BEST Things To Do In Phoenix Today
Saturday, December 7, 2019

The Event Oracle knows ALL the fun things to do in the land of the Phoenix sun. Select your date above then scroll down for all the Arts, Entertainment, and Events in my crystal ball...

• Carnival of Illusion

  Arizona Biltmore Resort
  2400 E Missouri Ave
  Phoenix, AZ 85016
  

  Carnival of Illusion is an evening of Old-World Magic in the style of classic entertainers such as Buster Keaton, Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Harry Houdini. The hosts have performed as house entertainers at the world's top resorts, Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America and operate the longest-running Arizona theater show. Carnival of Illusion is "Magic, Mystery, and OOOH La La."

• Shaping Sound The Art of Guitar Making

  3800 E Sky Harbor Blvd
  Phoenix, AZ 85034
  

  In our fast-paced, technological world of seemingly endless mass production, there are still some who desire to create with their hands. This is especially true for guitar players who design, build and repair their own instruments. The art of guitar-making, or Luthiery,allows skilled craftsman to turn raw materials into unique instruments.

  The Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, based in the heart of Phoenix, has supported aspiring guitar builders for over four decades. Students from around the globe come to attend North America’s oldest and only accredited guitar-making school. At Roberto-Venn, people that are passionate about music can learn the old-world craft of creating a guitar by hand.

  From selecting wood to finishing techniques, students learn every aspect of guitar construction. They discover how the design and assembly of each element affects how the guitar will play as well as the instruments visual aesthetic and artistry. By merging tradition with innovation and creativity, students at Roberto-Venn are shaping sound.

• 100 Years, 100 Ranchers, Photographs by Scott Baxter

  3800 E Sky Harbor Blvd
  Phoenix, AZ 85034
  

  Wide open landscapes dotted with grazing cattle and sheep herded by the rancher on horseback have become an iconic symbol of our western culture. For more than 100 years the ranching tradition has been an integral part of Arizona’s history and growth. In celebration of Arizona’s Centennial in 2012, Scott Baxter photographed 100 Arizona ranchers whose families have been ranching for a century or more.

  For more than 10 years Baxter has been traveling to ranches across the state, getting to know the individual ranchers and their operations. He chose to use large-format cameras, a traditional process which takes time and allowed him to engage his subjects in a personal manner. Using black and white film Baxter captures a sense of timelessness and directs the viewer’s full attention to the subject in the frame.

  The strength and independent nature of this unique group of Arizonans is apparent in their portraits. Baxter’s collection of photographs is a tribute to Arizona’s ranching legacy by preserving an important piece of Arizona character and history.

• Wild Rising by Cracking Art

  1201 N. Galvin Parkway
  Phoenix, AZ 85008
  

  Desert Botanical Garden’s newest art exhibition is traveling straight from Milan to bring Wild Rising by Cracking Art—an installation of more than 1,000 animal sculptures made from colorful and recyclable plastic. With 13 installations, visitors will see 20 penguins posing among the cactus, snails stunningly positioned atop of the Garden’s butte and 40 majestic grey wolves guarding the Sybil B. Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries.

• Legacy of Landscapes: The Art and Archaeology of Perry Mesa

  3711 W Deer Valley Rd
  Phoenix, AZ 85308
  

  Featuring the artistry of ASU alumnus photographer Pat Gorraiz, this exhibit explores the landscapes of Perry Mesa and the legacies left behind by the Ancestral People who lived there over a period of several hundred years.

  Archaeologists from Arizona State University and federal agencies began researching the mesa in the early 2000s, and that work continues today with School of Human Evolution and Social Change archaeologist David Abbott, retired National Forest Services archaeologist Scott Wood, and many others. Learn more about past research and publications.

• David Hockney’s Yosemite and Masters of California Basketry

  Heard Museum
  2301 North Central Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ 85004
  

  David Hockney’s Yosemite and Masters of California Basketry highlights the impact that Yosemite has had over time and space on artistic production, from the valley’s original Indigenous inhabitants to one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

  The exhibition marks the first showing of Hockney’s work in Arizona and will highlight the influence of the American landscape on his seminal work while illuminating how Indigenous women inspired by the same landscape have made significant contributions to the field of art production. The objects on view will illustrate ways in which technology can be implemented in artistic creation, from the sophisticated technology of basketry to the innovative use of digital technologies like the iPad. Included are more than 20 spectacular examples of Mono Lake Paiute and Miwok basketry, made by 9 different artists in the early to mid-20th century, as well as 29 of Hockney’s iPad drawings printed on paper, and his rarely shown photographic collages from the 1980s. Situated against the backdrop of the Yosemite Valley’s history—from first contact between Indigenous tribes in the region and Euro-American settlers from the Mariposa Battalion and the Mariposa War, on through the California Gold Rush and Yosemite Indian Field Days—the exhibition illuminates how Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists have and continue to interpret this landscape in visual culture and fine art.

