The state of Arizona is blessed with a vivid local art scene. It hosts a diverse selection of art festivals and happenings during different times of the year. Today I will introduce you to one of the places in Arizona where you can find the best art festivals suitable for a wide variety of audiences. Keep reading and have fun with me!
The Town of Scottsdale, AZ: An Insider’s Glimpse
Before we embark on our journey across the local art environment, let me first say a couple of words about the town of Scottsdale, AZ.
Located east of the state capital Phoenix, Scottsdale is a desert city famous for its golf courses and spa resorts. Named after Winfield Scott, the place is also known for its magnificent nature. Arid landscapes with huge cacti are surrounded by majestic hills and trails to create a unique sense of limitless freedom under the picturesque Arizona sky.
Incorporated in 1951, the “West’s Most Western Town” has become one of the most desired tourist and house market destinations. The city boasts a wonderful location in the Salt River Valley, also called the “Valley of the Sun”, north of the Sonoran Desert.
Scottsdale has developed as a business center within the Phoenix metropolitan area and has won the “Most Livable City Award” because of the high quality of life it offers.
What is more, Scottsdale has also become one of the most magnetic centers for artists and creators not only in Arizona but also in the entire US. Boasting a vibrant art scene, Scottsdale is nowadays the home to some of the best American art festivals. In the paragraphs below, I am going to tell you more about them.
The Scottsdale Family Artsfest
The Scottsdale Family Artsfest happens every March and aims to celebrate the visual and performing art formats created by the local K-12 students. The community event is a landmark festival for Scottsdale and one of the most remarkable art events every year.
The festival is the result of the joint endeavor of several partners, which include:
- Arizona State University;
- The Scottsdale Unified School District;
- Scottsdale Arts;
- The City of Scottsdale;
- and the SkySong development team
The Scottsdale Family Artsfest is a free-entrance event that takes place over two days. It presents a variety of creative expression formats, including interactive demonstrations, live performances, and art interventions and exhibitions. These are created by the Scottsdale Unified School District, Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, and City of Scottsdale departments.
In addition, there is a strong culinary part to the event, where you can enjoy tasty dishes and refreshing beverages. The food trucks are a real attraction during the festival, so if you happen to visit the event, do not miss out on trying the treats!
Types of Activities at the Scottsdale Family Artsfest
There are many different types of activities you can enjoy at the Scottsdale Family Artsfest. For instance, the SkySong tent hosts live performances by SUSD orchestras, bands, and choirs. You can also visit the exhibition of student artworks. There, you can observe the work of more than 1,000 SUSD students from the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
There is also a special arts zone dedicated to art workshops. There, under the guidance of Arizona-based artists, you can participate in diverse artmaking activities entirely for free!
If you feel like snacking but do not want to miss out on anything, you should definitely check out the Café Stage at the Scottsdale Family Artsfest. The venue allows you to enjoy live student performances while having a tasty bite and relaxing in the pleasant atmosphere.
The Community Café is also the focal point of other engaging and fun activities. This is the place where you can meet the City of Scottsdale festival partners who will introduce you to a variety of themed games. One of them is called “Solid Waste” and teaches you about sustainability by encouraging you to become an environmental steward. The Library Services team will introduce you to the magic of words and literature. In addition, you can play games in the open with the Parks and Recreation representatives.
Last but not least, you will be able to participate in fundraising activities. There are both in-person and online auctions where you can purchase student-created work for the good of the community. The funds raised go towards supporting all SCP programs that impact school education in the area.
Here are the major activities in a nutshell:
Final Words
I hope you enjoyed the first part of my blog post about art festivals in Scottsdale, AZ. The second part will introduce more of these fantastic events, so I urge you to stay tuned. Thank you for being here with me and keep checking for the latest info on Arizona-held festivals.