Fun Scottsdale events August 24-27, 2023 includes National Cinema Day 2023 on Sunday, 8/27. Movies are a bargain at $4 — see Scottsdale Movie Date below! And lots of other cool fun things to do in Scottsdale — like Finding Nemo Jr, the Musical!
Temps will be 101 – 110° +/-, so let’s make good choices to stay cool and safe. Scroll for FREE! fun and low-cost things to do in Scottsdale.
Let’s face it. Those who can’t take our heat escape it. The rest of us make the best of it. Not all sidewalks are rolled up. Here are great ideas to have lots of summer fun right here!
- Finding Nemo Jr. Disney Pixar – The Musical at Desert Stages Theatre
- Scottsdale Public Pools, Water Parks, Aquatic Centers and Splash Pads
- Scottsdale’s Splash Pads
- Scottsdale Quarter’s FREE! Splash Fountain
- Scottsdale’s Fall Recreation Class/Activity Sign Up
- Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
- Stay Cool in Scottsdale
- Scottsdale Movie Date
- Art, Music, Theater and Comedy
- Upcoming Scottsdale Events August – September 2023:
- Ongoing Scottsdale Outdoor Activities
- Churches and Temples in Scottsdale
Finding Nemo Jr. Disney Pixar – The Musical at Desert Stages Theatre
Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square presents Finding Nemo Jr. the musical — fun for all ages!
FRI AUG 25 – SUN SEPT 3, 7:30 and 2 PM Shows: Finding Nemo Jr. Tickets | MAP Note: It’s on the first floor of the mall.
Scottsdale Public Pools, Water Parks, Aquatic Centers and Splash Pads
Looking for a cool time? Then hit Scottsdale’s Public Pools, Waterparks and Splash Pads for lots of water activities! Scottsdale boasts 4 Aquatic Centers and 2 Water Parks — plus 5 Splash Pads!
Note: the last day to visit the Waterparks for the season is Sunday, September 3.
Here’s my New Aquatic/Fitness Center post with ALL of the details, and a table of them from N-S of the centers with amenities and links to maps. Plus, how to register for Membership, Passes, Classes and Activities!
Note: while the Aquatic/Fitness Centers, Classes and Activities are not free, unless there are special free events — you can go at a low cost. Both residents and non-residents are welcome to attend. Just be sure to register.
There’s no better way to cool off with more FREE! fun things to do and at a low cost in Scottsdale. Enjoy hours of cool fun in the sun. Wear your sunscreen, hat and sunglasses and bring some water!
Scottsdale’s Splash Pads
Splashing into Old Town just in time for our heat wave is the the revamped Civic Center’s NEW Water and Fog Plaza for kids — FREE!
Scottsdale also has 4 public Splash Pads, Spray Poles, and a Spray Pad maintained by the City — for FREE!
They’re open from mid-March/April 15 — October 15. And, are turned on at 9 AM and off at 7 PM.
Questions? Give ’em a call weekdays 8 AM – 5 PM: (480) 312-7275
They are located at these parks, from N to S:
- The newly revamped Civic Center has Water and Fog plaza for kids to spray themselves silly!
- Spray Pad – Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park | MAP
- Splash Pad – Chestnutt Park | MAP
- Splash Pad – Paiute Park | MAP
- Splash Pad – Vista Del Camino Park | MAP | Note: this is a BIG park. The Splash Pad is located near the parking lot at 7712 E. Roosevelt St.
Scottsdale Quarter’s FREE! Splash Fountain
Scottsdale Quarter Splash Fountain — Yep, and this one’s posh and in N. Scottsdale. Right now, in the blazing heat, they’re running the Pop Jets 24/7, so all can come early and stay late!
Seasonally, the Splash Fountain and Pop Jets run from March/April until ~ October. For the holidays, starting in November, there is flat water with no pop jets. It’s hard to believe it will ever be cold again, huh?
Questions? Call ’em: (480) 270-8123
Here’s my post for Shopping in N. Scottsdale, featuring The Quarter, so you can take turns watching the kids splash, escaping the heat inside icy shops and restaurants.
Scottsdale’s Fall Recreation Class/Activity Sign Up
Registration is open for Scottsdale’s Fall Recreation Classes/Activities and programs. Here’s my new post with EVERYTHING you need to know and do — to register and sign up NOW. You don’t want to miss anything fun you love and that’s on your bucket list!
Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Get this! Our Best Western Museum was recently voted the Best Western Museum of the West by True West Magazine! You’ll easily see why when you go.
It’s a great and inexpensive way to spend a cool few hours indoors. Get wowed by extraordinary Art. And, learn about the Old West and Native American life and culture.
Stay Cool in Scottsdale
There are lots of ways to stay cool in Scottsdale — here are more FREE! fun things to do, and low cost events and activities.
Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall Walking
Walk at the Taj Mahal of Scottsdale malls for a cool and luxurious early indoor walk! FREE! — unless you find an irresistible must-have when the mall opens for biz! Mall walking hours start at 8 AM daily!
