Phoenix area to be chock-full of events over next two weekends
Mar 10, 2017, 10:23 AM | Updated: 8:46 pm
(Pexels Photo)
(Pexels Photo)
PHOENIX — For the next two weekends, don’t be surprised if you invite your friends to dinner and get the response, “Sorry, I have plans.”
The Phoenix area is hosting a ton of special events, ranging from spring training and a NASCAR race to concerts and beer festivals, between Friday and next Sunday.
One of the biggest events of this weekend is the Chandler Ostrich Festival. The festival, held near McQueen Road and Pioneer Parkway, begins Friday and runs all weekend from 2 p.m. until midnight.
The festival’s many entertainment attractions include animal races, dog agility shows, aerial shows, story re-enactments and several rides.
The popular ostrich race features professional riders sitting atop the birds bareback. Races with other animals such as camels, zebras, emus were also scheduled, along with the pig and ostrich races.
Several bands and artists such as Tempe’s Gin Blossoms, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Eddie Money and Spin Doctors were also set to perform in the evening hours of the three-day festival.
Downtown Phoenix will also be hopping all weekend long. Twenty of the area’s music venues will be taken over by the Viva PHX Music Festival that will feature 100 bands, including Grammy winner Wyclef Jean.
The Great Arizona Beer Festival will be held at the Civic Space Park on Saturday afternoon, while the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire will begin at 10 a.m. the same day.
You can also check out the Goodguys Spring National Giant Car Show and an arts festival in Scottsdale this weekend, a festival celebrating everything about the Wild West in Cave Creek and the ongoing Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon.
There are two major events next weekend.
The Camping World 500 NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway. In addition to all the racing action, the raceway will also debut the Lucky Leprechaun Dog in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
The 'Lucky Leprechaun Dog', our newest *delicious* addition to Phoenix Raceway! Is your mouth watering yet? 🤤🌠https://t.co/KRnv1SJaVC pic.twitter.com/hWLI0s05j8
— Phoenix Raceway (@PhoenixRaceway) March 9, 2017
“Just like NASCAR, this creation packs a unique punch to an American Classic with of course that St. Patrick’s Day twist,” Kristie Maggs, senior director of consumer marketing and partnership activation for PIR, said in a press release.
The other event, the Pot of Gold Music Festival, will be held on Friday and Saturday at Rawhide in Chandler. The festival is headlined by G-Eazy and Flogging Molly but a host of other big bands — Sublime with Rome, Death Cab for Cutie, 311 and X Ambassadors, to name a few — will also play.
Of course, there will also be plenty of other Irish-related fun next weekend, including the Kiss Me, I’m Irish run at the Westgate Entertainment District.
KTAR’s Jade Carter contributed to this report.
