Throughout Scottsdale, you’ll find attractions and festivals that celebrate global cultures and honor the vibrant communities that have long called the city home. Immerse yourself in the art, cuisine, storytelling and traditions of the diverse communities that have enriched and contributed to Scottsdale and the surrounding region. Here’s just a snapshot of such multicultural attractions and events:
ATTRACTIONS
HEARD MUSEUM
Founded in 1929 to advance Native American art, Heard Museum has grown into the world’s preeminent museum dedicated to presenting and sharing the stories of the Native American people through traditional and contemporary artforms. For three decades, Heard has hosted hoop dancers for the annual World Champion Hoop Dance Contest, bringing together hundreds of talented competitors from across North America.
JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN
The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, or RoHoEn, encompasses an authentic 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden with a tea garden and tea house. Docent-led tours share an appreciation for RoHoEn’s intricate art form. Visitors can book a public tea ceremony in the tea house or take a docent-led tea tour to learn the history and culture of Japanese tea. The Garden hosts workshops and events like the International Tea Exhibit and Japanese New Year celebrations.
OLD ADOBE MISSION
The Old Adobe Mission was built by hand by the Mexicans who first settled in Scottsdale in the late 1910s. Completed in 1933, today it stands as a historic monument and one of only three remaining adobe structures in Old Town Scottsdale. On the second Saturday of December each year, the Mission hosts the Miracle of the Roses Pageant, which features reenactment performances of the miracle, traditional Mexican religious dance, and live mariachi music.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) celebrates the world’s music and cultures, taking visitors on a journey into the heart of human creativity. MIM’s five Geographic Galleries showcase global music through multimedia that allows visitors to hear, see and feel the creative spirit of people as they play their instruments. Throughout the year, MIM hosts rotating signature events that offer a deeper dive into the culture of a specific region through live music and dance performances.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
ARIZONA INDIAN FESTIVAL
Arizona is home to 22 Native American tribes, and most are represented during the Arizona Indian Festival, which is held in conjunction with Scottsdale’s Western Week each February. This two-day festival provides a platform for Arizona’s indigenous communities and celebrates their diverse cultures, foods, storytelling, dancing, singing and crafts.
PERSIAN NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Every spring for the last 3,000 years, Persians have welcomed in the Persian New Year by celebrating family, community, food, music and dance. Each March throughout Old Town Scottsdale, the Persian New Year Festival brings together Scottsdale’s Persian community to share their traditions with family, friends, neighbors and visitors.
COMMUNITY JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
The City of Scottsdale Juneteenth Celebration is a community gathering celebrating the abolition of slavery — more specifically, the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas, who did not receive the news until two years after abolition. Juneteenth is believed to be the oldest African American holiday, and Scottsdale’s annual event features music, dance and spoken word performances, moderated discussions, exhibits and family-friendly activities.
SCOTTSDALE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Día de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that honors loved ones who have passed, and during the multiday celebration that takes place at the Old Adobe Mission and Scottsdale Civic Center, attendees can witness breathtaking altares y ofrendas (altars and offerings) created by talented local artists. These displays are adorned with colorful marigolds, photographs, and favorite mementos, all meant to welcome and remember the spirits of the departed.
Find other events held throughout the year on our events calendar.
