Scottsdale Western Week is in full swing!
Each winter, something magical stirs in the heart of Old Town. Scottsdale’s Western Week, which kicked off this year on Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 1, celebrates the spirit that made this area legendary: grit, grit, tradition, and a whole lot of cowboy soul.
The week, which draws locals and visitors alike, is a celebration of the area’s history, and a continuing narrative told through art, music, community, and shared tradition. Whether you’re mastering your first lasso knot, lining up for a slice of frybread, or simply tapping your foot to a tune, Western Week invites you into a culture that’s as rich as the desert sunset.
Don your cowboy boots and hat and celebrate the history and continuing legacy of Scottsdale. From the legendary Parada del Sol Historic Parade to the Trail’s End Festival, the Pony Express to the Arizona Indian Festival, history tours, and more, here’s what you can expect.
For more information, visit oldtownscottsdaleaz.com/events/western-week.
Various Western-Themed Films & a Bio Drama
Day: Jan. 26-31
Time: 2 p.m. (1 p.m. on the 30th and 31st)
Western films such as McLintock and Blazing Saddles are shown at Western Spirit Museum.
Gold Palette ArtWalk (Western Week Edition)
Day: Jan. 29
Time: 6:30–9 p.m.
Scottsdale’s Arts District hosts a Western-themed evening ArtWalk with gallery receptions, live music, and refreshments. Free to attend.
Learn to Lasso
Day: Jan. 29 and 30
Time: 2-5 p.m.
Live demonstrations showcasing traditional cowboy skills, storytelling, and Western traditions for all ages. Head to Noriega Livery Stable / Scottsdale Rodeo Museum, North Brown Avenue.
Pony Express
Day: Jan. 30
Time: 11 a.m.
A historic Pony Express ride concludes in Old Town, honoring the legendary mail route that helped shape the American West. Over 20 riders from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Posse depart Hollbrook, Arizona, carrying pen pal letters written by and to school-aged children around the state. On this day, the riders will travel through Old Town Scottsdale and culminate in front of Western Spirit Museum for a heartfelt, patriotic ceremony and festivities. Mayor Borowsky will welcome the riders, and the morning will be hosted by Scottsdale’s History Hall of Fame inductee Denny Brown. Free to attend.
Western Spirit Museum, Free Admission Day
Day: Jan. 30 and 31
Time: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Explore Western art, Native American culture, and frontier history during special free-admission days. Register online.
Parada del Sol Historic Parade
Day: Jan. 31
Time: 9:30 a.m.-noon
One of Scottsdale’s longest-running traditions, featuring floats, marching bands, mounted riders, and Western pageantry through Old Town. Food and vendors, too. More than 35,000 attendees are expected. Free to attend.
Trail’s End Festival
Day: Jan. 31
Time: Noon-5 p.m.
Immediately following the parade, Old Town transforms into a street festival with food trucks, live entertainment, vendors, and a kids’ zone. Free to attend.
AZ Indian Fest
Day: Jan. 31 and Feb. 1
Time: Jan. 31: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Feb. 1: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
This inclusive inter-tribal event celebrates culture, traditional arts, crafts, and foods, as well as innovations and trends in cultural tourism experiences in Arizona.
Live Western Music & Saloon Events
Day: Throughout the week
Time: Afternoons and evenings
Old Town saloons and venues host live country music, line dancing, and Western-themed specials to keep the celebration going after dark.
Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western
Opening: Jan. 29 at 5 p.m., showcased through Dec. 2026
This new exhibit at Western Spirit Museum tells the dramatic story of the Western’s unexpected rebirth from the late 1960s through the 1990s. During a time of social unrest, political turmoil, and economic uncertainty, filmmakers reinvented the genre, creating competing visions of the Old West that reflected a rapidly changing America.
History Tours & Events
A variety of tours are available to be booked at oldtownscottsdaleaz.com.
