Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Downtown comes alive with Old West-spirited events preceding Parada del Sol

For the second consecutive year, the City of Scottsdale hosts a variety of events that combine traditions of the city’s Old West roots with modern day Western-style family fun. Beginning February 4, the activities leading up to the culminating event — the 65^th Annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Parade and Trail’s End Festival on February 10, 2018 — have been proclaimed “Western Week.” This year’s Western Week and Parada del Sol activities are themed “Scottsdale: Past, Present and Future,” defining how the city has stayed true to its “Wild West” spirit while moving into present day. Activities include:

Rhinestones, Rodeo and Retro Style: Vintage Glamour

Sunday, February 4, 2018 – 11:00 a.m.

FREE for museum members, included with general admission price

Taking place at the Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, located at 3830 N. Marshall Way, one block west of Scottsdale Road at First Street, The Cowgirl’s Historical Foundation showcases its members’ private collections from historical designers including Rodeo Ben, Nathan Turk “The Tailor to Hollywood,” Manual Cuevas and more. These vintage, one-of-a kind costumes and clothing were worn by celebrities from Roy Rogers and Glen Campbell to the Rolling Stones and Jim Morrison. For more, visit www.scottsdalemuseumwest.org.

Meet the Author: Robert Knott

Wednesday, February 7, 2018 – 1:00 p.m.

FREE for museum members, included with general admission price

New York Times bestselling author, actor and producer Robert Knott speaks, then signs copies of his newest release, Robert B. Parker’s Revelation, at Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, in collaboration with Poisoned Pen bookstore.

Marshall Trimble: Tombstone’s Social Life (What Folks Did When They Weren’t Gunfighting)

Thursday, February 8, 2018 – 1:00 p.m.

FREE for museum members, included with general admission price

Held at Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, this event features official state historian Marshall Trimble’s perspective on social customs, cultural advancement and pastimes of the “raucous and rowdy” residents of Tombstone, Arizona – dubbed the “Town Too Tough to Die.”

Western Spirit Gold Palette ArtWalk

Thursday, February 8, 2018 – 6:30-9:00 p.m.

FREE

The Scottsdale Gallery Association transforms its popular Artwalk series with a western theme, including Scottsdale’s finest examples of Old West and contemporary art. While strolling through the downtown area’s 100-plus galleries, guests can enjoy live mariachi performances, a rope trick artist, live demonstrations inside some of the galleries — with artists’ creating sweeping southwestern landscapes and fine cowboy art in real time, and presentations of art in a variety of mediums from video works to ornately framed “living paintings.” Other activities surrounding this western-themed ArtWalk include trolley and carriage rides, line and square dancing, walking historical tours, and western-themed refreshments. For more, visit www.scottsdalegalleries.com.

Hashknife Pony Express Mail Delivery and Community Celebration

Friday, February 9, 2018 – 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

FREE (suggested donation of $5 per adult, $2 per child/student)

The oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express celebrates its 60^th year with riders blazing their trail from the tiny town of Holbrook, Arizona to the streets of downtown Scottsdale. Arriving on horseback and covering a relay mail route of more than 200 miles, the annual delivery consists of 20,000 pieces of first class mail that bear the “Hashknife Pony Express” insignia. At noon, riders arrive at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Surrounding this historical event, outdoor activities for the whole family take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. including family-friendly games, storytelling, crafts, face painting, onsite food trucks, horse-and-rider meet and greet and autograph-signing party following the mail delivery; and live entertainment. For more, visit www.hashknifeponyexpress.com.

Old Town Farmers Market

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

FREE

Enjoy a selection of the freshest produce of the season, indigenous specialties of the West, flowers, free-range beef, eggs, local cheeses, freshly baked artisan breads, jams and more from local purveyors. Located at 3806 N. Brown Avenue. For more, visit www.arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com

65^th Annul Scottsdale Parada del Sol Parade and Trail’s End Festival

Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Parade; 12:00-4:00 p.m. Trails End Festival

FREE

As in years’ past, 2018’s Parada del Sol promises a variety of horse groups including mounted horse riders of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse, the Hashknife Pony Express riders and Scottsdale Charros, as well as horse-drawn carriages, bands, wagons and stagecoaches. At the conclusion of the parade, the streets of downtown Scottsdale come alive with a western-spirited festival featuring western bands, Aztec and Folklorico dancers, street entertainment, dancing, and a cowboy kids’ zone with petting zoo, bouncy houses, horse rides and more. Three outdoor stages feature rockabilly, string, and rock bands, and the Arizona Wine Garden offers award-winning locally produced wines. The famous 1959 “Howdy Dudettes,” ambassadors from the Embassy Suites Hilton, are the official western ambassadors during the festivities. For more, visit www.paradadelsolparade-trailsend.com.

Arizona Indian Festival—BRAND NEW EVENT!

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 11, 2018 – 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

FREE

Held at Scottsdale Civic Center Park, this two-day family-friendly event features Arizona tribes sharing cultural experiences, traditional dwellings, art demonstrations, Native American storytelling, performances, music and contemporary entertainment, an artisan market, Tribal and Tourism Expo, food trucks and fry bread stands, giveaways, raffles and kids’ activities. This event is a collaboration between the City of Scottsdale and the majority of Indian tribes in Arizona. For more, visit www.arizonaindiantourism.org.

About The City of Scottsdale: Incorporated in 1951, Scottsdale’s slogan is “The West’s Most Western Town,” and has a current population of 242,700. The city boasts more than 100 area galleries, the Southwest’s largest shopping mall, Scottsdale Fashion Square, more than 320 retail shops, and 200 area golf courses. More than 9.1 million people visit the city each year. For more, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov.