Classic car shows, county fair
Car enthusiasts, film lovers and people who love to shop local have much to look forward to in April in Arizona.
Live performances, family-friendly events and markets featuring small businesses will take place in metro Phoenix throughout the month. Some annual events, including the Phoenix Film Festival, Maricopa County Fair and Copperstate 1000 road rally will make their return in April.
Plus, Phoenix Pride’s first Rainbows Festival since the pandemic began expects to make a triumphant return to downtown Phoenix this month.
Here are 17 things to do in and around Phoenix in April.
Phoenix Film Festival guide:What’s showing, what’s free and more
Phoenix Film Festival
The 2022 Phoenix Film Festival will feature more than 260 films over the course of 11 days at the Harkins Scottsdale 101. Among the movies that will be shown are the Nicolas Cage film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” and “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” starring Dakota Johnson.
Details: March 31-April 10. Harkins Scottsdale 101, 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Starting at $15 for single-day ticket. 480-513-3195, https://www.phoenixfilmfestival.com.
Venardos Circus
Venardos Circus will present 15 Broadway-style animal-free circus shows under its red-and-white striped tent in Tempe between March 31 and April 10. Arrive an hour early to see the pre-show entertainment.
Details: March 31-April 10. Singh Meadows, 1490 E. Weber Drive, Tempe. $27, $16.50 for children 12 and under, free for lap babies 2 years or younger per adult ticket. https://www.venardoscircus.com.
Phoenix Theatre Company’s ‘The Color Purple’
Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of “The Color Purple,” based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a woman named Celie overcoming adversity and coming into her own power, will run throughout the month.
Details: Through May 1. 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Starting at $44. 602-254-2151, https://phoenixtheatre.com/the-season/color-purple.
Highline Autos Cars and Coffee
More than 400 exotic, classic and luxury cars will be displayed along High Street in north Phoenix. Public parking can be found on the street and at a parking garage between 53rd and 54th streets on Park Place.
Details: 7:30-10 a.m. Saturday, April 2. High Street and 54th Street in Phoenix. Free. https://www.highstreetaz.com.
Bell Lexus North Scottsdale Copperstate 1000
Ninety vintage automobiles and drivers from around the world will arrive in style in metro Phoenix before embarking on a 1,000-mile journey across Arizona in the Bell Lexus North Scottsdale Copperstate 1000 car rally.
See the cars off at the Roadrunner event on Sunday, April 3, in Tempe. The public can peruse the automobiles starting at 7:30 a.m. and send the drivers off at 10 a.m.
Details: 7:30-11 a.m. Sunday, April 3. Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda Drive. Free. 602-307-2007, https://mensartscouncil.com/copperstate-1000.
Copperstate 1000:See 90 classic cars before their 1,000-mile journey around Arizona
‘The Other Mozart’
“The Other Mozart” will have five performances at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts this month. The play centers on “the forgotten story” of Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart, the older sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Details: April 6-10. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $35. 480-499-8587, https://scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
Maricopa County Fair
The annual Maricopa County Fair will return to the fairgrounds in Phoenix on April 6-10. Alongside rides, there will be entertainers such as hypnotists and belly dancers, monster trucks, fair food and livestock shows.
Details: April 6-10. Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. Starting at $9; free for children 8 and younger. 602-252-0717, https://maricopacountyfair.org.
Arizona Opera’s ‘Così Fan Tutte’
E. Loren Meeker will direct Mozart’s “Così Fan Tutte” at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix. The performance, whose storyline involves two sisters whose lovers have tricked them in a test of their fidelity, will be in Italian with English subtitles.
Details: April 8-10. 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. Starting at $25. 602-266-7464, https://azopera.org.
Phoenix Flea
More than 100 small businesses will sell their wares at Phoenix Flea on Saturday, April 9, in downtown Phoenix. Bring cash for admission — entry costs $5 at the gate.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Heritage Square and Science Park, 115 N. Sixth St., Phoenix. $5. https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixFlea.
Peoria’s Second Saturdays
Second Saturdays returns to Old Town Peoria with outdoor games, art installations, live music, vendors and food and drink on April 9. The family-friendly event can be found on 83rd Avenue between Washington and Jefferson streets.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Old Town Peoria, 83rd Avenue between Washington and Jefferson streets. Free. 623-773-7133, https://www.facebook.com/Peorias2ndSaturdays.
More:Families love this Peoria park for its inclusive playground and more.
Heather McDonald at Tempe Improv
After taking a spill on stage at Tempe Improv in February, comedian Heather McDonald will return to the venue on April 9 to make up for her previous missed performances.
Details: 9:45 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Drive. Starting at $29. 480-921-9877, https://www.tempeimprov.com.
Trap Culture’s Mangia Ganja
A food festival “celebrating cannabis, art and our community” will have 25 food trucks and more than 100 cannabis vendor booths on April 10. Activities include dab competitions, a watermelon eating contest, art exhibitions, ax throwing and a beer garden.
Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 10. 2209 N. 99th Ave., Phoenix. Starting at $30. https://trapcultureaz.com/foodfestival.
‘Hadestown’ at ASU Gammage
The Tony- and Grammy-winning musical will finally arrive at ASU Gammage after delays due to the pandemic. The touring performance will have eight shows between April 19 and 24.
According to Gammage’s website, “‘Hadestown’ intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.”
Details: April 19-24. 1200 S. Forest Ave., Tempe. 480-965-3434, https://www.asugammage.com/hadestown.
Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market
More than 130 vintage curators and artisans will sell their wares April 22-24 at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Eager shoppers can browse the selection ahead of the crowds from 4-9 p.m. Friday during the VIP shopping event ($50 in advance, $60 at the gate; admission includes entry throughout the weekend).
Details: April 22-24. 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. Starting at $8; free for children 12 and younger. https://junkinthetrunkvintagemarket.com.
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Andrew Bachelor at Stand Up Live
Andrew Bachelor, better known as YouTube and Vine sensation King Bach who has starred in films such as “Holidate” and “Coffee and Kareem,” will take the stage at Stand Up Live in downtown Phoenix.
He will have five shows between April 29 and May 1. The Friday late and Sunday shows are for age 18 and older; other times only admit age 21 and older.
Details: April 29-May 1. Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix. $25. 480-719-6100, https://phoenix.standuplive.com.
19th annual Rainbows Festival
Phoenix Pride’s first Rainbows Festival since 2019 will take place April 30-May 1 in downtown Phoenix. The family- and pet-friendly festival — a “celebration of the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community,” according to its website — will have a full slate of performers on two stages and food and drink vendors.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 30-May 1. Historic Heritage Square, 115 N. Sixth St., Phoenix. Free. https://phoenixpride.org/events/rainbows-festival.
Scottsdale Jazz Festival
The Scottsdale Jazz Festival will bring Carlos Rivas Y Su Orquesta Mex-Sal, The Nayo Jones Experience, Rick Braun and Richard Elliot and more performers to Scottsdale Civic Center Park on Saturday, April 30.
Details: 3-10 p.m. Saturday, April 30. Northeast lawn at Scottsdale Civic Center Park, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Starting at $25. https://www.scottsdalejazzfest.org.
Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinson at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.
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