Snowbird Season Events in Phoenix: November 2026 to April 2027

Winter is event season in the Valley. Between mid-November and early April you can catch holiday lights, two rounds of art fairs, the WM Phoenix Open, rodeos, a pro pickleball stop and all of Cactus League spring training, which opens February 19, 2027. Every date below comes from the organizer's own page.

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November 2026

• Nov 13 to 15: Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts, downtown Fountain Hills. A long-running juried art fair around the town's fountain.
• Nov 21: Gilbert Days Festival, Gilbert Regional Park, 4 to 9 p.m. Gilbert's western-heritage celebration.
• Nov 25 to Jan 15: ZooLights, Phoenix Zoo. The Valley's best-known holiday light walk.
• Nov 27 to Dec 30: Mesa Temple Christmas Lights, Mesa Temple Visitors' Center grounds, 5 to 10 p.m. nightly, free.
• Nov 27 and 28 (lights nightly through Jan 1): Glendale Glitters, Historic Downtown Glendale and Murphy Park. Lighting ceremony and kickoff weekend.
• Nov 27 to Jan 3 (select nights): Las Noches de las Luminarias, Desert Botanical Garden. Garden paths lit by luminarias, with live music. Nights: Nov 27 to 29; Dec 4 to 6, 11 to 13, 16 to 23 and 26 to 31; Jan 1 to 3.

December 2026

• Dec 4 to 6: Tempe Festival of the Arts (fall), Mill Avenue. A big outdoor arts and crafts fair.
• Dec 5: APS Electric Light Parade, central Phoenix. The city's nighttime holiday parade.
• Dec 5: Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. Chandler's tree built from tumbleweeds.

January 2027

• Jan 2: Fiesta Bowl Parade, central Phoenix, 10 a.m.
• ZooLights runs through Jan 15 and Las Noches through Jan 3 (see November).

February 2027

• Feb 6 to Apr 4 (Saturdays and Sundays): Arizona Renaissance Festival, Gold Canyon, east of Apache Junction. Jousting, stages and an artisan village.
• Feb 11 to 14: WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale. The PGA Tour stop famous for its 16th hole.
• Feb 11 to 14: 78th Gold Rush Days, Wickenburg. Rodeo, parade and Old West festival.
• Feb 11 to 21: Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, WestWorld of Scottsdale. A major Arabian horse show with a shopping expo.
• Feb 13 and 14: The Chocolate Affaire, Glendale Civic Center area. Free-admission chocolate festival.
• Feb 15 to 21: PPA Tour Carvana Mesa Cup, Arizona Athletic Grounds, Mesa. Pro pickleball, worth watching even if you only play at the rec center.
• Feb 19: Cactus League spring training opens. All teams play their first games the same day. Openers include Royals vs. Rangers at Surprise Stadium, Mariners vs. Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex, the Dodgers and White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, and Brewers vs. Angels at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
• Feb 26 to 28: 63rd Lost Dutchman Days, Apache Junction. PRCA rodeo, 1:30 p.m. daily.
• Feb 26 to 28: Spring Fountain Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts, Fountain Hills.

March 2027

• Mar 6 and 7: Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, Heard Museum, Phoenix. One of the best-known Native American art markets in the country.
• Mar 6 and 7: Glendale Folk & Heritage Festival, Sahuaro Ranch Historic Park.
• Mar 12 to 14: Tempe Festival of the Arts (spring), Mill Avenue.
• Mar 18 to 21: Scottsdale Art Week, WestWorld of Scottsdale. Contemporary and fine art fair.
• Mar 20 to 22: spring training wraps up in Glendale (Mar 20) and Peoria (Mar 22). Regular-season Opening Day is Mar 25.

April 2027

• Through Apr 4: the Arizona Renaissance Festival's last weekend.
• More April events will be added here as organizers post their 2027 dates.

Events inside the Sun Cities and other 55+ communities

Many of the best winter events for 55+ residents happen inside the communities themselves: club shows, concerts in the community theaters, golf tournaments and pickleball round robins. Most are for residents and their guests, and the schedules live on the community websites rather than public calendars. If you are deciding between communities, ask me to set up a visit around one of their events so you can see the clubs in action. Start with the Arizona 55+ Living hub or the 55+ community finder.

My local tip for spring training

If baseball is a big part of your winter, live near a ballpark. Surprise Stadium is in the same city as Sun City Grand and the other Surprise 55+ communities, the Peoria Sports Complex shares a city with Trilogy at Vistancia, and Goodyear Ballpark is in Goodyear, home of PebbleCreek. See my homes near spring training page for every ballpark area.

Holiday season guides: holiday events near the Sun Cities and holiday events in Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert.

Questions about snowbird season events

When does spring training start in 2027?
Cactus League games begin February 19, 2027, with all teams opening that day, and the regular season starts March 25.

Where can I watch pro pickleball in the Valley this winter?
The PPA Tour Carvana Mesa Cup runs February 15 to 21, 2027, at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.

What are the best free holiday light displays?
The Mesa Temple Christmas Lights (nightly Nov 27 to Dec 30) and Glendale Glitters (nightly through Jan 1) both list free admission.

When is the WM Phoenix Open in 2027?
February 11 to 14, 2027, at TPC Scottsdale.

Why isn't my favorite event listed?
I only list events whose 2026 or 2027 dates are posted on the organizer's own page. Barrett-Jackson, Parada del Sol and the Ostrich Festival will be added once their dates are confirmed.

Dates and times come from each organizer's official website, checked November 5, 2026. Events can change; confirm before you go.