SCOTTSDALE — From Saturday, Feb. 2 to Sunday, Feb. 10, the City of Scottsdale welcomes the return of Western Week, a multitude of festivities that pay homage to the area’s Old West history and celebrates the city’s vibrancy to date.
“We are delighted to once again offer a number of themed events throughout this special week that bring the community together to remind us all of our city’s Western roots,” says Karen Churchard, Director of Tourism and Events for the City of Scottsdale. “As our town continues to grow and develop, we work hard to keep a tight grasp on our unique history that makes Scottsdale so special.”
Signature events taking place throughout Western Week include:
The American West in Film & Television: Top Ten Westerns
Saturday, February 2| 11:00 a.m.-noon
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
3830 N. Marshall Way
Arizona’s Official Western Film Historian Charlie LeSueur leads a conversation on what defines the greatest films in the Western genre and create a definitive Top 10 list of Western films from 1930 to present.
Old West/New Tech
Wednesday, February 6 | 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
3830 N. Marshall Way
Chris Wimmer’s Legends of the Old West podcast revives the classic stories of the Old West for today’s audiences. During this program audience members will learn about the process of identifying, researching and producing the stories that Wimmer brings to life.
Western Week Gold Palette ArtWalk
Thursday, February 7 | 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Scottsdale Arts District
Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue
Featuring live music from the Desert Dixie band, line-dancing instruction and artists’ demonstrations, a multitude of traditional and modern Western artwork will be on display throughout the Scottsdale Arts District’s numerous galleries during this Western Week kick-off event.
61st Hashknife Pony Express Arrival
Friday, February 8 | 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
3830 N. Marshall Way
Guests can experience living history when the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world, Hashknife Pony Express, rides into Scottsdale and delivers more than 20,000 pieces of U.S. Mail to the front steps of the museum at noon. This free community event features entertainment, food trucks, and family friendly activities, and includes free museum admission.
Arizona Native Experience
Friday, February 8 | 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saguaro Hotel
4000 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
Serving as the kick-off event for the Arizona Indian Festival, the Arizona Native Experience introduces guests to authentic native culture and cuisine in a cocktail setting with Native Chef tasting stations featuring traditional and fusion foods and cocktails crafted by Twila Cassadore (San Carlos Apache), Mario Renneto Etsitty (Dine/Navajo), Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz (Xicana/Tewa) and Freddie Bitsoie, executive chef of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (Dine/Navajo), demonstrations, interactive conversations, traditional and contemporary Native Arts and more.
Arizona Indian Festival
Saturday, February 9 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.| Sunday, February 10 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Scottsdale Civic Center
3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
This free two-day family-friendly event serves as a celebration of the region’s Native American roots in culture and ancestral traditions. Guests can view historic dwellings and art demonstrations and enjoy Native American storytelling, performances, music and contemporary entertainment along with an artisan market, Tribal and Tourism Expo, food trucks, fry bread stands and kids’ activities.
66th Annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Parade and Trail’s End Festival
Saturday, February 9 | 10:00 a.m.-noon (parade), Noon-4:00 p.m. (festival)
Parade route from Drinkwater Blvd. along Scottsdale Rd., finished at Brown Ave. and Indian School Rd.; Trail’s End Festival is held in the historic Old Town District
A celebration of the city’s past, present and future, the Parada del Sol boasts colorful floats, mounted horse-riders, horse-drawn carriage, marching bands, wagons and stagecoaches. Once the parade ends, the western-spirited Trail’s End festival begins, featuring live Western-themed music, Aztec and Folklorico dancers, the famed Howdy Dudettes from 1959, street entertainment, dancing, a wine garden and “cowboy” kids’ zone.
