractions & Activities
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.
Since 1955 the Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has set the pace in the Arabian horse world. The first show was held at the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel which was a beautiful setting for a horse show. The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show was a first class show from the very first day.
Today, the show is held at Westworld in Scottsdale. It has grown from 50 horses to nearly 2000 horses bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world competing for a chance at winning. A win at Scottsdale can mean big money in the breeding barns.
February 11-21
Westworld in Scottsdale.
16601 N. Pima Rd.
Phone: (480) 515-1500
Barrett- Jackson
Barrett-Jackson Auction Company holds the world-famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Arizona annually in January. Whether you are in the market for a world-class classic car or just enjoy looking at them the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction is not to be missed.
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the "World’s Greatest Classic Car Event" in Scottsdale, Arizona.
January 18th -24th 2010.
Westworld in Scottsdale.
16601 N. Pima Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Phone: (480) 312-6802
Baseball’s Cactus League Spring Training
The Arizona Cactus League is quickly becoming one of the biggest events in Arizona. Fans get a chance to get up close and personal to some of the biggest names in baseball. There are 9 stadiums within a 50 mile radius and two more in Tucson (about a 2 hour drive.) Teams that attend spring training in Arizona are: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, San Fransisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.
For ticket info, please visit, http://www.tickco.com/info/cactus-league-tickets.htm
February 24th- April 1st
Culinary festival
As the longest running festival of its kind in the United States, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities (not to mention idyllic weather!) No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival has something for everyone.
For more information, please visit http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/.
Scottsdale Civic Center,
April 13th-19th
Main Street Art Walks
Scottsdale ArtWalk is much like a large, easy-going open house for the Scottsdale Arts District located primarily along Main Street and Marshall Way in Scottsdale Downtown. “America’s Original ArtWalk,” this weekly gathering takes place every Thursday evening (year-round, except Thanksgiving) between 7 and 9 pm. That’s when all member galleries belonging to the Scottsdale Gallery Association (SGA) open their doors to the public and show off the work of the Southwest’s outstanding artists. Casual and eclectic, it’s a great time to visit the galleries and discover fabulous artists. Several times per year, the Scottsdale Gallery Association “pulls out all the stops” for Special Event ArtWalks with live music along the streets and special themed events.
For more information, go to http://www.scottsdalegalleries.com/artwalks2.html.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Talison West
In northeast of Scottsdale, Arizona there is a living memorial to a great American architect. Nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains and surrounded by the spectacular Sonoran Desert lays a sprawling 600-acre complex called Taliesin West. It was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. The buildings and the landscape at Taliesin West complement each other. They coexist in harmony -- form and color, beauty and grace, nature and science are all blended. Taliesin West is a National Historic Landmark.
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright
Scottsdale AZ 85259
Wrigley Mansion
Built in 1932 by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., The Mansion sits atop a 100 foot knoll with commanding views of the mountains and the city below. Embracing elements of Spanish, California Monterey and Mediterranean architecture, The Mansion stands as a monument to an elegance and opulence seldom seem or experienced in one's everyday encounters. The Mansion reaches beyond the ordinary and into the extraordinary. Fine historic structure co-mingles the traditions and elegance of a bygone with the contemporary excitement of today. The Wrigley Mansion is a place where anyone can be a guest and enjoy one of the premiere landmarks of Phoenix.
2501 E. Telawa Trail
Phoenix AZ 85016
Phone: (602) 955-4079
Mystery Castle
The legend of this handmade house begins in Seattle in 1929 when Boyce Luther Gulley promised his young daughter, Mary Lou, he would build her a castle. Then after being diagnosed with tuberculosis and told he only had only six months to live he deserted his wife and daughter without a trace. A desolate piece of land in the foothills just south of downtown Phoenix is where he settled and began work on what was to become one of America’s folk art masterpieces of the highest order.
Over the next sixteen years, until he died in 1945, he hand built an eighteen room castle with the rocks and rubble he was able to gather and bind together with cement mixed with goats milk. He used clinker bricks, ceramic tiles, native art, wagon wheels and other depression era cast offs as finishing touches.
All the while his wife and daughter thought he was dead. Finally, when Mr. Gulley died in 1945, his wife and 19 year-old daughter were called to claim the primitive palace he had willed to them. They loved it and moved right in. Three years later after Life Magazine featured a story on the unique home Mrs. Gulley and her daughter opened the doors to the curious public and began giving tours.