• Color in Play

  5005 E Camelback Rd
  Phoenix, AZ 85018
  

  A juried exhibition that features outdoor sculptures combining color and whimsy with a touch of sophistication!

• Guru Nanak: Founder of Sikhism

  Phoenix Art Museum
  1625 N. Central Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ 85004-1685
  

  
  Guru Nanak (1469–1539) was the founder of Sikhism, and his concept of oneness includes spiritual, sociological, and humanitarian insights that have formed the cornerstone of Sikh writings and practices. Guru Nanak: Founder of Sikhism celebrates the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth and explores his fundamental beliefs through historical and contemporary images that tell stories of his life.
   

• Antonio: The Fine Art of Fashion Illustration

  Phoenix Art Museum
  1625 N. Central Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ 85004-1685
  

  Featuring more than 100 original drawings, photographs, and magazines, Antonio: The Fine Art of Fashion Illustration is a multimedia exhibition of ANTONIO, the signature that represented the collaborative creative work of fashion visionaries Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos. 

• Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts

  Mill Ave. and University Dr.
  Tempe, AZ 85281
  

  The Tempe Festival of the Arts is a well-loved community event that showcases art, live entertainment, food and beverage. More than 300 artist booths will fill the streets of Downtown Tempe over a course of a 3-day weekend. Hundreds of artists from across North America will present unique, hand-made artwork that offers visitors a distinctive shopping experience. The Tempe Festival of the Arts is consistently ranked among the Top 20 art festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artists and has received the prestigious Pinnacle Award from the International Festival and Events Association.

• Crickets, Tea, and Snuff: Chinese Intellectual Pursuits

  Phoenix Art Museum
  1625 N. Central Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ 85004-1685
  

  In traditional China, the literati, or educated class, set the standards for aesthetic taste and leisurely pursuits, many of which are still practiced today. Through a diverse selection of objects, this exhibition introduces viewers to a number of these preferences and interests.

  Crickets were the ideal pet for members of the Chinese upper classes and imperial court because of their soothing sound and their ability to be transported in elegant, portable cages. Viewers will have the opportunity to examine various gourd cricket cages donated to the Museum by Amy S. Clague.

  The beverage of connoisseurs in China and still widely consumed today, tea is considered beneficial, stimulating the mind, cleansing the blood, and aiding in digestion. As a result, tea vessels hold a special significance. For centuries, the town of Yixing was known as the central producer of unglazed teawares, and a collection of Yixing teawares, donated to the Museum by James T. Bialac, is showcased in the exhibition.

  The practice of inhaling snuff, or aromatic tobacco ground into a fine powder, for a jolt of nicotine originated in the Americas but took hold in China during the 17th century. Made of stone, porcelain, lacquer, and other materials, snuff bottles were symbols of status, wealth, and taste in China. The exhibition features a selection of Chinese snuff bottles, donated to the Museum by Deborah G. Carstens.

• World Bazaar PHX

  1813 W. Camelback Rd.
  Phoenix, AZ 85015
  

  #WorldBazaarPHX returns with more culture, cuisine, and community than ever. Experience over 60 different vendors selling food, art, and handmade goods from around the world at this free event. Enjoy live music and dance performances from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with both new and returning acts. Join us for a one of a kind experience you can’t have anywhere else.

  This event is perfect for shopping for unique holiday gifts for your loved ones, with Syrian soaps, African art, Mexican leatherwork, and more all in one place.

• Change Agent: June Wayne and the Tamarind Workshop

  ASU Art Museum
  51 E. 10th St.
  Tempe, AZ 85281
  

  “Change Agent” highlights June Wayne’s legacy as an artist, printmaker, educator and activist. Wayne refused to follow a signature style, taking on a variety of themes such as personal history, modern science and social issues. In the Dorothy Series, she narrates the life of her mother, a Russian Jewish immigrant and traveling saleswoman for a garter company. In the Stellar Winds and Solar Flares Series, she mines natural phenomena as metaphors for the human condition.

  Wayne was a catalyst for the revival of fine art lithography in the United States, a medium which had all but vanished by the 1950s. She championed lithography as an art form as vital as painting after studying the technique in Paris with the printer Marcel Durassier.  With a grant from the Ford Foundation, Wayne founded the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles in 1960. The experimental workshop created a pool of printers and apprentices, as artists from across the country were invited to master the process of lithography. Now known as the Tamarind Institute of the University of New Mexico, it continues Wayne’s visionary plan as a major training center for fine art printers. 

• Queen Creek Holiday Festival & Parade

  21802 S. Ellsworth Road.
  Queen Creek, AZ 85142
  

  Queen Creek's annual hometown holiday event features parade, carnival, tree lighting ceremony, live entertainment by talented locals, free photos with Santa, a kids zone, food and commercial vendors and a beer garden. 

  This event benefits the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Queen Creek and is produced by Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations.

