Many people plan their travel to Arizona around specific Arizona events. If you plan to spend your Christmas in Arizona, and are looking for a sophisticated Arizona event to balance out your rugged daytime activities, then you might enjoy the Scottsdale Champagne and Chefs New Year's Eve Party, which takes place in the Craftsman Court Entertainment District in Scottsdale. The event features celebrity chefs and musical entertainment. Tickets are available at gettix.net.

If you enjoy ethnic dance and music, you will want to attend the Chandler Multicultural Festival in January. This Arizona event highlights the cultural diversity of Chandler's community through dance, art, music and storytelling. Another popular Chandler event is the Arizona Balloon Festival, which is held for three days in November.

If your tastes run more towards spectator sport than culture, you might be excited about the FBR Open in Scottsdale. This popular PGA golf event features some of the best golfers in the world. Over 500, 000 people attend this popular Arizona event.

Arizona Map

If football is more to your liking, the Fiesta Bowl at ASU Stadium in Tempe is one of the most popular college football games. Even people who are not football fans enjoy the parades, bands and formal gatherings associated with this game. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros is a popular event in Tucson. This mid-winter rodeo attracts an international audience. It takes place in February on the Tucson Rodeo grounds.

Another interesting Tucson event is the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, which takes place at the Metro Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau. Additionally, about 30 other locations around Tucson participate in this international marketplace, which is considered to be one of the largest of its kind. Jewelers, meteorite collectors, "rock" fans, fossil hunters and bead divas gather for this Tucson event, which usually takes place in late January to early February.

Each Labor Day, The Grand Canyon Chamber Music Festival draws millions of people. In June, many people gather in Flagstaff for the Renaissance Festival in the Pines. If you are a film buff whose budget will not allow for a trip to the Cannes Film Festival, the Sedona International Film festival and Workshop, which takes place in February, may be a viable alternative. The American Bus Association has designated this Arizona festival as being one of the top 100 events in the United States. Since Arizona tourism is at its height during this period, be sure to reserve your hotel room and make your travel plans well in advance.

If your taste in films runs more towards a good old-fashioned Western, you will be delighted by the Tombstone Western Film and Book Exposition. The July festival features Western Film stars along with authors of Western scholarly books and novels.

The variety and multitude of Arizona festivals has made a significant impact on Arizona tourism. Not only does Arizona possess breathtaking natural resources, these events and festivals make Arizona an even more exciting place to visit. Although many of these events occur when Arizona tourism is at its height, some take place during the low season, which is often a better season for budget-minded travelers.