Persian New Year Festival returns to Scottsdale Feb. 28-March 2, in celebration of the ancient holiday, Nowruz. Attend these events:
- “Desert Dreams” Persian Fashion Show, 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, Western Spirit: at Scottsdale’s Museum of The West, 3830 N Marshall Way: The show is produced by Mahsa Page, a designer who has been featured in Redbook and Arizona Fashion Week.
- Voices Unveiled, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 29, Stagebrush Theater, 7020 E. Second St.: This three-part original musical composition by Ehsan Matoori features Iranian traditional music, folk with fusion elements, and Iranian female vocalists, Maliheh Moradi and Mina Deris.
- The Waterfront Fest, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, March 2: This event includes Persian food and culture.
Learn more and buy tickets.
Experience the rich Native American culture at the Scottsdale Gallery Association’s Gold Palette ArtWalk. This special ArtWalk includes activities, entertainment and exhibits. It runs 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, in the Old Town Arts District. Learn more.
Attend the Navy Band Southwest 32nd Street Brass Band concert. This band brings Bourbon Street to Scottsdale with its energetic performance. The show begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, at the Civic Center East Lawn. It’s free, but RSVPs are required.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West offers entertaining March programs:
- Western Horizons – Legacy Gallery: Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2. This museum benefit brings together 35 of the top Western artists for a new and unique two-day event.
- Author Chris Enss: The Doctor Was a Woman and Along Came a Cowgirl: noon, Friday, March 1: Just in time for Women’s History Month, Enss will delve into her newest book, “The Doctor Was a Woman,” which explores the fascinating female practitioners of the Wild West. The next portion of the program highlights the women of the rodeo through Enss’s book, “Along Came a Cowgirl.”
- Two-day seminar with artist Erin Hanson: Wednesday and Thursday, March 6 and 7. Hanson’s rare demonstrations delve into her unique approach to each new painting, where she goes for inspiration and digs deep into her views on color and color alchemy.
- Author Dr. Larry Len Peterson celebrates the life and works of Edward S. Curtis: 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. Peterson will showcase how Curtis created thousands of images, audio recordings, and motion pictures of Native Americans, all while making tremendous contributions to the art and science of photography. Come experience a scholarly study of Curtis work through over 100 slides depicting the photography and story of an epic life well lived.
Glow Up – Family fun at Horizon Park. This free event runs 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 1, at 15444 N. 100th St. Enjoy a D.J., foam party, glow games and more!
WestWorld hosts Sun Circuit, March 1-10. The annual Sun Circuit is the largest American Quarter Horse Association circuit event in the west, and there is a class for every exhibitor at every level. WestWorld is home to three indoor, climate-controlled arenas along with multiple outdoor arenas with plenty of extra space for warm-ups.
Calling all Swifties! Enjoy a night of music, dance and unforgettable vibes at Rhythm & Rails. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park hosts “Reputation – A Taylor Swift Experience,” from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, March 2. You can also indulge your taste buds with some of Arizona’s finest food trucks – from savory delights to sweet treats. Cost is $15 per person. Learn more and buy tickets.
Experience the action and excitement of a professional rodeo with two and four-legged athletes competing in various events. Rodeo Scottsdale takes place Thursday –Sunday, March 7-10, at WestWorld. The Thursday night event is dedicated entirely to the bull riding event. Friday through Sunday events include bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing. There are different riders and stock each performance, so you never see the same action twice!