Spring break in Arizona offers a variety of family-friendly events, festivals and activities.
Major events include the Arizona Renaissance Festival, Cactus League Spring Training and the Chandler Ostrich Festival.
Metro Phoenix attractions include the Phoenix Zoo, various museums, and amusement parks like Castles N’ Coasters.
When people think of spring break, they often picture college students heading to the beach, staying up late and getting a little wild in the sun.
That image has become a classic spring break stereotype. But spring break isn’t just for college students. It also means that elementary, middle and high school kids are out of school and full of energy.
For parents, that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Schedules change, routines get disrupted and suddenly the house feels busier and louder than usual. It doesn’t have to be that way though. Instead of feeling stressed or counting down the days until school starts again, spring break can be a great opportunity to make memories together.
If you have no kids but still want to do something fun for spring break, check out our guide.
Here are some events, activities and fun things to do with your kids and family during spring break.
What are some fun things to do on spring break in Arizona?
Here are some events, sports games, markets and festivals to visit:
Arizona Renaissance Festival
Hear ye, hear ye! The Arizona Renaissance Festival will transform the Sonoran Desert into a 16th-century European village. There will be jousting tournaments, stage acts and comedic performances. The village boasts a marketplace where artisans offer handcrafted goods, Renaissance-inspired clothing and jewelry. Indulge in Renaissance-themed food and drink while enjoying games and interactive shows.
Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Presidents Day. Jan. 31 until March 29. Arizona Renaissance Festival grounds, 12601 E. U.S. 60, Gold Canyon. $36. arizona.renfestinfo.com.
Cactus League Spring Training
Cactus League spring training brings the essence of Major League Baseball to ballparks across metro Phoenix. The 2026 season features 15 teams playing more than 200 games all across the Valley, from Surprise and Goodyear to Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers are just some of Arizona’s spring training teams.
Details: Feb. 20-March 24. cactusleague.com.
Tempe Festival of the Arts
The Tempe Festival of the Arts, with a history spanning over 50 years, is one of the longest-running festivals in the Southwest. It presents a diverse array of over 300 artists from around the country. Attendees can immerse themselves in local music, explore a Kids Block and indulge in a variety of foods and beverages.
Details: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, March 13-15. Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets in downtown Tempe. Free. tempefestivalofthearts.com.
Chandler Ostrich Festival
Celebrate the history and heritage of Chandler at the annual Ostrich Festival. It offers concerts, rides, entertainment, food vendors and other attractions. Visitors can see the festival’s namesake ostriches up close in a viewing area where the birds can roam around. This year, the festival moved to Rawhide Western Town and Event Center to support the event’s continued growth. The Ostrich Festival aims to provide a unique and entertaining experience for visitors while highlighting the city’s historical connection to ostrich farming.
Details: Friday-Sunday, March 13-15 and March 20–22. Rawhide Western Town and Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler. $25. ostrichfestival.com.
Irish Fountain Fest
Do you have the luck of the Irish? Fountain Hills presents the Irish Fountain Fest, where the famous fountain will turn emerald green at noon and 4 p.m. Expect traditional Irish folk music, performances by the Kilted Spirit Band and Phoenix Pipe & Drum Band and a Celtic rock band. The festival also features food trucks, the Crescent Crown Beer Garden and more.
Details: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Fountain Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. Free. experiencefountainhills.org.
Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place downtown, following a route down Third Street from Oak Street to Margaret T. Hance Park. The Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day Faire will accompany the parade at Hance Park, featuring music, step dancing, bagpipers, Irish clubs and activities. Indulge in Irish beer and whiskey, corned beef, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, barbecue and more.
Details: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday, March 14. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. Parade is free to watch; fair admission is $20, free for age 12 and younger. stpatricksdayphoenix.org.
Arizona Aloha Festival
Celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Arizona Aloha Festival by experiencing the vibrant spirit of aloha and the rich cultures of the South Pacific islands. This two-day event features live entertainment, including music and dances on multiple stages, along with lectures and storytelling about Hawaii and Polynesia. The Island Marketplace offers traditional crafts, fresh flower leis, baskets, hats, carved bone necklaces, tapa cloth and more. There will be crafts for children, and all ages can take a ukulele lesson. The food court will offer Hawaiian and South Pacific favorites like kahlua pig, vilo vilo chicken and Spam musubi.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22. Tempe Town Lake, at Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Free. azalohafest.org.
For a full list of more events, check out our 2026 events guide.
Where to go for spring break in Arizona?
Want to get out of town? Take a road trip. Here are a few popular destinations:
Bearizona: Bearizona is a drive-through wildlife park where you stay in your car and see animals like black bears, wolves, bison, and mountain goats up close. After the drive, there’s a walk-through area with smaller animals and shows. It’s really fun for kids because it feels like a safari in the Grand Canyon State.
Bedrock City: Bedrock City is a Flintstones-themed roadside attraction with giant dinosaur statues and stone-style buildings that look like the cartoon. It’s quirky and great for fun photos. Kids usually love running around and pretending they’re in a cartoon town.
Route 66 Stops in Seligman: Seligman is full of colorful, old-school Route 66 shops and classic cars that feel like the movie
