15 Things to Do in the Valley This Spring

Danielle Wade as Cady Heron, Megan Masako Haley as Gretchen Wieners, Mariah Rose Faith as Regina George, and Jonalyn Saxer as Karen Smith in the national touring company of Mean Girls

Through 3/24
Spring Training 2020
Cheer on the Diamondbacks as Arizona welcomes teams, from the Dodgers to the Cubs, for a jampacked 2020 Cactus League spring training calendar. The highly anticipated baseball mecca will draw the eyes of the country through the end of the month. Ticket prices vary, multiple locations, cactusleague.‌com

3/13-15
Scottsdale Arts Festival
An art auction, live music, gourmet cuisine and 170 artists all culminate at this annual creative spectacular where locals can see, create or buy their next masterpiece. Tickets from $10, Scottsdale Civic Center Park, scottsdaleartsfestival.org

3/20
Sip, Swirl and Savor
The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center raises awareness and funds its ThinkAsperger’s outreach program with a gorgeous evening of gourmet dining and plenty of wine pours to loosen up guests for a live auction block of small-lot vintages and one-of-a-kind wine country experiences. Tickets $500, table $5,000, sponsorships from $7,500, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, autismcenter.org

3/21
Fresh Start Gala
A gourmet dinner complemented by live entertainment follows a cocktail reception at this event supporting the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. Tickets $700, sponsorships from $2,000, The Phoenician, freshstartwomen.org

3/26
Independent Woman Luncheon
This philanthropic afternoon, which celebrates the Valley design community and supports Phoenix Art Museum, will honor Ellen Katz, who created and chaired the inaugural Independent Woman Luncheon in 2011, along with other former IWL chairs. Martyn Lawrence Bullard is this year’s very exciting keynote speaker. Tickets $300, tables from $3,000, Phoenix Art Museum, phxart.org

A sample of fare from Desert Botanical Garden’s Agave on the Rocks event

3/27
Agave on the Rocks
The margaritas flow freely at this en plein air celebration at the garden. Bites and live entertainment round out the experience of this cool early spring party. Tickets $75, Desert Botanical Garden, dbg.org

3/28
Children Helping Children Fashion Show & Luncheon
Join the Phoenix Women’s Board of the Steele Children’s Research Center, known as PANDA, as it raises money for the PANDA Childhood Cancer Inflammation Project at the 20th anniversary of this fashion show and luncheon. Tickets price upon request, The Phoenician, azpanda.org

3/28
Wish Ball
Make-A-Wish brings back its signature event this month. Support the local wish-granting factory with cocktails, dinner, a silent auction and entertainment. JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, arizona.‌wish.org

3/29
Plated & Staged
Prepare to be pleasantly surprised at this event where the evening’s dinner host will be kept under wraps until after the opening reception. Enjoy fine dining at a Valley restaurant after the cocktail party, which is equipped with entertainment, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction to benefit the theater’s youth outreach programs. Tickets $50-$1,900, sponsorship information 602.254.7399, Herberger Theater Center, herbergertheater.org

4/4
Celebrity Fight Night
This highly anticipated, star-studded event will continue its legacy with live musical entertainment from prominent superstars including Reba McEntire and David Foster. The black-tie affair includes incredible live auction items, including private performances by many of music’s hottest stars, in support of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and other charities. Tickets $1,500-$10,000, JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, celebrityfightnight.org

4/16-19
Nirvana Food & Wine Festival
This food and drink festival draws international talent for a four-day extravaganza with the world’s best winemakers and chefs. 800.936.3126, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, nirvanafoodandwine.com

4/18
Dance With Me Gala
Ib Andersen celebrates his 20th anniversary as artistic director and board chair Gwen Hillis is honored at Ballet Arizona’s annual gala, which fetes all things art, beauty and dance. Tickets $600, tables from $6,000, The Camelback Inn, balletaz.‌org

4/18
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
Eyes tend to be much bigger than stomachs at the longest-running food festival in the country. Feast on as many local offerings as possible; enjoy live musical entertainment; and don’t miss the culinary demos—all in support of local arts programs. Tickets from $12, multiple locations, scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org

4/21-26
Mean Girls
On Wednesdays, we wear pink to this Broadway adaptation of the cult-classic movie with all of the snark, costumes and music that promise to be so fetch. Tickets from $154, ASU Gammage, asugammage.com

A white dress with wide eyelet-edged collar from the 1820s courtesy of Arizona Costume Institute

Through 6/21
India: Fashion’s Muse
This exhibit honors Arizona’s third-largest immigrant population with modern Indian fashion designers exploring Western fashion’s centurieslong love affair with the opulence of India. Admission $23, Phoenix Art Museum, phxart.org