Hitting the Libraries
Scottsdale’s Amazing Public Libraries are another great way to stay cool, meet new friends, learn, get interactive and of course — read! All for FREE! Here’s the August Events Calendar.
Heading Outdoors Early and with Caution
With high temps are reaching 105°+/- degrees, be smart in the heat, especially if you’re visiting. It’s dangerous to you, your loved ones and pets — if you’re not careful.
The summer desert is surreal against a backdrop of hot, blue sky, monsoon clouds and mountains — amid Scottsdale’s famous architecture and public art.
You can see these going out in the early mornings, and later in your car with the A/C blasting — or from a patio, pool or balcony to keep cool.
Sunrises and sunsets are striking! But head indoors to avoid a monsoon dust storm, with thunder, lightning and hopefully rain!
Trails, Parks, Dog Parks, Greenbelt and Golf Courses – Early!
Let’s hit the trails, parks, dog parks and our famous golf courses EARLY, watch the sunrise and enjoy the warm mornings before they get too hot.
Free fun things to do in Scottsdale, include hitting the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt!
How About a Resort Staycation or Daycation?
Discounted Resort Rates are back summer — for a romantic weekend getaway at a posh desert oasis, or take the family for a wet and rambunctious staycation. My Resort post has tables to find what suits your vibe – fast!
With lots of outdoor and indoor events — and activities for every age and budget, let’s get out there. Soak up some shade and have fun!
Scottsdale Movie Date
New Features and Classic Films
Harkins Camelview Theatre at Fashion Square
THU AUG 24 | FRI AUG 25 | SAT AUG 26 | SUN AUG 27:
Summer Blockbusters are still here ‘MISSION BARBENHEIMER:’ Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One!
What’s better than hot movies in a cool theater? National Cinema Day on Sunday, August 27 with $4 movies! Here are my pics this week to escape the summer heat:
Gran Tourismo [<< trailer] is the ‘insane true story’ about ‘a player (who) wins a series of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions through his gaming skills and becomes a real-life professional race car driver.’
If you’re looking for a new and different action/adventure film, this might be just the ticket!
Ratings: 7.2/10 IMDb | 58 % Rotten Tomatoes | 96% Google Users Liked | PG-13 | 2 HRS 15 MINS
Golda [<< trailer] is the new indie war drama out this week, starring Helen Mirren as Gold Meir and Liev Schreiber at Henry Kissinger. It looks tough, but with good acting and historically important.
‘Faced with the potential of Israel’s complete destruction, Prime Minister Golda Meir must navigate overwhelming odds, a skeptical cabinet and a complex relationship with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as millions of lives hang in the balance during the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973.’ [Google]
Ratings: 6.8/10 IMDb | 44 % Rotten Tomatoes | 77% Google Users Liked | PG-13 | 1 HR 40 MINS
OPPENHEIMER [<< trailer]
‘Oppenheimer is an IMAX®-shot epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.
The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Oscar® winner Matt Damon portrays General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.’ [Harkins]
‘During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world’s first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history.’ [Google]
It’s got a star-studded cast of studs – Matt Damon, Gary Oldman plays President Truman, Kenneth Branaugh plays Niels Bohr, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Conti is Einstein, Matthew Modine . . .
Great way to learn about the Manhattan Project and get your physics on with all the boring science and scientists!
Ratings: 8.8/10 IMDb | 94 % Rotten Tomatoes | 94% Google Users Liked | R | 3 HRS
Here are other films playing this week and everything you need to know about Harkins! See you at the movies!
Art, Music, Theater and Comedy
Art Walks and Festivals
Scottsdale ArtWalk — FREE!
THU AUG 24, 7:00 – 9 PM | — FREE! Scottsdale ArtWalk in Old Town. Heat + Monsoon Warning!
Live Music Daily, Weekly, Weekends — Downtown | Old Town
- JOJO Coffeehouse — Live music at Brunch, SAT/SUN 11 AM – 2 PM
- Belle’s Nashville Kitchen — Live music daily
- Rusty Spur Saloon — Since 1951. Live music every day
- Dierks Bentley Whiskey Row — Live music weekly
Parking Map and Tips in Old Town
Arrive early for good parking or hitch a ride share! Here are other fun, safe ways to avoid Old Town traffic snarls, tickets and DUIs: Riding Around Old Town Scottsdale.
Old Town Parking Map
Scottsdale Drag Shows
FRI AUG 25 | SAT AUG 26: 7 PM | Illusions the Drag Queen Show | Tickets | Old Town | MAP
FRI AUG 25, 7 PM: Diva Royale Drag Queen Show | Tickets | Wasted Grain Old Town | MAP
SAT AUG 26, 1:30 PM | Diva Royale Drag Queen Show | Wasted Grain Old Town | Tickets | MAP
Talking Stick Resort Events
Orange Sky Lounge Entertainment
Friday and Saturday 7 – 11 PM – FREE!