The tours continue to this day. Mary Lou, the daughter, the princess of the castle, still lives there. She’s eighty-three now.
800 E Mineral Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85042-8341
(602) 268-1581
McCormick Stillman railroad park
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, located in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the most unique park of it's kind in the country. Take a ride on the Paradise and Pacific Railroad and antique carousel. Visit a variety of shops and museum or play in one of the spacious playgrounds, or just relax in the grass under a tree or in one of the park's picnic ramadas.
7301 E. Indian Bend Road
Scottsdale AZ 85250
Phone: (480) 312-2312
Out of Africa Wildlife park
Out of Africa Wildlife Park is truly an experience. It is a garden-like setting that allows visitors to actually encounter the kingdom of the wild. The animals come to you in unrehearsed, educational programs every day. Nine different shows and encounters (closed Mondays) featuring Tiger Splash! See the staff chased by tigers, who dive in a giant pool after their human friends. If you love animals, you’ll love Out of Africa Wildlife Park. You can experience the thrill of being up-close with magnificent creatures while feeding them a special treat. You may have the opportunity to feed a tiger, lion, bear or other exotic animal! (About 90 minutes from Phoenix)
4020 N. Cherry Rd
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Phone: (480) 837-7779
Rawhide at wild horse pass
This authentic frontier town is Arizona's largest western-themed attraction and has moved from Scottsdale to Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community. Rawhide has a chuck wagon full of fun in store for you -- gunfights, stunt shows, shootin' gallery, gold panning, stagecoach rides, desert train, burro rides, live country music, Sundown Cookouts, a real blacksmith, and much more. Browse the specialty shops with everything from authentic western wear to Native American art to handmade jewelry to cowboy toys. Treat yourself to the finest mesquite-grilled cowboy steaks this side of the Rockies at the world-famous Rawhide Steakhouse & Golden Belle Saloon, served to toe tappin', boot scootin' live entertainment. Admission to Rawhide is free.
5700 West North Loop Road
Chandler AZ 85226
Phone: (480) 502-5600
FBR open
Annually sporting the largest crowds on the PGA TOUR, the FBR Open has gained legendary status on tour for being unlike any other golf tournament. Yes, the Phoenix tour stop is different from all the rest, but what makes it so? It starts with the unbelievable golf played by the likes of Kenny Perry, JB Holmes, Aaron Baddeley, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh on the beautiful TPC Scottsdale and ends with the biggest galleries on tour. In between the golf and the galleries are The Thunderbirds. Hosts of the Open since 1939, this fine group of Valley business men has turned an ordinary "golf tournament" into a community event/happening -- commonly referred to as "The Greatest Show on Grass" -- and along the way have raised close to $65 million for Arizona Designed expressly as the stage for the PGA TOUR's FBR Open, the event draws over 500,000 fans and is the largest spectator golf event in the world.
In fact, the enthusiasm of the fans that surround the 16th hole gives this short par-3 a "stadium" atmosphere and creates one of the most exciting settings in professional sports. This hole is one of many unique locations on the Stadium course where fans witness many history-making moments by the world's greatest players on the PGA TOUR.charities.
17020 N Hayden Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
February 22-28
Phone: (602) 870-0163
Mighty Mud Mania
"Mighty Mud Mania" began in 1976 as the "Shout It Out Decathlon," a promotional gimmick for Johnson's Wax "Shout" Spray pre-wash. The activity was held in Chaparral Park in Scottsdale and the Johnson's Wax Company provided 300 white t-shirts for the participants. Johnson's dropped the program because our Arizona mud was too tough for the pre-wash. However, the City of Scottsdale felt the activity was so successful, that our Parks and Recreation Division incorporated the event into the summer recreation program. Re-named "Mighty Mud Mania," the activity has been held since then as the culminating activity of all the Scottsdale Parks and Recreation summer programs.
Chaparral Park,
5401 N. Hayden Road
Scottsdale AZ
(480) 312-2771
Paradise Valley Jazz Party
One of the longest running jazz events in the country—the 2010 festival marks the 33rd year. National jazz musicians perform for over 16 hours of non-stop music sessions during the weekend. The program includes straight ahead jazz, blues, New Orleans jazz, Count Basie music, latin jazz, and more.
6014 N. Nauni Valley Drive
Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253
Phone: 480-948-7993
