Fun Scottsdale Events, May 19-22, 2022 with high temps in the 100s? Yes! Here are lots of fun ways to beat the heat and make the most of your weekend. Arizona Restaurant Week is here! Look for FREE fun things to do in Scottsdale, like a concert at the Railroad Park!
Rally early to soak up still-cool mornings. How about a daybreak or mall walk, hike, run, bike ride or dog park date? The farmers market?
Brunch and shopping as the heat rises? Hitting the pools and splash pads for the kids to burn off energy or a relaxing adult pool party? How about a movie date or some live music? Here you go!
Scottsdale Restaurants Event
Arizona Restaurant Week 2022 — May 20 – 29: Let’s go out and eat! Who wants to food shop, cook, or do dishes when it’s hot? What better way to have fun than feasting and supporting our local restaurants. There are so many Scottsdale restaurant choices with great deals!
Scottsdale Public and Party Pools
Do you know about Scottsdale’s public pools and fitness centers? Our very own Aquatic and Fitness Centers boast inflation-busting low-fee fun. Yep, there’s even a water park and lifeguards. And, you can work out in cool comfort at the fitness centers.
How about a Scottsdale pool party? Spend the day or weekend at one of Scottsdale’s world-class resorts — on the cheap. Here’s my resorts post, complete with a table of pools and amenities. Find the perfect quiet pool and spa oasis for adults, raucous pool party for grown-up fun — or, a lazy river and rowdy water slide to wear the kiddos out. Enjoy a Scottsdale daycation and support our local hotels!
Scottsdale Movie Date
New Features and Classic Films
Harkins Camelview Theatre at Fashion Square
THU MAY 19 – SUN MAY 22:
Hot desert nights and Camelview movies are a long Scottsdale tradition. Here are my picks this week:
THU MAY 19 – Downton Abbey: A New Era — special event! DA fans — come dressed as your favorite character (or not) for an early screening and cocktail/mocktail party, including commemorative glass and movie ticket. Rub shoulders with the Upstairs/Downstairs crowd in cool comfort, and warm-up on the balcony before show time.
SARKARU VAARI PAATA — a Bollywoodesque action/comedy/adventure/musical subtitled film, that looks like a great summertime departure.
Happening and Minari appear to be thoughtful indie films, and you can still catch:
Everything Everywhere All at Once with Michelle Yeoh of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon fame and Jamie Lee Curtis — comedy, SciFi/Fantasy, action/adventure metaverse flick.
The Lost City with Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Radcliffe — comedy, romance, action/adventure.
Here are other film choices playing this week and everything you need to know about Harkins! Next on deck? Gear up for the return of Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick! And, here’s a throwback clip from the original — set to Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins.
Art, Music, Theater and Comedy
THU MAY 19, 7 PM – 9 PM: FREE Scottsdale Art Walk in Old Town.
Parking Map and Tips in Old Town
Arrive early for good parking! Here are other fun, safe ways to avoid Old Town traffic snarls, tickets and DUIs: Riding Around Old Town Scottsdale.
Old Town Parking Map
McCormick Stillman Railroad Park Summer Concert Series — FREE!
SUN MAY 22: 7:30 – 9 PM Smashed, 90’s Classics to Today’s Hits | MAP
Live Music Daily | Weekly — Downtown | Old Town
- Belle’s Nashville Kitchen — Live music daily
- Rusty Spur Saloon — Since 1951. Live music every day
- Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row — Live music weekly
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
- FRI MAY 20: 1 – 2:30 PM — FREE — Memory Lounge | Pastel Skyscapes with Ellen Wagener , Art | Reserve Tickets
- SAT MAY 21: 8 PM — Vijay Iyer Trio, | Tickets
Ravenscroft Jazz in N. Scottsdale
- FRI MAY 20, 6 PM — FREE — JAZZ BIRD NIGHTS: Dmitry Metheny | MAP
- SAT MAY 21, 7:30 PM — Billy Childs Quartet | Tickets
- SUN MAY 22, 6 PM — FREE — JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Beth Lederman and Friends | Tickets
Scottsdale Drag Shows
FRI MAY 20 | SAT MAY 21, 7 PM | Illusions the Drag Queen Show | MAP
SUN MAY 22, 1:30 — Illusions the Drag Queen Brunch Show | Old Town | MAP
SUN MAY 22, 1:30 PM — Diva Royale Drag Queen Show | Old Town | MAP
Scottsdale Farmers Markets
SAT MAY 21
Farmers Market North Scottsdale — 9 AM – 1 PM @ Living Water Lutheran Church Troon North. Produce, food trucks, live music and artisans. | MAP NOTE: this weekend is the last market until fall.
Old Town Farmers Market — 8 AM – 12 PM. Lots of great food, entertainment, artisanal fare, and people and dog watching! MAP
SUN MAY 22
Farmers Market North Scottsdale — 9 AM – 1 PM @ DC Ranch, The Village Health Club. Produce, food trucks, live music and artisans. MAP NOTE: this weekend is the last market until fall.
Ongoing Scottsdale Outdoor Activities
More Fun things to do in Scottsdale Outdoors
How about cheaper golf, hiking, strolling or cycling to maximize your outdoor fun for FREE? Frisbee golf is free! Here you go — everything you need to know and tables of amenities for fast choices to suit everyone’s wants and needs to seize our sunshine and shade!
NOTE: It’s the time of year to get outside early. Bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen and your hat. Be mindful of you, your furry friends, plus tiny and older ones getting too hot. Watch where you’re stepping, for rattlesnakes, cacti and rocks — no bites, pokes, sprains or falls to spoil your fun. Tell someone who cares about you, where you’re going and when you plan to be back — just in case.
- Golf: Table from N. to S. with all the good stuff!
- The Indian Bend Multi-use Trail
- Parks, Playgrounds, Fishing and Dog Parks
- Hiking, Walking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing and Horseback Riding
- Scottsdale Cycling and Self-Propelled Wheeling
- Tennis and Pickleball
Scottsdale Fun Things Horizon — Plan Ahead So No FOMO!
Hold on to your hats, as Scottsdale turns up the late spring heat! Check out these upcoming events and get your tickets. So you don’t miss any of these fun things to do in Scottsdale:
- Nick Swardon, Comedian @ Talking Stick, FRI MAY 20, 8 PM | Tickets
- Pitbull @ Talking Stick, FRI MAY 27, 8PM | Tickets
I love the slower pace of late spring in Scottsdale. Those who can’t take the heat have fled. I call it our reverse season, where we escape the weather in the pool or indoors.
Heading outdoors early, enjoying the cool mornings, birds chirping and rabbits scurrying, I get my walk in, and start my chores. Then I’m off to the grocery stores. It’s a great time to enjoy quietude and cool weekend mornings — and get my groceries home and schlepped in before it’s too hot. Now it’s time for fun!
Daylight’s burning—let’s go kick up our heels and not miss a minute of our fun Scottsdale events May 19-22, 2022!
April Halstead
Scottsdale Lifestyle Blogger
I’m a 5th generation native Arizona gal who loves showing and telling what makes Scottsdale an amazing place to visit and make home! I hope you enjoy our city through my lens, making your own discoveries and memories here!
