Heat wave forces changes to Valley events
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Some Spring Training games have been pushed back to avoid extreme heat. Photo: RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
This weekend's extreme heat — with temperatures expected to hit 105 degrees — is derailing the Valley's prime event and tourism season.
Why it matters: We only get so many mild weekends a year, which is why many of our festivals and outdoor activities are crammed into March.
- Now the record-breaking heat wave has organizers scrambling to salvage them.
The money quote: "We're starting to lose any type of seasonality [in the Southwest]. It's just winter or summer," David Ott, co-CEO of The Studio North America, told Axios.
- His event company is coordinating a Ferrari event on a Scottsdale rooftop this weekend and they're ready to bring in portable AC units, umbrellas or whatever else is necessary to mitigate the heat, he said.
⚾ Spring Training
The Cactus League, in its final weekend, pushed back the start time for 11 games to after 6pm.
- Yes, but: Several games, including two D-Backs matchups, will continue with start times between 11am and 1pm.
- Full schedule here.
🎡 Ostrich festival
The East Valley's annual carnival, which moved to Rawhide Western Town this year, will provide additional shaded areas, misting zones, indoor cool-down spaces and complimentary water for its second weekend.
✈️ Luke Days
Luke Air Force Base's biennial air show, which typically brings more than 300,000 people to the West Valley, will proceed as planned this weekend.
- You can bring a clear water bottle and don't forget sunscreen.
👰♀️ Weddings
Couples pay a premium to rent venues in March to avoid heat like this. Instead, they're looking for industrial fans, buying umbrellas and moving festivities indoors, Abby Barenholtz of Copper Blossom Events told Axios.
- She's coordinating a wedding at Different Pointe of View, the outdoor venue atop Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, and has moved everything but the 20-minute ceremony indoors. Nearly all of the guests are coming from Chicago.
🏜️ Hiking
Phoenix closes popular hiking trails when the National Weather Service declares an extreme heat warning, which it has through Sunday. This is the first time it's issued one in March.
- Trails at Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Mountains Preserve and South Mountain Park and Preserve will be closed from 8am-5pm.
🌵 Desert Botanical Garden
The garden is opening earlier and closing later to encourage visitors during cooler (ha!) parts of the day.
- Extended hours through Sunday: 6am-10pm (garden closes at 3pm Friday for a private event).
- Use code HEAT26 to save $10 on visits between 8 and 10pm.
What we're watching: The heat dome is expected to dissipate next week, but we're still in for higher-than-normal temperatures for the foreseeable future.
- If things don't turn around quickly, weather could disrupt April's signature events, including the Women's Final Four concert and Country Thunder music festival.