- Phoenix Festival of the Arts, Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd St. A 3-day festival in December held at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix that features local artists and exhibitors selling art, a community mural, food trucks, performances on 2 stages and a beer and wine garden. Free admission.
- Real, Wild and Woody Beer Festival, Phoenix Convention Center (South Building), 33 South 3rd Street. Annual one-day beer festival in late July hosted by Arizona Craft Brewers Guild in downtown Phoenix with more than 50 local brewers offering local and unusual beers. The admission fee ($60 for 2019) includes attendance to the event, 20 beer sampling tickets and food samples. An event for those aged 21 and older. (updated May 2019)
- First Fridays Artwalk (Roosevelt between Central Avenue and Seventh Street). On the first Friday of every month, hundreds of local art galleries, venues, and shops open up free to the public. This local tradition has been going strong since 1994 and has become the largest art walk in the United States. A great place to see and be seen. (Parking at Burton Barr library for First Friday is forbidden, and parking is difficult to obtain nearby. Consider taking the light rail.)
- 16 Phoenix Film Festival, 7000 E Mayo Blvd, Scottsdale. The celebration takes place annually (April) in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. The festival began as a showcase for feature films made for under $1 million and short films made for under $50,000, however, it is quickly climbing its way into elite status in the film circuit due to its first class treatment of filmmakers.
- Arizona Matsuri, Heritage and Science Park at 7th St/Monroe. Annual festival each spring in downtown Phoenix celebrating Japanese culture. Martial arts, taiko drumming, bonsai, cosplay, food, fashion, music, and more.
- Rock n'Roll Arizona Marathon, Rural and Rio Solado Pkwy (202 Fwy, Priest Exit, Rio Solado, Parking). 7:45AM marathon start, 8:15AM half-marathon start. Annual moving mass of humanity for the Rock N'Roll half-marathon, and marathon in mid-January. Bands at every mile. Big party in the evening of the marathon. Starts in Phoenix (Washington St/7th Ave) and weaves through Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe to finish in the ASU athletic center. Pretty flat course, reasonable crowd support. Expo in Phoenix Convention Center, Monroe/3rd St. (updated May 2019)
- Ford Ironman Arizona, Tempe Beach Park, Rio Solado Pkwy. Swim (2.4 mi), bike (112 mi), run (26.2 mi): the same as Ironman in Kona Hawaii. Entry ($425 limited to 1,500) impossible to get unless sponsored by a charity, contestant in previous year, or part of race crew.
- Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, 99th Ave/Maryland. One of the 4 big college football bowls. Played at the $430m State Farm Stadium (looks like a giant spaceship with a retractable playing field). Parade on Saturday before bowl at 11AM start at Central Ave/Bethany Home in Phoenix is always quite spectacular and free.
- Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale, Bell Rd (Loop 101 Fwy (Pima Road), Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd). Noon-dark. Phoenix Open Golf tournament in Feb draws a lot of big-name players. Big party atmosphere at the 16th hole. Lots of happenings in the evening at the Birds Nest.
- 17 Carnival of Illusion (Magic, Mystery & Oooh La La), 2400 E. Missouri Ave. (Arizona Biltmore Resort), ☏ +1 480-359-7469. F Sa at 4:30PM and 7:30PM. National recipients for "Excellence in Magic" Roland Sarlot and Susan Eyed present a Vaudeville-inspired illusion show. Carnival of Illusion is the longest running Arizona theater show in history. (updated Jul 2018)
Phoenix travel guide
Plan a trip to Phoenix, United States — things to do, where to stay, food, transport, and local tips. Start with Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve, Desert Botanical Garden, Ro Ho En Japanese Friendship Garden, Phoenix Zoo.
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Stays in Phoenix
Hotellook
Compare hotels and apartments in Phoenix — neighbourhood vibe, price, and walkability in one search.
- Stay near a metro line if you plan museum-hopping days.
- Read recent reviews for noise — central streets can be loud at night.
- Flexible cancellation helps when flight times shift.
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Flights in Phoenix
Aviasales
Find flights into Phoenix and compare fares across airlines in one place.
- Compare nearby airports — sometimes a short train ride beats a pricey hub.
- Midweek departures are often cheaper than Friday/Sunday peaks.
- Set a flexible ±3 day search when your dates can move.
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Experiences in Phoenix
Klook
Tours, food walks, day trips and city activities around Phoenix — book ahead and skip the guesswork.
- Book popular tours early in peak season — small-group slots go first.
- Day trips often include hotel pickup; check the meeting point.
- Look for free-cancellation options if the weather looks unstable.
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Tickets in Phoenix
Tiqets
Skip lines and grab attraction tickets for Phoenix — museums, landmarks, and city passes.
- Book popular museums and towers ahead — timed slots sell out on weekends.
- Mobile tickets are usually scanned at the gate; keep offline screenshots as backup.
- Combo passes can be cheaper when you plan 2–3 big sights in one day.
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Transfers in Phoenix
Kiwitaxi
Private airport and city transfers for Phoenix — fixed price, driver waiting for you.
- Pre-book airport transfers when landing late or with heavy luggage.
- Meet-and-greet at arrivals beats hunting taxis after a long flight.
- Confirm child seats / extra stops when you reserve.
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Cars in Phoenix
GetRentacar
Rent a car around Phoenix for day trips and countryside — flexible pickup options.
- Compare full-to-full fuel policies — they save hassle at return.
- Check congestion / limited-traffic zones before driving into historic centres.
- Book early for weekends and holidays; automatic cars go first.
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eSIM in Phoenix
Yesim
Travel eSIM data for visiting Phoenix — online as soon as you land, no kiosk queues.
- Install the eSIM before you fly; activate on landing.
- Confirm your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible.
- Keep a small local SIM as backup if you need a local number for calls.