Best Arizona Events

The 49th annual Barrett-Jackson auction at Westworld in Scottsdale included vintage cars like this 1951 Ford Country Squire "Woody" station wagon.

​​Here’s a list of the best annual events in Arizona. It’s a long list because there’s a lot of terrific community events, festivals, races and legacy celebrations in towns across the state.

​We think these events are worth traveling across the state to experience at least once and many of them are worthy of your Arizona Bucket List. We are updating the list for the first half of 2020. Not all event dates are set. Check dates and details. ​ 

January

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction — Jan. 11-19 at Westworld of Scottsdale. 49th annual event.
Arizona Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon — Jan. 19 in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. 
Dillinger Days — Jan. 18-19 at Hotel Congress in Tucson. 
Great Oatman Bed Race — Jan. 25 in Oatman.
​Superior Home & Building Tour -- Jan. 25-26 in Superior. 
Waste Management Phoenix Open — Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 at TPC Scottsdale.
BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 off-road desert racing --Jan. 23-26 in Parker.
Quartzsite rock, gem and mineral shows -- Jan. 1 to Feb. 28.

February 

Tubac Festival of the Arts — Feb. 5-9.
Hashknife Pony Express Ride — Feb. 5-8 from Holbrook to Scottsdale. 
Scottsdale Parada del Sol — Feb. 8 in Old Town Scottsdale. 
Arizona Renaissance Festival -- Feb. 8 to March 29  in Gold Canyon.
Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering — Feb. 7-8 in Sierra Vista with performances by Riders in the Sky and others.
Wickenburg Gold Rush Days & Senior Pro Rodeo — Feb. 14-16. 
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show — Feb. 13-16 at Tucson Convention Center.
Cactus League baseball -- Feb. 21 to March 24 at 10 Phoenix-area stadiums.

Hashknife Pony Express cowboys ride from Holbrook to Scottsdale, covering 200 miles in three days. It's held in late January or early February.

​March
Cactus League baseball  — Feb. 21 to March 24 at 10 Phoenix-area stadiums.
Midnight at the Oasis -- Classic car show March 6-8 at Yuma's Desert Sun Stadium.
Bluegrass at the Beach -- March 6-8 at Lake Havasu State Park.
Yuma Air Show -- March 13-14 at Marine Corps Air Station.
Tucson Festival of Books — March 14-15 at University of Arizona.
Sedona Mountain Bike Festival — March 6-8 . 
Ostrich Festival -- March 13-15 at Tumbleweek Park, Chandler.
Modern Phoenix Home Tour — March 14-22. Tickets on sale starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 1.
Chloride St. Patrick’s Day Celebration - March 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a parade at noon.  
Phoenix St. Patrick's Day Parade & Faire --  March 14,  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  at Third and Sheridan streets, 

April
Copper City Classic Vintage Base Ball Tournament — April 4-5, Warren Ballpark, Bisbee.
Historic Home Tour & Bank Robbery Re-enactment — April 18  in Clarkdale.
Pat’s Run — April 18 at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe.
Whiskey Row Off-Road mountain bike races, Prescott — April 24-26.

​May
Route 66 Fun Run — Car rally May 1-3 in Seligman to Kingman and Topock. 
Cinco de Mayo -- Music and food vendors May 2 at Yuma's Historic Downtown Main Street. 
Verde Valley Wine Festival -- May 9 in Clarkdale.
​Jerome Historic Home Tour — May 16-17  in Jerome. 
Wyatt Earp Days -- May 23-25 in Tombstone. 
​
June
 Andy Devine Days PRCA Rodeo -- June 5-6 at Mohave County Fairgrounds.
 Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival -- June 12-13 at Continental Country Club. 
Historic Route  66 Car Show — June 12-13 in Williams.
Prescott Bluegrass Festival -- June 27-28 at Courthouse Plaza.

July 
Prescott Frontier Days & World’s Oldest Rodeo — June 29 to July 5. 
Bisbee Coaster Races — 7 a.m. July 4 in Tombstone Canyon.
Oatman Sidewalk Egg Frying Challenge -- July 4. (tentative date)
Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture -- July 4-5 at Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff. (tentative dates)
Mountain Man Triathlon -- July 12 at Lake Mary, Flagstaff.
Payson Book Festival -- July 18 at Mazatzal Hotel and Casino.

August
Navajo Festival of the Arts & Culture​ — Aug. 8-9 at Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff.
Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering — Aug. 6-8  at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center in Prescott. 

Navajos display their art each summer at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

 September  to December events haven't been updated for 2020.​​

September
Navajo Nation Fair — Sept. 3-8 in Window Rock.
Bisbee Blue Festival — Sept. 7 at Bisbee City Park.
Pickin’ in the Pines — Sept. 13-15 at Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff. 
Jerome Jamboree  (Arizona VW Bus Club) - Sept. 25-27 at Gold King Mine in Jerome
Standin’ on the Corner Festival — Sept. 27-28 at Second Street (Route 66) and Kinsley Avenue in Winslow. 
​Andy Devine Days — Sept. 27-28 in Kingman.
Old Time Fiddler & Acoustic Celebration  -- Sept. 27-29 at the Payson Event Center.

The 30th annual Jerome Jamboree is Sept. 15-27 at Gold King Mine.

October
Rex Allen Days — Oct. 4-6 in Willcox.
Dick Wick Hall Day — Oct. 12 in Salome.  
Fort Verde Days — Oct. 12-13 in Camp Verde.
Tombstone Helldorado Days — Oct. 18-20
Bisbee 1000: The Great Stair Climb — Oct. 29.

Dick Wick Hall Day, honoring a town founder, is Oct. 13 in Salome.

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November
Carefree Fine Art  & Wine Festival - Nov. 1-3, 101 Easy St., Carefree.
Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games - Nov. 1-3
Bluegrass Festival and Fiddle Championship - Nov. 9-11 in Wickenburg.
Thanksgiving Eve at El Chorro Lodge — Nov. 27  in Paradise Valley.
Holiday Light Parade -- Nov. 30 at Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott.
Boat Parade of Lights — Nov. 30 at Lake Havasu, London Bridge.

Grand Canyon Railway chugs through the holiday season with its Polar Express run from Williams to Grand Canyon.

December
Polar Express on Grand Canyon Railway — Dates in November, December and January, Williams to Grand Canyon.
Cowboy Christmas Poetry Gathering — Dec. 7-8 Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg.
Cheez-It Bowl --  Dec. 27 Chase Field in Phoenix.
Play Station Fiesta Bowl  -- Dec. 28 semifinal of College Football Playoff. 
Fiesta Bowl Parade -- 9 a.m. Dec. 28 in central Phoenix.
Arizona Bowl -- Arizona Stadium in Tucson. 

See Best Cactus League Ballparks:
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/bestcactusballparks.html

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Colorado Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado batting in 2019 at the Maryvale Baseball Park, spring home of the Milwaukee Brewers.