Updated for 2009
Those community festivals (see links below) are great--food, kids activities, water fun, local bands and entertainment. The goods news is that there are even more opportunities for celebrating the 4th of July in the Phoenix area. These special events make perfect family outings.
If these aren't the 4th of July events that you are looking for, try the Greater Phoenix 4th of July Celebration Index.
4th of July Concerts and Special Events
Light Up the Sky: Maryvale Baseball Park
Friday, July 3. Games, contests, information booths, community groups and a fireworks show. 6 to 9 p.m. Maryvale Ball Park.
A Star Spangled Shoot Out at Rawhide
Saturday, July 4th. Rawhide celebrates the Independence Day holiday in Western style beginning at 5:30 p.m. Live music, face painting, a “Best Dressed” Cowboy & Cowgirl Costume Contest, performances by Rawhide’s own Rough Riders, seasonal food items at the Steakhouse & Saloon, and an Aerial Fireworks Display! Admission: $10 per person. Kids under 5 are free.
“Old Fashioned” Fourth of July Spectacular at the Rockin’ R Ranch
Saturday, July 4th. Celebrate at the Rockin’ R Ranch in Mesa with an all-you-can-eat BBQ beef or chicken dinner, a patriotic show by the Rockin’ R Wranglers, and a fireworks display. Free watermelon, gold panning and wagon rides start at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. in the air conditioned theatre and dinning room. Fireworks follow the dinner and stage show. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for children 3-12, ages 2 and under are free. Call for reservations 480-832-1539.
Independence Day Shopping at Outlets at Anthem
An After Dark Sale from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, July 3, 2009 will offer special discounts at participating stores in addition to the everyday 30-70% off retail prices. Shoppers wearing red, white and blue can enter for a chance to win a $50 Outlets at Anthem gift card and a family pack of four tickets to a Phoenix Mercury game. Shoppers will receive a free pair of Phoenix Mercury tickets at the customer service desk with receipts of $100 or more. An informative display on the Phoenix Mercury’s Rock the Pink Event for breast cancer on July 18 will include pink sale items one can find at stores that evening and a chance to win a signed team basketball. So consumers can shop and watch fireworks that evening, a viewing area in the southeast parking lot will give them a place to spread out blankets and chairs to watch the display planned at the nearby Anthem community. Cold drinks and treats will be available at the Outlets’ Food Pavilion until midnight. Sales will continue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 4 and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 5, when the Outlets will hold a sidewalk sale featuring brand name merchandise at discounted prices.
Classic Car Show and Great American Picnic at the Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa
Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Friday evening the resort will feature a Classic Car Show from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with live entertainment starting at 7 p.m. on the Terrace overlooking the Wigwam’s golf course. The July 4th event takes place on the resort Front Lawn with hayrides, historical tours, fireside s’mores, a display of the latest military vehicles and equipment from the 944 Reserve Wing stationed at Luke Air Force Base, an F-16 flyover and a fireworks spectacular at 9 p.m. Both events are open to the public and are free. The Great American Picnic will also feature a family-style BBQ cookout with live entertainment from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $15/adult and $9/children under 10. The Wigwam is offering a special Great American Picnic hotel stay package from $109, with each additional night just $50, that includes two adult and two child tickets to the cookout and premier firework seating.
4th of Zoo-ly Celebration
Saturday, July 4th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Catered BBQ dinner at the Stone House Pavilion 6 -7:30 p.m. Includes admission to Starry Safari activities, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Three water slides (height restrictions), four bounce houses, Leapin' Lagoon and Yakulla Caverns splash playgrounds, Bago Bean Bag toss, Hula Hoops and bubble fun. Giraffe Encounter 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Narrated Safari Train Tour 8:30 p.m.; "VIP" view of the Tempe fireworks 9 p.m. Special animal guests and music, guests do not need to bring their own chairs. Beer and wine will be available for purchase at the BBQ dinner & the fireworks show.
Cool treats for the kids during the fireworks show. Adults: $40 (13 & up); Children: $35 (3-12); no charge for 2 years or younger. Limited seating, reservations required.
Children’s Museum of Phoenix’s 4th of July
Friday, July 3rd from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix will start the celebration on July 3, 2009 with activities including the 'coolest' hands-on exhibit ever – 200, ten pound blocks of ice magically transformed into an Ice Castle. Crushed ice with serve as a very crunchy and cold floor to walk on. Children of all ages are encouraged to decorate the Castle with the help of salt and watercolors creating a glorious and colorful kid-built masterpiece. Visitors can also make patriotic pom-poms using drinking straws and tissue paper strips in the Museum’s Art Studio. Admission is free from 6pm to 10pm.
Next Page >> 4th of July Day Trips
All times, prices and events subject to change without notice.
