Something happening every season

Summer · June–September

Summer is the Valley's quiet season, with shorter lines and easier reservations around town. Spend the hot afternoons cooling off under the patio misters or in the pool, and save outings for indoor fun, water parks and warm desert evenings.

Events & things to do

• Gilbert 4th of July Celebration · July 4: a free, family-friendly evening of live performances, a drone show and a fireworks finale at Gilbert Regional Park. gilbertaz.gov (opens in a new tab)
• Arizona Diamondbacks · April–September: catch a game at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning. mlb.com (opens in a new tab)
• Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) · May–September: indoor pro basketball in downtown Phoenix. mercury.wnba.com (opens in a new tab)
• Golfland Sunsplash, Mesa · mid-May to mid-September: a water park with slides and a wave pool, plus evening "Night Splash" hours and year-round mini golf and arcade games. golfland.com (opens in a new tab)
• Youth sports tournaments at Bell Bank Park, Mesa · year-round: one of the largest youth sports complexes in North America, with indoor courts and outdoor fields. Bringing a team? The house sleeps 8.
• Monsoon season · July–September: watch a dramatic desert storm roll in from the covered patio.

Beat the heat

• Indoor fun: Andretti Indoor Karting & Games and Level 1 Arcade Bar. See the Area Guide
• On the water: Canyon Lake cruises on the Dolly Steamboat, and tubing on the Lower Salt River. See the Area Guide
• Your own resort: a private pool and hot tub, patio misters, a game loft and a massage chair, without leaving the house.

Fall · October–November

• Arizona State Fair · October to early November: rides, fair food and Coliseum concerts at the state fairgrounds in Phoenix, open Thursdays through Sundays. azstatefair.com (opens in a new tab)
• Gilbert Days · usually the weekend before Thanksgiving: Gilbert's western heritage celebration, with a parade through the Heritage District, a festival at Gilbert Regional Park and the Gilbert Days Rodeo. gilbertaz.gov (opens in a new tab)
• College & pro football · September–January: ASU Sun Devils in Tempe and the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale.

Winter · December–February

• Merry Main Street, downtown Mesa · late November to early January: holiday lights, an outdoor ice skating rink and free holiday movies on the plaza. mesaaz.gov (opens in a new tab)
• Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale · January: the famous collector car auction.
• WM Phoenix Open · early February: one of the PGA Tour's best-attended events, at TPC Scottsdale.
• Arizona Renaissance Festival, Gold Canyon · weekends, February–March: jousting, entertainment and a 16th-century village, east of the house along US-60.
• Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo, Apache Junction · late February to early March: a pro rodeo, parade and community celebration at the foot of the Superstition Mountains. lostdutchmandays.org (opens in a new tab)

Spring · March–May

• Spring training · late February to late March: two Cactus League teams train right here in Mesa, with the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park and the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium. cactusleague.com (opens in a new tab)
• Gilbert Global Village Festival · usually April: a free celebration of world cultures with food, music and dance at the Gilbert Civic Center. gilbertaz.gov (opens in a new tab)
• Perfect patio weather: spring is peak season for golf, hiking and evenings by the fire pit.