- FRI AUG 25: Gustavo Angeles Trio
- SAT AUG 26: Paul Wells Duo
Casino Arizona
Tribute Band Weekend faves:
FRI, AUG 25 – SAT, Sept 30:
- Mick Adams and the Stones
- Journey USA
- Savor Santana Tribute
- Bonfire – A Tribute to AC/DC
- Elton: The Early Years
Tickets sell out fast, so don’t miss your favorite shows!
Upcoming Scottsdale Events August – September 2023:
Plan ahead so no more FOMO. Look for FREE! events and get your tickets! Don’t miss any of these peak Scottsdale experiences:
Scottsdale Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events
Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival at Westworld
The Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival at Westworld is a bargain just $12 admission for all 3 days!
- THU AUG 31, 10 AM – 5 PM
- FRI SEP 1, 10 AM – 5 PM
- SAT SEP 2, 10 AM – 4 PM
- Tickets and details | Westworld MAP
Parks and Rec Rewind 80s Night – FREE!
A dance party at the newly revamped Civic Center for Labor Day Weekend! Cover Band Rock Lobster will be playing 80s hits. There will also be food, a vintage market, arcade games, a cocktail garden and more!
SAT SEPT 2, 6 – 9 PM | Scottsdale Civic Center Map | Directions MAP
Black Rodeo at Westworld
The 13th Annual AZ Black Rodeo [< watch the video in this link!] rides into Scottsdale for 3 shows:
‘Our annual rodeo promotes an appreciation for our cultural heritage, provides education about the role African Americans played in shaping the history of the West, while giving youth a hands-on experience with sportsmanship, equestrianism and agriculture.
Black Rodeo USA produces fun and exciting events designed for the entire family that offers entertainment, cultural and educational experiences and features the nation’s top African-American competitors.’
- FRI SEP 1, 7 PM (doors open at 5:30)
- SAT SEP 2, 2 PM show (doors open at 11:30 AM)
- SAT SEP 2, 7 PM show (doors open at 5:30 PM)
- Tickets and Details
- Westworld MAP
Talking Stick Resort Events
Orange Sky Lounge Entertainment
Friday and Saturday 7 – 11 PM — FREE!
- FRI AUG 25: Gustavo Angeles Trio
- SAT AUG 26: Paul Wells Duo
Casino Arizona
Tribute Band Weekend faves:
FRI, Aug 18 – SAT, Sept 30: 7:30 PM
- Pat Benatar Experience
- Mick Adams and the Stones
- Journey USA
- Savor Santana Tribute
- Bonfire – A Tribute to AC/DC
- Elton: The Early Years
Tickets sell out fast, so don’t
Scottsdale Farmers Markets – Closed Until Fall
Ongoing Scottsdale Outdoor Activities
More Fun things to do in Scottsdale Outdoors
With the desert hot as Hades, get out early this time of year to do your hiking, biking, walking and dog walking, running, golfing, tennis, pickle ball, etc. There are so many desert and flat trails in the city, including Accessible ones. See my post and table links below. Consider our wonderful water parks and aquatic centers, plus indoor fitness centers — see links and tables below.
Free fun things to do in Scottsdale, include hitting the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt! Or take a FREE! ride around town on the Scottsdale Trolley weekdays. Take the dogs out to rough-house at the dog parks and make new friends! Did you know Scottsdale is the number 1 pet-friendly city?
Top Golf Scottsdale’s Bargain Special:
MON – FRI 10 AM – Noon | $15 per person | Hit unlimited balls!
How about golf, hiking, strolling or cycling to maximize your outdoor fun for FREE? Disc 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 a little sunshine, shade and fresh air!
Here are posts and tables to ease your search for fun and FREE or low-cost things to do in Scottsdale:
- Aquatic and Fitness Centers
- Hiking, Walking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing and Horseback Riding
- Golf: Table from N. to S. with all the good stuff!
- The Indian Bend Multi-use Trail
- Parks, Playgrounds, Fishing and Dog Parks
- Scottsdale Cycling and Self-Propelled Wheeling
- Tennis and Pickleball
Be Smart and Safe in the Desert
The desert is a land of extremes and it’s extremely very hot right now. Be smart. Bring plenty of water and snacks. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, your hat and the right shoes. Check the weather and bring other appropriate gear.
Be mindful of your furry friends, plus tiny and older ones getting too tired and hot.
If hiking, stay on the trail and watch where you’re stepping, for rattlesnakes, cacti and rocks — no bites, pokes, sprains, falls or helicopter rescues need to spoil your fun. Don’t pester or feed wildlife. Pick up your dog’s poop. Don’t take anything out but your trash and dog poop.
Give yourself plenty of time to make it on and off the trail safely and see a stunning sunrise.
Churches and Temples in Scottsdale
There are many choices for worship, faith traditions, and community at Scottsdale Churches and Temples. And, if you seek fellowship or are struggling, Scottsdale has a strong 12-Step recovery community. Many recovery meetings are held in churches, temples and North Scottsdale Fellowship Club.
Daylight’s burning for real — let’s go kick up our heels and not miss a minute of fun Scottsdale events — and FREE! fun things to do in Scottsdale, August 24-27, 2023! Play safe.
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!
