Here's some information about what you can do and see in Scottsdale. I want to thank Stephanie and Laura of the Scottsdale CVB for providing me with this info. Ongoing events Scottsdale ArtWalk: Visitors to downtown Scottsdale can experience Scottsdale ArtWalk, a tradition that has taken place in Scottsdale for nearly 40 years. “America’s Original ArtWalk” takes place every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. primarily along Main Street and Marshall Way in downtown Scottsdale. Visitors can proceed at their own pace while admiring the public art and enjoying a casual stroll through downtown Scottsdale which is home to approximately 100 art galleries. A free trolley service for the area is available. For more information, visit www.ScottsdaleGalleries.com. Food Truck Caravan: When gourmet street food, art and music collide the conversation begins. Find up to 15 of the Arizona’s finest gourmet food trucks serving delicious foods from around the world in one parking lot from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. every Saturday night. The Caravan features more than 35 trucks that rotate each week. Lounge in the Caravan tent on pillows and area rugs or sit at one of the communal picnic tables with misters and/or heaters for your comfort and listen to live music under the stars. July/August events Phoenix Zoo Winter in July: A winter storm warning is in effect for the Phoenix Zoo with the return of Winter in July on July 19! This family favorite event is back bringing with it tons of snow and tons of fun. During Winter in July kids of all ages will have the chance to play in large piles of snow, cool off in water play areas, watch their favorite animals receive special treats, dance to music, play games and more! Winter in July activities are free to Phoenix Zoo members or with a paid general admission. Nestled within the buttes of Papago Park on 125 acres of beautiful and varied landscapes, the Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals from around the globe - including more than 200 endangered or threatened species. Designed around four distinct trails - Africa, Tropics, Children's and Arizona - the Phoenix Zoo offers amazing experiences and opportunities to see, and learn about, some of the planet's most wonderful creatures. Hours: regular 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Kierland Commons summer concert series: In June and July, Kierland Commons (www.kierlandcommons.com) puts on a special concert series that highlights some of the best local acts Arizona has to offer. The celebrated event is ideal for the whole family and includes jazz, rock, blues and Top 40 cover bands. July 19 – Chuck E. Baby: Classic rock favorites July 26 – Shallow Water: Upbeat party band Kierland Commons is an upscale center that artfully blends shopping, dining and entertainment. This development incorporates 70 high-end stores, such as J Crew, Crate & Barrel, Anthropologie, Michael Kors, 7 for All of Mankind, Splendid and Z Gallerie. Guests also may choose from a variety of the Valley's best restaurants featuring regional cuisine to Continental. Heard Museum Summer Sundays: Each Sunday during the summer, Heard Museum offers free admission to visitors, featuring performances from Yellowbird Indian Dancers and Hopi Dance Group, as well as demonstrations in Navajo weaving and Hopi pottery. The Heard Museum is a place where visitors from across the globe come to learn about the region's Native cultures and art. The internationally acclaimed museum is one of the best places to experience the myriad cultures and art of Native Americans of the Southwest. The museum's 10 spacious exhibit galleries and beautiful outdoor courtyards feature outstanding traditional and contemporary Native American art. As one of Phoenix’s first museums, the Heard has had several expansions and renovations since its inception in 1929, the most recent of which was a $7.6 million, 21,000-square-foot renovation of its permanent collection galleries. The Heard Museum encompasses 130,000 square feet of galleries, classrooms and performance spaces. That's more than eight times the size of the original structure built in 1929 to house the personal collections of Phoenix residents Dwight and Maie Heard. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art: The action-packed event Arm Wrestling for Art returns to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) on July 26. The premise is simple: with a little sweat, information and determination, you could go home with a painting by artist James Marshall (a.k.a. Dalek), who recently completed the colorful murals in the SMoCA Lounge, the Museum’s retail store and outdoor courtyard. For just 10 bucks you’ll first get a guided micro-tour of the new James Marshall murals and other stellar artworks commissioned by Scottsdale Public Art for the Museum including the outdoor glass Scrim Wall and the James Turrell Skyspace. Next, enjoy a mini lesson in art focusing on James Marshall’s work from Curator of Contemporary Art Emily Stamey, and then you’ll learn how to arm wrestle from fitness expert and owner of Ultimate Body Bootcamp Richelle Melde. Finally, you can sweat it out and compete with your fellow community members for a chance to win the coveted James Marshall (a.k.a. Dalek) artwork. Desert Botanical Garden: Saturday and Thursday evenings through Aug. 30, Desert Botanical Garden stays open late for Garden Flashlight Tours. Bring a flashlight and join the sensory experience, where you will see, hear and feel the desert night. The self-paced stroll along the Garden’s trails is perfect for families and children of all ages. The Desert Botanical Garden offers the world's finest collection of arid-land plants from deserts around the world in a unique outdoor setting. The Garden has more than 50,000 accessioned plants throughout its five thematic trails, which illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants and people of the Sonoran Desert and desert wildflowers. The Garden offers a variety of lectures and workshops on desert landscaping and horticulture, botanical art and illustration, nature art and photography, and health and wellness. Visit the Garden and enjoy specialized tours, special events, seasonal exhibits, concerts, family activities, an outdoor café and the Garden's gift and plant shop. Fall events Arizona Taco Festival: Taste some of the state’s best tacos during this festival Oct. 19 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick that also includes a tequila expo, hot chili pepper eating contest and taco cook-off competition featuring Scottsdale favorites The Mission, Distrito and La Hacienda. www.aztacofestival.com Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championship: Horses & Horsepower: Staged at WestWorld of Scottsdale Oct. 25-26, this event not only brings the sport’s top contenders during two polo matches, it also provides attendees a sneak preview of the world renowned Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and highly acclaimed Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. www.thepoloparty.com Arizona Restaurant Week: Experience the state’s finest fare Sept. 20-28 at more than 200 restaurants offering discounted prix-fixe three-course dinners at $30 and $40 per person. www.arizonarestaurantweek.com