Things to do in Phoenix

From sporting events and live music festivals to celebrations honoring the rich cultural heritage of Phoenix residents, you'll never be at a lost for things to do in Phoenix. Consult the list of annual events below to find out what's happening in Phoenix each month.

See all the Downtown Phoenix has to offer:

Monthly events in Downtown Phoenix

January

Sun Devil Baseball: From January until June, the Arizona State Sundevils slug it out on the diamond against other NCAA teams.

Fiesta Bowl: One of the premier college gridiron battles of the year takes place at University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale.

World of Wheels: Are you a gearhead? Then the annual World of Wheels Festival is the event for you. Hot rods, custom cars, and custom two-wheelers all go on display at Phoenix Civic Plaza.

February

Night at the Museum: A tradition much older than the movie of the same name, Night at the Museum sees throngs of children converge on the Phoenix Children's Museum to spend the night learning about art. This year's event transports children to Paris.

Prospector's Day: Celebrate a part of Arizona history. Staff from the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum teach visitors how to use basic equipment to separate gold from sand.

March

Southwest Flower and Garden Show: A regional exposition of flowers, gardening, and landscaping hosted at University of Phoenix Stadium.

West of Western Culinary Festival: Celebrating the cuisine of the Southwest, this festival brings together the best chefs in the region for a festival of tastes, smells, and sights.

Carefree Fine Arts & Wine Festival: Artists and wine makers gather in the desert town of Carefree, right outside of Scottsdale, to celebrate fine wine and fine art.

April

Phoenix Jazz & Blues Festival: A Phoenix institution after many successful years, the Phoenix Jazz & Blues Festival brings together local musicians and world renowned artists for an entire day of great music.

NASCAR: Subway Fresh 500: NASCAR comes to Phoenix with the Subway Fresh 500. Grab a cooler and head to the track to watch racing legends battle it out on the track.

May

Queen Creek Peach Festival: It's not quite Georgia, but the Queen Creek Peach Festival comes a close second. Enjoy freshly picked whole fruit or sample some amazing pies, tarts, preserves, and much more.

AVP Tempe Open: It's not quite "beach" volleyball, but the weather is right! The AVP Tempe Open brings beach volleyball's brightest stars to Tempe.

June

Phoenix Theatre New Works Festival: Actors bring a script to life, but without playwrights they wouldn't have new scripts to perform. The Phoenix Theatre New Works Festival puts the spotlight on up-and-coming Phoenix playwrights.

Made in the Shade Beer Festival: Beat the heat up north with Flagstaff's Made in the Shade Beer Festival. The Southwest's best breweries converge on this cool mountain town to

July

Fabulous Phoenix Fourth of July Celebration: Ring in our Independence Day by watching the night sky light up with a fantastic display of colors and patterns.

Summer Spectacular ArtWalk: Come outside and marvel at works from the next generation of painters, sculpters, and other artists.

August

Grape Train Escape: The Grape Train Escape combines the wonder of riding on an old train with fantastic wine. Sample libations from local wineries as you take a scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon.

September

Sun Devil Football: College football season kicks into high gear in September. Cheer on the Arizona State Sun Devils as they tackle their rivals on the gridiron.

October

Phoenix Coyotes Hockey: Hockey? In the desert? Our Phoenix Coyotes aren't the oldest team in the NHL, but they give even the best teams in the league a run for their money.

Festival of Fear: Halloween brings out all manner of haunted house attractions, but Festival of Fear is consistently rated the best of the bunch. Bring your costume - and your brave face.

Oktoberfest: The Arizona Center for Germanic Cultures doesn't have a dedicated home yet, but they do have one of the more popular festivals in the Valley - and for good reason. Those who can't make the trip to Germany for the real thing can enjoy a taste of Deutschland in Phoenix.

November

Arizona Celebrity Golf Classic: Arizona celebrities like Alice Cooper and Charles Barkley routinely come out to support the fight against pancreatic cancer - and play a few rounds of golf - at the Arizona Celebrity Golf Classic.

ZooLights: A delight for children, ZooLights brings Christmas to the animals - and affords kids a chance to catch a glimpse of the animals who are a little more lively at night.

Arizona International Auto Show: This is the big one! Grander than World of Wheels, the Arizona International Auto Show brings car enthusiasts - and their eye-catching antiques - to Phoenix for the largest auto show in the Valley.

December

Lantern Lore: The Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park hosts a fireside storytelling event every December. Kids can enjoy hot chocolate, spiced cider, and tales concerning Arizona's native cultures.

Scottsdale Fantasy of Lights: Scottsdale comes alive with the spirit of Christmas each December - not to mention thousands upon thousands of lights. You can drive, but to get a full appreciation for the light displays in historic downtown Scottsdale, plan on walking a bit.