July 26-28

Find out what's happening this weekend in Phoenix. You can see some live music, see the most current art exhibitions and more. Find more things to do this weekend on our event calendar. 

Neon Nights: Kayaking with Saguaro Lake Ranch

Friday and Saturday

Locals and tourists love to paddle Saguaro lake dressed in glow sticks, lights, and all things neon to explore the natural beauty of the night and beat the heat. Saguaro Lake Ranch everything you need for an incredible Arizona experience right on the water at Butcher Jones Recreation site at Saguaro Lake. 

Saguaro Lake 

Summer Games at OdySea Aquarium

Friday through Sunday

Join the excitement of Summer Games at OdySea Aquarium, featuring 15 fun and silly games where kids get to play like an animal! Waddle like a penguin, outlift an octopus, catch food like a jellyfish, build a tower with lobster claws on, and more. Every day in July. Games rotate each day.

OdySea Aquarium

Flashlight Nights at Desert Botanical Garden

Saturday

Escape the heat and explore the Garden after dark with family and friends! Discover the Garden’s five thematic trails, encounter desert creatures, and immerse yourself in the captivating nighttime ambiance with cool drinks and treats. Enjoy access to food trucks and Breezy Pops for sale. Garden will be selling s’mores and drinks and more from their pop-up bars serving non-alcoholic and adult beverages.

Desert Botanical Garden

Candytopia Scottsdale

Friday through Sunday

From flying unicorn pigs to a marshmallow paradise, every corner unveils a new sensory adventure. If you've ever dreamed of tasting the magic of a Candy Kingdom or finding a Golden Ticket, Candytopia is the place to be. 

Scottsdale Fashion Square

Bushwood Sims Golf Experience at W Scottsdale

Friday through Sunday

Experience an exclusive Bushwood Sims virtual golf experience on the WET Deck at the W Scottsdale. Be met in the lobby by a Bushwood Sims caddy where they will escort giests up the lifts through the private gardens to a simulator experience. From private-entrance escorting to drink orders to simulation set up, a Bushwood Sims caddy is there to ensure guests time on and off the course is handled with care. In each 90-minute session, guests are free to bounce between golf, hunt, and VR as they please. W

W Scottsdale

Dive-In Movies at Arizona Biltmore

Friday

Bask in paradise at the Arizona Biltmore's Dive-In Movies & Twist Night. On Friday, The Arizona Biltmore will screen Elf. Keep the fun going with extended summer hours at the Twist slide from 6-8pm. After the sun sets, guests may grab their favorite floatie and settle in to watch a family-friendly movie for kids of all ages to enjoy. Parents can kick back and relax, knowing their little ones are having a blast in the water with provided floaties and pool toys.

Arizona Biltmore

Pool Parties

Summer in Greater Phoenix means pool time, all the time. And when the weekend hits, might as well throw in some cocktails, some funky beats, and your best party bathing suit. Check out where to party in the pool this summer. 

Concerts & Performances This Weekend

Shows are taking place more often now, including theatre performances, comedy shows and concerts. Here's who you can see perform this weekend:

Friday:

• Grupo Clasificado at Celebrity Theatre

• Joe Pera at The Van Buren

• Nick Cartell at ASU Kerr Cultural Center

• Hamilton at ASU Gammage

• Summer DJ Series at The Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas

• Rooftop Rhythms at Eden Rooftop Bar

Saturday:

• 2000's Night at The Van Buren

• Samantha Fish at Celebrity Theatre

• Two Friends at Gila River Resorts & Casinos-Wild Horse Pass

• Old School Block Party at Desert Diamond Arena

• Piano Men at Blazin' M Ranch

• Hamilton at ASU Gammage

• A UP-CLOSE Close-Up Magic Experience at Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel

• Carnival of Illusion in SKULLDUGGERY! at Wrigley Mansion

• DJ entertainment at The Wigwam

Sunday:

• Hamilton at ASU Gammage

• Summer DJ Series at The Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas 

• KC & The Sunshine Band at Gila River Resorts & Casinos-Wild Horse Pass

Sports This Weekend

Our local teams are giving it their all. Here's who you can cheer on this weekend:

Friday:

• Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 

Saturday:

• Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Sunday:

• Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 

Art Exhibits This Weekend

Phoenix is home to the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Ignite your mind with the creativity and inspiration you will find at our local cultural institutions. Here's the art exhibits you can see this weekend:

Sarah Zapata: Beneath the Breath of the Sun

Through July 28, 2024

“Beneath the breath of the sun” features newly created works completed during the artist’s residency with CALA Alliance in Fall 2023. Alongside these works, Zapata chose ceramics made with clay and earthen materials from the Museum’s collection to reference the land. The installation evokes a topography of the Arizona landscape, where bold hues of orange and yellow nod toward the punishing sun and air of the desert, weaving together the ecological and geological aspects that make up the complexity of our place. Taken as a whole, Zapata’s fabricated world highlights the inherent friction between traditional modes of making in untraditional situations. 

ASU Art Museum

Maria & Modernism

Through July 28, 2024

Maria & Modernism features more than eighty works spanning seven decades by San Ildefonso ceramist Maria Martinez (1887-1980), one of the 20th century’s most celebrated and recognizable women whose work continues to influence new generations of artists. 

Heard Museum

51 Frames: A Randy Johnson Photography Exhibit 

Through September 5, 2024

The “51 Frames: A Randy Johnson Photography Exhibit” showcases the former Arizona Diamondback’s entire photography career, dating back to his time as a USC student up to his current works. Subjects range from landscapes and cityscapes to nature and rock ‘n roll. Learn more about Randy Johnson's unique path from pitcher to photographer in our video interview with the legendary Arizona athlete. He discusses his time with the Diamondbacks, Cactus League spring training, and more! 

 

Acoustic America: Iconic Guitars, Mandolins, and Banjos

Through September 15, 2024

Explore 90 historic acoustic stringed instruments played by the heroes of folk, blues, and bluegrass music. These instruments illuminate the intertwined histories of exceptional soloists and songwriters, groundbreaking instrument manufacturers, and novel inventions, illustrating how diverse origins combine into enduring musical traditions. 

Musical Instrument Museum

Laura Aguilar: Nudes in Nature

Through January 5, 2025

Laura Aguilar: Nudes in Nature showcases photographic works by a groundbreaking yet underrecognized artist who challenged perceptions of beauty by examining the female body in dialogue with the natural world.

Phoenix Art Museum