• Ella Enchanted: The Musical

  Herberger Theater Center
  222 East Monroe Street
  Phoenix, AZ 85004
  

  Back by popular demand! Based on the Newbery-honor book, this Cinderella twist follows Ella, a princess who is given the “gift” of obedience at birth by her misguided fairy godmother. As she grows up, Ella must outwit her wicked stepsisters, a hungry ogre, and this troublesome curse to find her own voice and live happily ever after. This charming musical adventure is the perfect fairy tale for the holiday season!

• Wagging and Purring into the New Year

  2784 W. Peoria Ave.
  Phoenix, AZ 85029
  

  Join All About Animals Rescue at one of our Petco locations to adopt a wonderful new family member for the new year. And announcing our new Mobile Adoption Bus that will be coming to the entire Valley soon. The unit is ours and just getting "freshened up." Then we will be off to do a Petco Store Tour. For more information on our animals - http://www.allaboutanimalsaz.com

• Frances Smith Cohen's Snow Queen

  Herberger Theater Center
  222 East Monroe Street
  Phoenix, AZ 85004
  

  Delight in the mystical world of sprites, gypsies and ice maidens, while young Gerda seeks to rescue Kai from the Snow Queen’s Crystal Palace.

• Four Peaks Brewing Company's 8th Street Brewery Tours

  1340 E. 8th Street Ste. 104
  Tempe, AZ 85281
  

  Tour the original Four Peaks brewery. Housed inside a 100-year-old former creamery and ice factory, 8th Street is the original Four Peaks location and the best place to find all of our specialty beers as well as some of the tastiest brewpub food you'll ever stick in your mouth. This place has a lot of history—and we want to share that history with you.

  Join us every Saturday for complimentary tours of the 8th Street brewery. Each tour, led by an experienced Four Peaks guide, offers insight into our operations, showcases our history and gives an in-depth overview of the brewing process. Tours will also cover aspects of our laboratory testing, water treatment, barrel-aging program and more.

• Avondale Winterfest

  11465 Civic Center Dr
  Avondale, AZ 85323
  

  Celebrate the holidays at Avondale City Hall. Activities will include snow, kids crafts, live entertainment, and food vendors. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will also be there to flip the switch that lights up the festival. 

• Nature at Night Walks

  10409 S. Central Ave.
  Phoenix, AZ 85042
  

  Experience and explore the desert at night, guided by your senses and a Park Ranger! Come over starting at 6 p.m. for chats with our Park Rangers before the walk begins.

• The Sound of Music

  Phoenix Theatre
  1825 N Central Ave
  Phoenix, AZ 85004
  

  Just in time for the holidays, wrap yourself up in the musical that has inspired and delighted generations. Rodgers and Hammerstein's romantic epic overflows with the indomitable spirit of survival—and includes some of the most iconic songs of all time. Warm, funny, and inspiring, The Sound of Music reminds us all of the sustaining power of family.

• A Christmas Carol: The Musical

  14455 N Saguaro blvd
  Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
  

  We’ve taken the spirit of the season, wrapped it in beautiful original melodies and tied it with all the holiday magic and wonder of your childhood. Fountain Hills Theater is proud to present a new musical adaptation, A Christmas Carol: The Musical. Based on the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol tells the tale of curmudgeonly miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future hoping to change his destiny and save his soul.

  This delightful musical, an original adaptation written by Fountain Hills Artistic Director Peter J. Hill, with music and lyrics by Peter J. Hill and Jay Melberg, follows Scrooge through a series of strange and magical journeys, where he ultimately discovers the true spirit of the holiday season.

• Home Alone in Concert

  1 N. 1st St. Ste. 200
  Phoenix, AZ 85004
  

  Enjoy the heartwarming holiday blockbuster Home Alone in a totally new way this season as it is projected on the big screen above the orchestra.

  John Williams' delightful score packs extra punch when The Phoenix Symphony and Phoenix Symphony Chorus perform it live.

  Fan-favorite guest conductor Stuart Chafetz will lead this unique concert.

• Bandstand, Broadway At The Orpheum Theatre Series

  203 W. Adams St.
  Phoenix, AZ 85003
  

  From three-time Tony Award-winner and Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, comes an inspiring new American musical that explodes with infectious music and high-octane, heart-stopping dancing.

  It’s 1945, and six soldiers return from war to a changed nation. When NBC announces a national competition to find the nation’s next great musical superstars, they form a band unlike any the nation has ever seen. Along the way, they discover the power of music to face the impossible, find their voice and finally feel like they have a place to call home.

• Clandestino Nights

  202 N Central Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ 85004
  

  Every Saturday Night catch DJ's Tranzo, Melo & Nico in the mix with Classic and Electronic Cumbia and other Latin genres will have you tapping and snapping along all night. Upscale late dining in the heart of Downtown Phoenix for visitors and locals alike. Enjoy their late night menu til 1:30AM.