Scottsdale This Week: Oct 31-Nov 6

There’s always something happening in Scottsdale!

Here are a few Scottsdale activities events (and occasionally an event from a neighboring city). This list focuses on free or inexpensive events & activities that offer unique experiences and good value, as well as links to City government meetings. If you are interested in participating, please check information links or call to confirm info, as dates/times are subject to change.

Also check our Great Links page.

Ongoing

• Through 9 November. Speak Peace: American Voices Respond to Vietnamese Children’s Paintings, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 480-874-4654.
• Through 19 November. Arizona Fall Ball, times vary, Scottsdale Scorpions @ Scottsdale Stadium, Salt River Rafters @ Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
• Scottsdale’s Downtown Trolley is a free ride to anywhere you want to go Downtown. Ride around in environmentally friendly bio-diesel shuttles complete with air conditioned comfort during warm weather and fresh air during cooler temperatures. The Downtown trolleys run daily, every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Thursdays until 9 p.m. for ArtWalk. The Downtown trolleys connect with Scottsdale’s free Neighborhood Trolley, Tempe’s Orbit trolley system, the Valley Metro bus system and even Light Rail. More information on the Scottsdale’s trolley routes can be found here or by calling (480) 312-3111.

Monday 31 October

• Check out our post Boo Monday for Halloween activities.
• 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Fall Festival at El Dorado Park. Take a trip through the Haunted Forest, win candy at the game booths, enter into one of the many competitions for costumes and pumpkins. End your evening with a bang with the fireworks show.

Tuesday 1 November

• 4:00 p.m. City Council Special Meeting at the City Hall Kiva. Watch Cox CityCable Channel 11 or streaming via your computer. Items include Board, Commissions & Task Forces Interviews and Appointments.
• 5:00 p.m. City Council Meeting at the City Hall Kiva. Watch Cox CityCable Channel 11 or streaming via your computer. Agenda highlights include last week’s postponed Apartments in the Airpark vote, plus the removal of our very own John Washington from the Airport Advisory Commission due to his letter to the FAA.

Wednesday 2 November

• 6:35 p.m. Scottsdale Scorpions vs. Saguaros, Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Rd., $6 adults, $5 kids & seniors.

Thursday 3 November

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free SMoCA Thursdays, Designed by award-winning architect Will Bruder, SMoCA’s five-gallery minimalist building (an ingenious renovation of a former movie theater) includes a public “skyspace” by the acclaimed artist James Turrell (one of only a handful in the world), where visitors can experience the ever-changing light of the desert sky. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, (480) 874-4666.
• 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Sustainable Cities Can cities exist in balance with our Sonoran Desert ecosystem? Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. Free.
• 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday, Art Walk, Scottsdale Arts District, just west of Scottsdale Road along Main Street and on Marshall Way north of Indian School Road to Fifth Avenue.
• 6 to 10 p.m. every Thursday, ArtBridge Thursdays, Featuring painters, sculptors, illustrators, wood carvers, metal smiths, weavers, and other artists. Live Music and artistic demonstrations. Marshall Way Pedestrian Bridge. Free.
• Free horse-drawn carriage or horse-drawn trolley rides are available every Thursday during ArtWalk 7-9 p.m. along Main Street and every Saturday from 1-4 on Brown and Main Street.

Friday 4 November

• 8 p.m. Orquesta Filarmónica de Sonora, Conducted by Hector Reyes Bonilla. This special concert features 21 members of Mexico’s Orquesta Filarmónica de Sonora performing music from classic tangos, waltzes and danzónes. Free. Call Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Patron Services Box Office at 480-499-TKTS (8587) to reserve tickets.

Saturday 5 November

• 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day – City Corporation Yard, 9191 E. San Salvador. Free. Scottsdale residents only, please.
• 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Public Safety Event – Police personnel, Scottsdale Fire Department personnel and Target Team Members will be partnering in the annual Target Public Safety Event. Target Store at 15444 North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. Free shredding, car seat inspections and various displays & resource tables.
• 9 a.m. Scottsdale Air Fair provides an up-close look at the best of military, experimental, civilian and vintage aircraft and warbirds. Gates open Sat & Sun at 9 a.m. You can go inside the planes, meet the pilots and explore aviation firsthand at Scottsdale Airport. Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for those 11-15 and free for those 10 and younger.
• 12 – 6 p.m. La Gran Fiesta, A Celebration of Latin and Hispanic cultures at Scottsdale Civic Center Park. Free.
• 4pm – 8pm, McDonald’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Classic Car Show – Every Saturday night for over 20 years! Classic cars and motorcycles in a free open air event complete with 50’s era music provided by “Party Time DJ’s. An average night showcases anywhere from 250 to 500 cars and up to 150 motorcycles. FREE admission. The Pavilions at Talking Stick.
• 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Old Town Farmer’s Market features local growers and specialty food producers. Wide variety of organic and pesticide free produce, seasonal specialities, natural meats, free range eggs, artisan breads, local cheeses, jams, tamales, and more. 3802 N. Brown Avenue. Free.
• Free horse-drawn carriage or horse-drawn trolley rides are available every Thursday during ArtWalk 7-9 p.m. along Main Street and every Saturday from 1-4 on Brown and Main Street.

Sunday 6 November

• 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Scottsdale Home, Art & Garden Show caters to the home renovating and remodeling market with hundreds of exhibitors. Attendees can expect 60 booths showcasing quality works of art from local and regional artists. At WestWorld.
• 9 a.m. Scottsdale Air Fair provides an up-close look at the best of military, experimental, civilian and vintage aircraft and warbirds. Gates open Sat & Sun at 9 a.m. You can go inside the planes, meet the pilots and explore aviation firsthand at Scottsdale Airport. Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for those 11-15 and free for those 10 and younger.
• Sommelier Sundays at Iruna. Valley sommelier David M. Johnson offers an informal wine tasting on Sundays. Tapas are available for purchase. 7217 East 1st Street, Scottsdale.