The Arizona Indian Festival is an event unlike any other.
This free, two-day festival in Scottsdale offers an opportunity to experience traditional Native arts, crafts, food and performances and serves as a platform to promote tribal tourism.
What sets the festival apart, according to Steve Geiogamah, the city of Scottsdale’s tourism development manager, is that it unites all 22 of Arizona’s tribes.
The event is hosted by the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association in partnership with Arizona’s Native American tribes. It’s part of Scottsdale’s annual Western Week celebration and will take place Feb. 1-2 at Scottsdale Civic Center.
The festival will feature accomplished Native artists, tribal royalty and performances by the Apache Crown Dancers, Hopi Traditional Dancers and more.
More than 16,000 people attended the festival last year.
2025 Arizona Indian Festival
- 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1
- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2
- Scottsdale Civic Center
3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
Arizona has one of the largest Native American populations in the country. And like in Scottsdale, tourism is one of the main economic drivers for many Native communities.
The festival is an opportunity for Native travel and tourism organizations to come together and showcase new ventures and Native destinations.
A new element this year is the Indigenous Food Symposium on Saturday. The symposium will feature several speakers, and a panel discussion designed to showcase Native food sovereignty and traditional foodways.
The first Arizona Indian Festival dates back to 1996.
Arizona was gearing up to host its first Super Bowl that year and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee was looking for a way to get the tribal communities involved.
It wasn’t until 2015, however, as the state was preparing to host another Super Bowl, that the event became an annual occurrence and found a home in Scottsdale.
