Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
Western Week returns to Scottsdale in January with a weeklong series of events highlighting the city’s Western heritage, Native American cultures and local history. Activities will take place across Old Town Scottsdale from Saturday, Jan. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 1.
The schedule includes workshops, historical programming, live entertainment, museum offerings and the Parada del Sol Historic Parade, according to a press release.
Events during the week include a frybread-making workshop at the Scottsdale Waterfront, a Parks and Recreation Wild West Roundup at the Civic Center and Scottsdale’s Magical History Tour at the Civic Center Library. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West will offer classic Western films, biodramas and free-admission days.
Western-themed exhibitions will be featured during the Western Week Gold Palette ArtWalk in the Scottsdale Arts District. Pony Express riders will also arrive at Western Spirit to deliver mail, accompanied by live music, crafts and community presentations.
The Arizona Indian Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Scottsdale Civic Center. Hosted by the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association, the festival will include representatives from Arizona’s 22 tribal nations, along with traditional arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations, food, performances and the Indigenous Food Symposium.
Western Week concludes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, with the 72nd annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Historic Parade and Trail’s End Festival.
About 150 entries, including floats, mounted riders, marching bands and horse-drawn carriages, will take part under the 2026 theme, “A Diamond in the Desert: Celebrating 75 Years of Scottsdale.” A Western-style festival will follow in Historic Old Town with live entertainment, food vendors and family activities.
